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Ramblers & Dodgers Winners, White Sox Named

Monday 17 March 2014, 2:23PM

By dave worsley

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Mt Albert Ramblers are the national men’s softball club champions thanks to some top player from veteran players such as Black Sox, Donny Hale.

Ramblers won the major playoff against Wellington’s Poneke Kilbirnie (PK) at Fraser Park, Hutt Valley on Sunday morning and then beat Auckland United in the final in the afternoon.

The 2-1 win over PK was tight all the way, but Australian pitcher Andrew Kirpatrick (who will line up for Australia when they play the Black Sox later this month) pitching for Ramblers gained five strikeouts to help his side. The runs were batted in by John Hireme and Hale.

In the final Mt Albert Ramblers defeated Auckland United 9-3. Again Hale starred with the bat, hitting two home runs resulting in four runs batted in. Pitcher, Kirpatrick also hit a home run and pitched the final for the win. Black Sox player Thomas Enoka hit a two run, home run for United in the final.

Top batters named at the tournament were Black Sox players Thomas Makea(Poneke Kilbirnie), Nathan Nukunuku(Ramblers), and Ben Enoka(Auckland United) who all batted 0.500 for the week. Top pitcher was Kirpatrick, and MVP was Nathan Nukunuku.

Hawkes Bay Dodgers won the women’s tournament at Rosedale Park in North Harbour beating Magpies from Kelston in West Auckland 7-3, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament.

The Dodgers win was a family affair with Courtney and Melanie Gettins being named in the White Sox team for the World Champs in the Netherlands in August and their Dodgers team being coached by father Kevin (also the Junior White Sox coach) and mother, Charmaine the Dodgers manager. The last time Hawkes Bay won the title was when Charmaine was playing in the 1980’s.

The third placed team was Waitakere Bears with Te Aroha Hutt Valley and Otahuhu fourth equal.

The White Sox team features five American based players and one based in Australia. The Gettins sisters from Hawkes Bay are notable, while there is just one player, Danica Ferriso from the Wellington region, representing Hutt Valley. The remaining players from the Auckland regions (six) and two from Canterbury.

Former captain of the World Championship winning 1982 White Sox, Naomi Shaw is the head coach of the team.


NZ White Sox Team for the ISF Women’s World Championships 2014
15 – 24 August 2014 in Haarlem, Netherlands
ISF World Championship Team 2014

Andrews, Lara USA
Bromhead, Kyla, Auckland
Bromhead, Rebecca, Auckland
Cooper, Ellie, USA
Farrell, Megan, Auckland
Feret, Jennifer,* Auckland
Ferriso, Danica, Hutt Valley
Gettins, Courtney, Hawkes Bay
Gettins, Melanie, Hawkes Bay
Houkamau, Tyneesha, USA
Matautia, Te Reo Powhiri, USA
Nukunuku, Katrina, Auckland
Siataga, Cassie, Canterbury
Stewart, Taylor-Paige, USA
Tangaroa, Michal, Auckland
Webber, Stacey, Australia
Werahiko, Mikayla, Canterbury

Non Travelling Reserves

Avery, Kingsley USA
Bromhead, Tegan Auckland
Hearne, Shannon Australia
Hoani, Krysta USA
Stavert, Beth Auckland
Van Molendorff, Ancelle Auckland
Wills, Gillian Auckland

* Subject to citizenship

Head coach – Naomi Shaw,
Assistant coaches – Debbie Mygind , Israel Nukunuku
Manager Anaru Pewhairangi.