SOFTBALL: Young hotshot does it all for grandmother | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

 When Maraenui Pumas premier men's softballer Horowai Puketapu prepares to enter the batter's box he writes a capital A on the ground with his bat.

"That's to remind me of my nan Atareta Puketapu who died five years ago. She gives me motivation like I get from my late papa Te Aokatoa Pomana and whanau," he told SportToday after his side beat Fast Pitch 3-0 in the Hawke's Bay champion of champions final at Akina Park, Hastings, on Saturday.

His nan would have been proud of Puketapu's contribution. The 15-year-old year 11 student at Napier Boys' High School smashed an automatic home run over the left outfield fence on diamond one for the final run of the game in the fifth inning.

It was his third automatic of the season in premier men's play.

"That one was the most crucial though," said Puketapu, who was the top batter at the national under-17 tournament in Nelson in January.

"From today's two games I finished with a batting average of 800 ... hopefully I can carry that on for the rest of the season," said Puketapu, referring to the Pumas' 4-2 win against Saints in their semifinal on Saturday.

From March 16-20 he will play for the Pumas at the national interclub tournament in Christchurch and from March 22-26 for Napier Boys' High School at the national secondary schools division one tournament in Hastings.

Like his Pumas teammate, third baseman Karaitiana Aranui, Puketapu (pictured) is in the Junior Black Sox training squad preparing for the 2012 Junior World Series in Argentina and a berth in that side is his long-term goal.

"I've sacrificed rugby this winter to boost my chances," added Puketapu, who was chosen for the Hawke's Bay under-14 rugby squad in 2008 but withdrew to focus on his Hawke's Bay under-15 basketball commitments. Last year he was a member of the Napier Boys' High School under-15 rugby team which finished second at their nationals.

Saturday's title was the Pumas second Hawke's Bay premier men's one this summer as they won the pre-Christmas title. Their other runs were scored in the fourth inning.

Second baseman Hone Mark Sinnott came home on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Jordan Mita and another sacrifice fly from outfielder Fabian Mitchell scored designated runner Leigh McNeish.

Pumas pitcher Regan Manley was on target for a no hitter in the final until Fast Pitch centre outfielder Cameron Willis got on base with a safe bunt in the seventh inning. Manley struck out 12 of the 24 batters he faced while conceding one walk.

Fast Pitch pitcher Jordan Waterhouse struck out two of the 23 batters he faced while conceding five hits and one walk.

The Pumas reached the final with a 4-3 win against the Saints in their semifinal. With the score 2-all at the end of regulation time a tie-breaker inning was required.

Puketapu scored the first run on a hit to right outfield from outfielder Vinnie Wildermoth and Wildermoth came home on a double from Sinnott.

The Saints could only reply with one run from outfielder Jesse Little on a hit from Canadian import Ian Glasser.