Giants' upset defies all odds

Coming into last weekend's Tui invitational tournament, the Wairarapa Trusthouse Giants under-18 softball team had low expectations.

Called on at the last minute to fill a gap after another team dropped out, they had played just four games before Christmas and had only won one of them.

So when they found themselves playing in a competition a division above them, with no preparation and against a bunch of older, tougher competitors, no one held out much hope.

After they lost their first game to Totara Park 7-3, it looked like things were heading the way most people expected.

But then something changed.

The next game, playing the Upper Hutt Demons, they came out of nowhere to pull out to a crushing 19-4 win.

But it was the game after that which really raised eyebrows. In the upset of the tournament, they dominated a highly fancied and unbeaten Marist team by 13-3.

All of a sudden, and against all expectations, the team there to make up the numbers was playing in an all-Wairarapa final against their coach's team, the Cross Country Giants.

The stage was set for an epic final. Unfortunately, the weather gods apparently didn't see it that way - after just one innings the game was called off because of rain, with the Cross Country Giants leading 3-1.

Disappointing though the end may have been, it was still a great result for Wairarapa softball - and especially, of course, for the under-18 team.

"It's a big step up - some of the kids are only 15-years-old, so to do that ... they played really well, and we're very proud of them," said Giants Softball Club president Allan Clarke.

"It's great to see them improve, they really pulled everything out."

The final will be rescheduled, although just when and where is uncertain at this stage.

But whenever it is, it will be worth a watch.

Because, judging by what they've already been through, anything could happen.