Ben pitching for Argentina

3/3/2010

Ben Watts (Year 12, 6th form) is a prodigy who is helping lift Otago softball to new heights.

He is the top pitcher in the province and has been in the Otago senior team for the past two years. He is also a member of the Junior Black Sox squad preparing for the world championships in Argentina in 2012.

Ben Watts

Ben is said to be a natural and fitted easily into the sport at the age of 5 when he followed his sister, Genevieve, into the game.
‘‘I watched my sister play and I wanted to do what she did,’’ Ben said. His two younger brothers, Cameron (Year 11, 5th form) and Matthew (Year 9, 3rd form), are also playing softball.

This is Ben’s 11th year of softball and he is now turning the early promise into deeds on the diamond. His first big break came two years ago as a member of the New Zealand under 16 team in Australia.

‘‘My goal is go to a World Series with the Black Sox,’’ he said.

He realises that it is not possible to reach the top in the sport by himself and he has been helped by two of the stalwarts of Otago softball.

Peter Madison has given him a few tips on pitching and Otago men’s coach Scott Cartwright has helped his batting. The biggest influence in his career has been former New Zealand pitcher Marty Grant, once rated the best pitcher in the world.

‘‘I like softball because you can’t predict what will happen. The game is just so fast.’

Ben’s progress didn’t come automatically. He has worked hard at his game and practises for one to three hours five or six days each week. He is also a skilled basketballer and has been a guard in the Otago Boys’ top team for three years.