Club history
Hawks Baseball is a club with a proud history. Baseball is a relatively new sport in NZ starting just a little under 20 years ago with mainly senior-aged players. We were one of the founding clubs at this time with a Senior team. In 1993 the club expanded to include youth baseball. This provided depth and longevity to the HP story and helped make it NZ's premier Baseball Club.
At HP we are committed to the enjoyment of all our players at all levels of baseball. We do this through excellent coaching and development programs, providing the best possible training facilities and offering extended opportunities for overseas play and an educational career path that is unequaled.
HP has had a number of its players involved in overseas baseball programmes, including players attending universities and colleges in the US.
Currently, Kyle Glogoski is working his way through the minor league farm teams of the Philadelphia Phillies, having signed a professional baseball contract in 2017. In 2019, Kyle has been tearing up the lower baseball farm leagues, earning a mid-season promotion to the high-A team. Kyle started his baseball at HP, and continues to work out with the Senior teams during his off season. In the 2018/19 Kyle was one of a number of HP Hawks to don the teal of the Auckland Tuatara, New Zealand's first professional baseball club, competing in the Australian Baseball League. He dominated in his Phillies mandated limited innings for the Club, becoming one of the stars of the Tuatara's inaugural season.
We are also proud to have one of the pioneer names in this group, Scott Campbell. Scott started at HP as a junior baseball player. Working his way through college and through baseball was able to achieve a playing record that saw him drafted into Major League Baseball. He played in the Blue Jays AAA program with the Las Vegas 51 AAA team, and in 2008 played in the prestigious "Future Stars Game" at Yankee stadium. Scott said this was his "dream”, so if you work at it your dreams can come true.
Historical time-line
| 1989 | Formation of the NZ Baseball Federation |
| 1991 | Howick Pakuranga Baseball established at the senior level only. |
| 1993 | The establishment of youth Baseball (4 T-ball teams and 4 teams for 9-12 year old age group. The games were played at Palm Crescent Field. |
| 1994 | Youth baseball moved to Rodgers Park. |
| 1996 | Youth baseball established at the 13-15 age group. Senior teams commenced playing at Lloyd Elsmore Park. |
| 1998 | Youth baseball moves to Lloyd Elsmore Park and is expanded to under 17 and 19 age groups. |
| 1999 | #1 diamond backstop built. |
| 2002 | #1 diamond infield completed. First players from club play college baseball in the USA, Aaron Campbell and Simon Royce. Club introduces the DiamondBlacks trade name for its operations. |
| 2004 | #2 diamond built along with the #3 diamond. Divisional baseball commenced. Scott Campbell and Robert Brooke become second phase of players to go to USA to play at the college level. |
| 2005 | Homerun fence built on the #1 diamond. Tuck shop and toilet facility built. Car park was paved and water system/electrical conduit placed ready for future expansion. Barry Curtis Mayor of Manukau City officially opens the Baseball complex. |
| 2006 | Scott Campbell becomes the first New Zealander and Diamond Black player to be drafted into the minor leagues by Toronto Blue Jays. |
| 2009 | T-ball started at Te Puru Park. |
| 2010 | Baseball to commence on Waiheke Island as an affiliate to the Diamond Black Baseball club. |
| 2011 | HP Baseball Club releases the DiamondBlacks name to Baseball NZ for use by the NZ National team. |
| 2012 | HP Hawks agreed as new Club Identity, to be used in the 2013 season |
| 2017 | Kyle Glogoski is signed by Major League Baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies |
| 2018 | HP Baseball contributes a number of players and a coach to the inaugural roster of the Auckland Tuatara, New Zealand's first professional baseball team playing in the Australian Baseball League. They are: Players: Kyle Glogoski, Luke Hansen, Elliot Johnstone 1st Base Coach: Jonathan Southey There are also a number of promising young HP Hawks players on the extended development roster. HPs head groundsman, Kevin Nepia, is headhunted to prepare McLeod Park for professional baseball. |
Admin Login