There's something exhilarating in swinging a bat at a ball and watching it soar over the grass while everyone cheers.

It is one of the never-ending summer youth experiences along with bee stings, paspalum grass and cicadas.

For school-aged kids in Tauranga there are 16 weeks of glorious softball fun. For those not yet in the know, softball here follows the school year, rather than the summer season.

Starting in Term 1, the 2021 season runs until March 20, takes a break for winter, starts again in Term 4 on October 30, and ends with grand finals and prize giving on December 18.
'We welcome all schools and players to join us,” says Western BOP Junior Softball coordinator Malcom Mills.
Softball is free for all juniors, with no junior playing fee for 2021.

Games are played at Carlton Reserve in Otumoetai on Saturday mornings at 9am, 9.30am, and 10am, and training is held on Wednesdays from 4-6.30pm. For the under eight-year-olds there is T-Ball, under 10s have primary softball, under-13s have intermediate softball and under-15s and under-18s have college softball.

Western Bay of Plenty Softball would like to hear from any schools or people who may be interested in forming or joining a team.

'We are also available to run coaching sessions for any school teams interested in getting started on Wednesday evenings, particularly if you would like to get organised,” says Malcolm.
'We welcome all school ages. Bring a friend down and have fun.”
For more information, visit: www.sporty.co.nz/wbopsoftball or the Western Bay of Plenty Softball Facebook page. Alternatively, email: juniorsoftballwbop@gmail.com or phone: 027 4065241.