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Monday, October 13, 2008

Baseball a big hit (in New Zealand)

In 2006 Miguel Abascal introduced the game here. He had previously played baseball at a professional level in the US and saw a chance to develop the sport. He worked with parents, children and supporters to grow the Northland Baseball league.

League committee member Sasha Webb says there were only 40 kids playing in the first season. Last summer numbers grew to just over 200.

Currently children aged five to 15 play and next year Northland Baseball is looking at introducing a secondary league. Regular competition is held on Monday afternoons and an interschool competition introduces children to the sport.

The Hobbits play Baseball?*

*Note: Not all people in New Zealand are Hobbits. Or so they say. I’m on to them!

Gamingboy Posted: October 13, 2008 at 04:25 PM | 19 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Walt Davis Posted: October 13, 2008 at 06:07 PM (#2980595)

Given only about 10 people live in Northlands, that's pretty impressive.

And in case you're wondering, it's pronounced Fong-a-ray (or thereabouts) not wang-a-ree.

And hobbit joke all you want but, at 6', I rarely felt short before coming to NZ. And it's not just the enormous Maori and Pacific Island guys (and women). We got plenty of giants over here.

2. Crispix Attacks Posted: October 13, 2008 at 06:12 PM (#2980601)

What's with baseball taking seed in these bizarre corners of countries? First Cambodia and Manipur, of all the possible places in south Asia, and now the extreme north of New Zealand?

3. Lassus: Posted: October 13, 2008 at 06:12 PM (#2980602)

Hmmm.... I wonder if I could get some kind of baseball organizing job in New Zealand. I'd move there in an instant. Then again, they seemed rather hardcore about letting people do so.

4. PreservedFish Posted: October 13, 2008 at 06:57 PM (#2980622)

I missed the Cambodia article. That's insane.

5. Gamingboy Posted: October 13, 2008 at 07:14 PM (#2980636)

I seem to remember that the Cambodia movement is basically funded entirely by one Cambodian-American Chef. Seriously.

Other weird international baseball stories I remember:

Danny Graves went back to Vietnam and did some camps, basically because he is the only person in Baseball with a connection to Vietnam whatsoever.

The Russian baseball program's best (and possibly only) field was a gift from a Japanese university.

In Switzerland, baseball is taught entirely by Canadians.

6. jwb Posted: October 13, 2008 at 08:18 PM (#2980731)

Baseball day in Cambodia.

7. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: October 13, 2008 at 10:11 PM (#2980896)

Danny Graves went back to Vietnam and did some camps, basically because he is the only person in Baseball with a connection to Vietnam whatsoever.

Tim Johnson begs to differ.

Also, the Kiwis should stick to rugby. A much better sport to play, if not to watch.

8. Phil Coorey, You Won't Posted: October 14, 2008 at 02:16 AM (#2981218)

Also, the Kiwis should stick to rugby. A much better sport to play, if not to watch.

Maybe they are looking to get out - have you seen their World Cup record??

Rugby has become very boring to watch - i don't miss playing it either

9. asinwreck Posted: October 14, 2008 at 02:25 AM (#2981239)

And hobbit joke all you want but, at 6', I rarely felt short before coming to NZ. And it's not just the enormous Maori and Pacific Island guys (and women). We got plenty of giants over here.

When I lived in Christchurch, I felt pretty tall at 5'9". Though that might be because the Maori population is smaller there.

Shame I missed the start of Kiwi baseball; it was the thing I missed most about the States when I lived there.

10. tl; dr (Voxter)

Posted: October 14, 2008 at 03:27 AM (#2981322)

I've heard New Zealand is nice. It did make the movie The Frighteners possible, so I try not to hold it to account for Bored of the Rings.

11. TerpNats Posted: October 14, 2008 at 04:26 AM (#2981353)

*Note: Not all people in New Zealand are Hobbits.

Lucy Lawless would be a pretty tall Hobbit. Maybe due to the influence of her husband Rob Tapert, she can teach the Kiwis how to play ice hockey.

12. Phil Coorey, You Won't Posted: October 14, 2008 at 04:57 AM (#2981358)

New Zealand would be a kick ass Ice Hockey nation

13. Flynn Posted: October 14, 2008 at 07:56 AM (#2981377)

I reckon NZ could become pretty decent at baseball, if only because they have the best softball team in the world (champs in the last 3 WC's).

14. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM (#2981393)

"What's with baseball taking seed in these bizarre corners of countries? First Cambodia and Manipur, of all the possible places in south Asia, and now the extreme north of New Zealand?"

Well, baseball is awesome. That helps a lot.

15. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 14, 2008 at 11:12 AM (#2981395)

"Baseball day in Cambodia."

Holy ####. That's incredible.

I found some more information about it here, if you're curious.

16. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: October 14, 2008 at 01:15 PM (#2981476)

Rugby has become very boring to watch - i don't miss playing it either

I thought the RWC had some good matches. And I have seen some good Ireland matches in Six Nations the last few years. Before those matches, I was getting frustrated with the constant kicking for position. I don't have the chance to watch much club rugby, but that always seemed to be more exciting.

17. Jerk Store Posted: October 14, 2008 at 05:36 PM (#2981668)

This thread reminds me that Flight of the Conchords should be back on by now. What gives?

18. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: October 14, 2008 at 05:56 PM (#2981688)

This thread reminds me that Flight of the Conchords should be back on by now. What gives?

Just a couple more months.

19. PreservedFish Posted: October 14, 2008 at 05:57 PM (#2981689)

I would love to the the Southeast Asia Games baseball tournament.

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Baseball a big hit (in New Zealand)

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