'Enemy' honour pitching legend | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

The awards continue to flow for Hawke's Bay softball legend and three-time world champion Chubb Tangaroa.

Less than a month after being inducted into the Unison Hawke's Bay Sports Hall of Fame, Tangaroa, 48, was "recognised by the enemy" as he put it in Kitchener, Canada, at the weekend.

The two-time Ngati Kahungunu Sportsperson of the Year winner became the first international inductee at the Legends of Fastball Classic with an award of merit.

"It was unexpected ... but a huge honour at the same time," said Tangaroa yesterday.

The Canadians wanted to honour the former Black Sox pitcher and now Black Sox pitching coach's contribution to the sport in North America. During his prime, Tangaroa spent 16 summers pitching in the United States through the 1980s and 90s.

He starred for California-based world powers such as the Night Hawks, Guinella Brothers, Decatur Pride and Nebraska's Broken Bow Travellers.

Tangaroa had a weekend to celebrate. In addition to receiving the award, the Black Sox won the eighth annual, 16-team two division tournament.

"We were reminiscing afterwards and worked out we are the first Black Sox team to win a tournament in Canada since 2000 when we won one here on our way to the World Series in South Africa," said Tangaroa.

Black Sox manager Doug Golightly was buzzing after Tangaroa's presentation.

"Just to see the awe in which he's held right around the world, especially here, is quite special," said Golightly.

Tangaroa pointed out fellow three-time world champion and former Hawke's Bay representative Thomas Makea is playing despite being nagged by knee injuries on tour.

"We're not playing him in exhibition games, just tournament matches. We want to save him for the 2013 World Series if we can," said Tangaroa.

Meanwhile, Maraenui Pumas stalwart and Junior Black Sox manager Roger Aranui was re-elected managing director at Softball Hawke's Bay's annual meeting in Hastings on Monday night. He joins New Zealand board member Mike Bills, long-serving financial director Joyce Chapman and his Pumas manager, Vicky Julian, on the board.