Ben Watts in action for Dodgers at Ellis Park. Photo: Peter
McIntosh.
Watts aiming for the world series with Black SoxBEN Watts
is a prodigy who is helping lift Otago softball to new heights.
He is the top pitcher in the province and has been in the
Otago senior team for the past two years.
Watts (16), a year 12 pupil at Otago Boys High School, is a
member of the Junior Black Sox squad preparing for the world
championships in Argentina in 2012.
He is a natural and fitted easily into the sport at the age
of 5 when he followed his sister, Genevieve, into the game.
"I watched my sister play and I wanted to do what she did,"
Watts said.
His two younger brothers, Cameron (15) and Matthew (13), are
also playing softball.
This is Watts' 11th year of softball and he is now turning
the early promise into deeds on the diamond.
His first big break came two years ago as a member of the New
Zealand under-16 team in Australia.
Watts has been a member of the Dodgers premier team for the
past three years.
"My goal is go to a World Series with the Black Sox," he
said.
He realises that it is not possible to reach the top in the
sport by himself and he has been helped by two of the
stalwarts of Otago softball.
Peter Madison has given him a few tips on pitching and Otago
men's coach Scott Cartwright has helped his batting.
The biggest influence in his career has been former New
Zealand pitcher Marty Grant, once rated the best pitcher in
the world.
"I like softball because you can't predict what will happen,"
he said.
"The game is just so fast."
These results did not come automatically for Watts.
He has worked hard at his game and practises for one to three
hours five or six days each week.
Watts is also a skilled basketballer and has been a guard in
the Otago Boys top team for three years.
Ben Watts (16)
School: Otago Boys High School
Sport: Softball
Achievements: Junior Black Sox squad 2009-10, New
Zealand Under-16 2008, Otago Under-17 2009-10, Otago senior
men's team 2009-10.
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