Top young softballers

By Frank Neill

The three Wainuiomata siblings who are representing New Zealand in softball (from left) Connor, Flynn and Georja Keall.

Three young Wainuiomata softballers from the same family have been selected to represent New Zealand.

Georjia and her two brothers. Connor and Flynn, will play for their country in three upcoming age group tournaments.

Georja Keall about to hit the ball.

Georja, who is 14, has been selected in Softball New Zealand’s Under 15 Women’s World Cup team.

She will travel to Japan next month where the 23rd ranked New Zealand team will face top competition, including the number one ranked United States and number two ranked Japan.

She is, Georja says, "looking forward to the World Cup and playing against the best teams in the world."

This year is the first Under 15 Women’s World Cup. Organised by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and the Japan Softball Association, it will take place in Tokyo from 19 to 30 October.

Flynn, who is 16, has been selected in a Softball New Zealand Development Team that is

competing in the Under 18 Queensland State Championships this week.

Connor Keall in the batter’s box awating a pitch.

His younger brother, 15 -year-old Connor, has made an Iinternational Softball Academy New Zealand Under 15

Softball Team competing in the Under 15 Blue Blaze Tournament in Sydney next week.

“We’re very proud of them, absolutely,” their father, Lance Keall, says. “It’s a pretty big deal. It’s very cool.

“They have all worked really hard behind the scenes and have taken their opportunities.”

All three have been “inspired by local Wainuiomata juniors who have gone on to big things,” Lance says.

The players who have inspired them include Tane Mumu, who plays for the Black Sox, and junior White Sox player Aayla Toman.

This is the first time that the three young softballers have been selected to represent New

Zealand, although Flynn was in the Wellington Regional Baseball team that represented New

Zealand in a tournament when he was 11 or 12.

Lance is very appreciative of all the support the family has received from Wainuiomata.

“Thank you to the local community and friends and family for all the support and help they have given us,” he says.

Flynn Keall in action as a catcher.

That support has included sponsorship, support with their fund-raising and general assistance.

“The support has been pretty overwhelming and pretty humbling,” Lance says.

All three softballers began their softball careers playing in the junior competitions for the Wainuiomata Softball Club.

However this year the club was unable to attract sufficient players for their age group

competitions, so they have had to move over the hill to play.

Flynn and Connor now play for the Hutt Valley Dodgers while Georja plays for Totara Park.

As well as playing Softball and Baseball, Georja, Connor and Flynn are members of the

Wainuiomata Squash and Tennis Clubs.

Flynn and Connor are both students at Wainuiomata High School while Georja studies at Whitby Collegiate, having won a Softball scholarship at the school this year.