Softball at HBHS - Rhys Brunton

Rhys Brunton (Year 10) recently won the 'most improved' Susan Hassall Team Tournament Award, as part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Junior Champion Softball team.  He is devoted to the sport of softball, and is excited to see the code go from strength to strength at Hamilton Boys' High School.

How long have you been playing softball?

 I started in Year 6 at Southwell.  I'm pretty sure that my mum played when she was younger, and it's always seemed to me to be really fun and enjoyable.

For those of us who don't know, what are the main differences between softball and baseball?

Softball uses a bigger ball, and the pitching is underarm, which changes the force of the pitch and the pace of the game.  There are some differences in the dimensions of the pitch and some of the rules, but the major difference is the ball.

There are two different types of softball - fast pitch and slow pitch.  We play fast pitch, which is really highly competitive.

How did you enjoy the Nationals at the end of last year?

That was my first proper tournament - usually we play after school fixtures.  It was really interesting to see the ways that other teams worked, and the different ways that you could approach the same game.  There are some really strong players on our team: Vinnie Harris one of the best pitchers you could hope for, and Khalid Gilbert is an all-rounder who is an amazing catcher.  We had a chance to see what we could do against our competition, and it turns out that we did really well.

Any highlights of the tournament for you?

I play outfielder, and apart from being a member of the team that won, my favourite moments were a tie between catching someone out, and hitting the ball when we were up against Wellington College.  It was very cool to get a chance to do that.

What are your goals for this year?

To keep training and practicing, and then try and get into the tournament team again this year.  The tournament is going to be in Hamilton, so it would be pretty special to compete at home.  My team practice once a week on Wednesday, and I will keep working on my skills over winter.

Is softball a sport that you could pursue once you've finished school?

Definitely.  New Zealand has one of the best softball teams in the world, and it's a really good way to stay active and sporting. There are regional teams as well as school ones - I played for Waikato last year, and could play this year for the Under 17s if I am selected.

Who has been your biggest influence in softball?

Our coaches, Cowley, and BJ.  BJ was a pitcher for the New Zealand team, and both he and Cowley know exactly what they're talking about.  They are awesome coaches, and Mr Nixon is a really good manager.  If you are interested in softball at this school, you don't have to have been playing it forever.  Give it a go - HBHS has got people that can show you how to get to a really high level with this.