Two titles in two different sports in two countries in just over a week.
That is some feat for 19-year-old softball and hockey player Jaxin Winter.
Jaxin and his Nelson United Softball Club teammate Elias Wilson travelled to Prague to represent a New Zealand U19 development team in a four-nation tournament.
The former Nelson College student was one of six pitchers, who included a Czech Republic player.
He did some pitching in the round robin games but played as an outfielder in a fiery final against Mexico.
“We scored a run in the first inning, and our Czech pitcher was hurling the ball in at up to 128kph. But in the seventh and final inning, Mexico got a runner on second base, and we thought this could be a tied ball game. However, we kept our cool and won 1-0. It was a very scrappy match, a fight nearly broke out, and the organisers stopped the livestream,” reveals Jaxin.
Then it was back to Nelson to prepare for Waimai’s P1 Mens’ hockey final against Tasman Black.
“I got one training session in on Thursday night ahead of Saturday’s match,” says Jaxin.
As it transpired, he was involved in three matches on finals day, starting at 10am.
“I was third umpire for the P2 women’s final, umpired the men’s P2 final and then had a game break before the P1 men. So, a tight schedule,” confirms Jaxin.
He played upfront and his Waimai team came from a goal down to win 3-1.
“It was pretty crazy. It was good experience playing for your country and then a local club team, and coming out on top in both.”
Jaxin was still on the field for the last defensive play of the final and cleared the ball, right over the fence, and into the windscreen of his uncle Christopher ‘PeeWee’ Wilson’s car.
‘PeeWee’ had starred in goal for Waimai but it was one shot he had no chance of stopping.
As for juggling sporting commitments, hockey remains Jaxin’s first calling.
“I have been playing for 14 years, virtually my whole life.”
That code will take him to Dunedin at the end of the month, to umpire the Rankin Cup, a prestigious secondary school tournament he had previously played in.
In the meantime, there is little rest with Jaxin returning to work nightshift for Trent’s Wholesale Nelson, a day after Saturday’s marathon shift and hectic few weeks.
