Saturday 1 November
By Tanya Creighton and Isabelle Bambach
Over 1800 softball enthusiasts have traveled from all over Australia and overseas to participate in the 2014 Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games softball competition at the Pizzey Park Sporting Complex.
For some players, today marked their debut Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games but for others, today marked another milestone of participation.
New Zealand Brothers team coach Ray Winiata has traveled to Australia to compete in another Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games and said he has never been short on numbers to fill his team.
“I’ve been playing softball for over 45 years, and here, there’s always a great game of softball and the sense of camaraderie is just awesome,” Winiata said.
“You might not see the friends you make for two years but everyone remembers each other and it’s as though you saw each other last week.
“The stories we bring back home after each Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games have meant this year we’ve created an entire second team – as opposed to normally bringing one.”
Rebels softball player Melissa Straps travelled from Adelaide to participate in her debut Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
Ms Straps said she loves the Gold Coast and the idea of spending the week playing sport with her new team.
“The Gold Coast weather is great, and it’s so nice to get out of our normal everyday routine and do something different that’s fun and active,” Straps said.
Ms Straps also said the team was participating in another important kind of game.
“Every year the team has some sort theme – last year it was Hawaiian, but this year we decided to focus our theme around raising money for the CanTeen charity,” Straps said.
“It was Bandana Day yesterday, so we’ve all vowed to wear Bandanas throughout the week.
“Any of the team caught without wearing their bandana is ‘fined’ about $10, with all money going to CanTeen.
“It’s a bit of fun that helps build the atmosphere and the buzz and it’s for a good cause – we’ve already raised $50 and it’s only the first day.”
The Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games are being held across the Gold Coast from 1 – 9 November 2014.
The new system was born here and filagra this is not anything that we would like to see. Caverta although better in some elements but not important for us.
