Softball prodigy chases world�s fastest pitch record
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday March 3, 2017 15:13
At only 18-years-old, the pint-sized Puakaa, with a burly figure typical of a Maun boy, promises to be the next softball gem. The young man travelled to Michigan in the United States of America with the Under-19 team that took part in the WBSC and he left a sting. At the international competition that attracted countries from the six continents, Puakaa left American soil a record holder with the fastest pitch after throwing a record 79 miles per an hour pitch.
He inspired team Botswana to an 8-1 demolition of Denmark, where he dumped the Danish batters at the plate. In the game against Denmark, the young pitcher struck out 15 Danish batters and walked one. Botswana finished last in the group but redeemed themselves when they beat Israel and South Africa to win a silver shield.
Many softball teams in North America are interested in his services.
WBSC Botswana team manager, Letsweletse Jonas is convinced the young pitcher has a future overseas. Puakaa is a student at Letlhakane Senior Secondary School in the Boteti region.
“We have received a number of interest from teams in the US and Canada. In fact the Canadians wanted the boy effective May 2017 and I referred them to the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) office. They could not believe he is still in high school but they had promised to take care of his tertiary education expenses and we are still waiting for them to contact the BSA office,” reveals Jonas. Puakaa was instrumental in his side’s road to the top 12 of the Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet) softball league. Carats finished on position four in the northern zone. A fortnight ago, he took Scramblers by surprise. He hit the Francistowners to 10 strikeouts, two walks and only one hit-by-pitch with no score in five innings.
His first contact with softball backdates seven years ago at a tender age of 11 while a Standard Five pupil at Boseja Primary School in Maun. He was introduced to the sport by his cousin Kashirari Hawanga, a former student at Tsodilo Junior School.
Three years later when he started his junior certificate at Tsodilo, Puakaa joined the softball school team and he had already identified his position in the middle of the diamond. For the entire first year he did not come close to the first team but he persevered.
“I love this game,” Puakaa says. “It was frustrating because at some point I felt I deserved a go especially against weak opponents.
My mother also did not approve of the sport. She thought it was too extreme and she took me out of the team but two months later I forced my way back. I was just too persistent.”
He got his debut game at Tsodilo in his second year, pitching alongside Samuel Kunyalala who was his senior at school. Kunyalala also made the Under-19 WBSC Botswana team. Puakaa took the baton from Kunyalala in his final year at Tsodilo and his talent was unleashed. He steered Tsodilo to a gold medal, and his first medal, at the 2015 Botswana Integrated Schools Association (BISA) finals held in Gaborone and he was also voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the schools’ tournament. His performances in the BISA games earned him a call up to represent the country in the Botswana Games. He won his second gold medal and he won the best pitcher accolade. His exploits in the Botswana games earned him a call up to the national team that propelled him to Michigan, USA where he recorded the fastest pitch that continues to inspire his growth in the game.
“USA was a revelation. I learnt some tips in the pitching clinics during our time there,” he reminisces.
“I was also delighted to meet the world’s fast pitch record holder, Australian Adam Folcard. He taught me a few grips in the clinics. He is my idol and I am chasing his record.”
Name: Gideon Puakaa
Born: August 28, 1998. Maun
Sport: Softball
Club: Orapa Carats
National team: Under-19
Favourite Food: Dumplings and Beef