Chiu An-Ju, of the Chinese Taipei Olympic women’s team, delivers a pitch as Acer alum Destiny Conerly prepares to advance from second base during their exhibition softball game at the Service Club Community Park Ballfields in Kent on Thursday. Conerly led off the first inning with a double but was left stranded. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Chiu An-Ju, of the Chinese Taipei Olympic women’s team, delivers a pitch as Acer alum Destiny Conerly prepares to advance from second base during their exhibition softball game at the Service Club Community Park Ballfields in Kent on Thursday. Conerly led off the first inning with a double but was left stranded. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Taste of international softball

Acers welcome touring Chinese Taipei Olympic women’s team to Kent

From the softball diamond, Mark Anderton has seen the world.

He now brings the international game home.

Anderton is a former New Zealand National Team player and Kiwi batting champion who once toured with Eddie Feigner’s global-trotting “King and His Court” four-man team. He has played the game for more than 25 years, coached it for more than 35 years.

He sees the game differently, and provides that perspective and knowledge to his prodigies today as a coach and trainer of area talent. His international ties continue to lure elite competition here.

Anderton and Washington Acers Fastpitch, a premier softball organization for players ages 9-19 based in the Auburn and Kent area, welcomed the touring Chinese Taipei Olympic women’s team this week, hosting a pair of games at the Service Club Community Park & Ballfields in Kent. The Taiwanese, ranked No. 6 in the world, swept Anderton’s regional select team of past and present collegiate players and former Acers. Chinese Taipei took the opener 8-0 Tuesday behind a sixth-inning grand slam, and prevailed 6-1 in the second game Thursday.

Brooke Nelson, a Bonney Lake High School graduate and the state’s 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year, homered for the select team. She also struck out several batters in relief. Nelson is off to play for the University of Washington next season.

“The girls did just fine,” Anderton said of the two games.

Despite a doubleheader rainout Wednesday, the Taiwanese practiced and shared time with the Acers at their indoor practice facility in Auburn.

It was a rewarding week of fun and games.

“It is about giving the kids an opportunity to play an international team, something they will never be able to get a chance to do,” Anderton said. “This wasn’t about the program, but about the opportunity to play. And what a great thing for them. … In the back yard, you get an Olympic team coming here because they love coming here.”

Anderton has sent teams overseas, including a group of 18-year-old players who visited Taiwan for a 10-day trip in 2009. He has maintained a relationship with the Taiwan national team coaches the past 12 years.

Chinese Taipei is using the tour to prepare for the Asia/Oceania Qualifier Sept. 24-29 in Shanghai, under the host Chinese Softball Association. The Olympic qualifier will feature eight teams — six from the Asian Games and two from Oceania — and award the final place to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.

The Taiwanese have more than held their own stateside.

Before arriving here, they lost 1-0 to the U.S. Women’s National Team at Columbus, Ga., on July 4.

The Acer alumni enjoyed the challenge of playing the older, more seasoned team, featuring a mostly left-side-hitting lineup from a roster ranging in age from 19 to 34 years.

“It’s different, very different,” said shortstop Destiny Conerly, a former Acer and Puyallup High School standout who will play at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey next year. “They’re a lot more communicative than us. They talk more than us. They are smoother. They play 24/7. We’re a couple of hours a week (practicing, playing), and they’re like six hours a day.”

Carley Nance, a Tahoma High graduate, another former Acer and a standout pitcher at Seattle University where she will be a redshirt junior next season, came away impressed.

“It’s awesome to see the same game played by a different culture, just on how it’s different,” she said. “It’s still the same game and it’s still fun … they seem to appreciate the game more.

“They’re great,” Nance added. “You can tell they practice every little thing that they do . … Everything they do it so united, which is cool and inspiring.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Brooke Nelson, a Bonney Lake High School graduate bound for the University of Washington, circles the bases after hitting a home run against the Chinese Taipei Olympic women’s team. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Brooke Nelson, a Bonney Lake High School graduate bound for the University of Washington, circles the bases after hitting a home run against the Chinese Taipei Olympic women’s team. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Acer coach Mark Anderton watches the action. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Acer coach Mark Anderton watches the action. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Carley Nance, another former Acer and an all-conference pitcher at Seattle University, comes away dirty after sliding into third base. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Carley Nance, another former Acer and an all-conference pitcher at Seattle University, comes away dirty after sliding into third base. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

More in Sports

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
Volleyball, soccer, tennis, football and more prep sports action | Around the Sound Sports

Sports reporter Ben Ray chats with coaches and players on recent high school matchups in South King County.

t
Renton head coach wins Coach of the Week from Seahawks

Cross has gotten Renton to a 3-1 record and second in KingCo 2A.

Davontae Redding and Kyle Brown celebrate a touchdown in the second half. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Do not scratch your eyes: Kent-Meridian football wins by 38

For the first time in over eight years, KM scores over 60 points in a game.

Senior Ella Schug with the ball at her feet. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge comes through with a late goal to draw 1-1 against Mount Si

Girls soccer team off to its best start since 2019

Seattle’s Sam Popowich, in preseason action against Everett, scored the winning goal in the Thunderbirds’ WHL season-opening 3-2 win Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Wenatchee Wild. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kent-based Thunderbirds edge Wenatchee Wild in season opener

Sam Popowich scores winning goal with 33 seconds left in 3-2 victory

t
Season preview: Kent-based T-Birds seek to defend Western Hockey League title

Many top players are gone but others ready to step up; 7 players taken in NHL Draft

t
Emerald Downs attendance up 16% in 2023; handle down 10.6%

Auburn track concluded 52-day, live-racing schedule on Sept. 17

t
Kent-based Thunderbirds open WHL season on the road at Wenatchee Wild

Opener Sept. 23 followed by home debut Sept. 30 against Portland at ShoWare Center

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
Fall sports preview in South King County | Around the Sound Sports

Welcome back to the Around the Sound Sports podcast! This episode takes a closer look at opening day matchups for high school athletes in South King County.

Kentlake cheer team. Photo courtesy of Allison Humphreys
Athletes of the Week: Kent’s high school cheer teams

To kick off the 2023 school year, the Kent Reporter is showcasing each school’s cheer team.

Seahawks QB Geno Smith keeps his eyes down field. (Maria Dorsten Photography)
Seahawks fans come out in droves for Kids Day

Hawks close out public practices and will face the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 19 for their final preseason home contest.

Arpit Bhagat up to bat for Mavericks at the Kent Cricket Ground. (Ben Ray/Sound Publishing)
Kent Cricket Ground plays host to Northwest Cricket League

A sport growing in popularity in the states has the chance to get even bigger.