Mix Of Experience & Youth In Black Sox To Take On Aussie

The Black Sox softball team for the Trans-Tasman series against the Australian Steelers next week has been confirmed with a mixed of experience and youth set to combine to provide some big-hitting against their rivals who have arguably the world’s best pitcher.

Australia will be aiming to avenge their feisty quarterfinal loss to the Black Sox in the 2013 World Championships while New Zealand has named a relatively new international side, but still kept a few experienced players such as captain, Nathan Nukunuku, Donny Hale and Brad Rona as well as Thomas Makea.
“Experience wise Thomas Makea is back to help with his leadership. He’s a proven performer at international level and puts fear in the opponents he demands respect. Captain Nathan Nukunuku is a great captain and leader of the team as well,” said Black Sox Head Coach, Mark Sorenson.

“It’s the start of a new future for the Black Sox. There are only seven players from last year’s world Champs. There are some extremely talented players who have been named who have been knocking on the door for a few years.”

“Te Wera Bishop has come back from the Boston Red Socks and has had a good transition into softball. He’s very young and technically very sound behind the plate. A couple of other young players to watch out for  include Jerome Raemaki who had previously been a captain of the U19 team along with pitcher Kurt Schollum who has been in the Black Sox in 2012.”

Australia have Adam Folkard and Andrew Kirkpatrick as their pitching staff. Folkard has been clocked pitching at just under 140kph and is widely regarded as the world’s best while Kirkpatrick helped Ramblers win the New Zealand club title last weekend.

“The Australian team is going through a similar transition period. It will be a good yardstick and a test of our strength. They have two top pitchers in Folkard and Kirkpatrick. It should be a really good contest against them. There’s a bit of rivalry between the two teams,” says Sorenson.

Games will be played Friday 28 March at 7.30pm and Saturday 29 March midday and 2.30pm. All three games will be live on SKY Television. 

Other than hosting the world championships in 2013, these tests represent the first time the Black Sox have been involved in an international game on home soil since 2008.

The series will be played at Tradestaff Rosedale Park in North Harbour, the scene of the Black Sox World Championships win last year.

The game schedule (live of SKYSPORTS) is as follows:
Game 1: Fri March 28 – 7:30pm
Game 2: Sat March 29 – 12:00pm
Game 3: Sat March 29 – 2:30pm
http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2014/mar/nz-black-sox-vs-aussie-steelers.
New Zealand Black Sox team for Trans-Tasman Series:
Pitchers
Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley), Regan Manley (Canterbury), Kurt Schollum (Marlborough), Heinnie Shannon (Auckland).
Catchers
Te Wera Bishop (Wellington), Stephen Ratu (Canterbury).
Infield
Tyrone Bartorillo (Canterbury), Thomas Enoka (Auckland), Nathan Nukunuku (Auckland) (Captain), Jerome Raemaki (Wellington), Brad Rona (North Harbour).
Outfield
Ben Enoka (Auckland), Donny Hale (Auckland), Wayne Laulu (Wellington), Campbell Makea (Wellington), Thomas Makea (Wellington), Josh Thomson (Canterbury).