McGilbert, the regional coaching co-ordinator for Otago and Southland, has been appointed to two important national positions. She will manage the White Sox New Zealand women's development team that will compete in the Southern Cross Challenge at Brisbane in April.
She will also be the videographer for the under-19 Black Sox junior team to compete in the world series and White Horse Cup competitions at Tuscan, Canada, in June.
McGilbert is the daughter of Alan and Ngaio Clyma, who were stalwarts of Otago and New Zealand softball during their playing days.
Alan represented Otago but his biggest contribution was as coach of the Otago women's team and assistant coach of the New Zealand team.
Ngaio, a stalwart of the Otago women's team, represented New Zealand at world series in 1970 and 1974. Her uncle, Mervyn, coached Otago for a long period.
McGilbert started playing softball at 8 and represented the Otago age group team at 12.
She first played for the Otago senior team at the age of 16 and stayed there for the next 15 years.
‘‘We talked softball a lot at home and my parents took me to games at Bathgate Park and Opoho,''she said.
Ben Watts (15), an Otago Boys High school pupil, has been named pitcher in the inaugural New Zealand Boys Development team for the Australian Friendship series at Blacktown, Sydney, in July.
The selection of Watts is significant because New Zealand teams are usually dominated by North Island players and pitcher is one of the key positions in any team.
Watts was introduced to the sport with tee-ball at primary school and is a pitcher at the Dodgers club.
Softball, a minority sport, does not receive the lucrative funding of other sports. McGilbert must find $6000 for the Canadian trip and Watts $2500 to travel to Australia.
