Softball: Fifth premier team

A fifth club, Waverley, has entered the ranks of Dunedin premier softball.

Waverley has joined the competition for the post-Christmas section, providing a boost to the game and expanding the premier grade to five teams.

"It's a great move for Waverley and for softball in general," Softball Otago development manager Jill Johnson said.

"It certainly provides a pathway for all the kids they're developing.

"They're working hard to develop opportunities all the way through, which is great."

Johnson said Waverley had four reserve grade teams, one of which was very strong.

The club had debated the option of moving a team to the premier competition and took the plunge following a trial game against the Cardinals.

Softball is fighting back after some lean years and Johnson is optimistic the once-mighty summer sport can thrive again.

"Our talent level will never be what it is in places further north.

"But we want to broaden our player base and give people the opportunity to compete at a higher level.

"That's very important.

"We're trying to encourage all senior teams to develop a reserve grade to build that support base."

Waverley found the going predictably tough last weekend, beaten 15-0 by the powerful Saints.

The Saints also beat the Cardinals 11-4, while the Dodgers picked up wins against the Cardinals (7-0) and Ellis Park (6-3).

Promising Otago softballer Ben Watts is in contention for the Junior World Series in Argentina in 2012.

Watts, the starting pitcher for the Dodgers club, has been named in a 28-strong Junior Black Sox training squad.

He will attend a training camp in Hawkes Bay in April, after which a squad of 17 will be named for the Friendship Series in Sydney in July.