From Stuff.co.nz Pitcher Ben Watts and outfielder Reilly Makea blasted huge home runs as the Papanui Tigers preserved their lead in the Canterbury men's softball premiership. Watts, who will spearhead the Canterbury Red Sox attack at the National Fastpitch Championships, sent a towering hit into orbit over leftfield on the open diamond at Papanui Domain to set up a 4-1 … [Read more...]
New Zealand Men’s Softball to receive $50K increase for 2019 World campaign
Editor's note: The New Zealand Black Sox won gold in 2017 at the WBSC World Championship at Whitehorse. Their efforts have been rewarded with a $50,000 increase for the coming 2019 campaign. From tvnz.co.nz "Men's softball will get an increase of $50,000 to help it prepare for the 2019 World Cup." … [Read more...]
New Zealand All Blacks high performance head Don Tricker confirms move to the San Diego Padres
From Stuff.co.nz By TONY SMITH Don Tricker says it is "very humbling" to become the first New Zealander to work in high performance for a Major League Baseball club, but leaving the All Blacks was a tough decision. Tricker, a two-time world champion New Zealand Black Sox men's softball coach, will become the San Diego Padres' director of player health and performance after … [Read more...]
New Zealand Black Sox retain services of legend Mark Sorenson as head coach for 2019 World Championship
From TVNZ.co.nz Mark Sorenson has been rewarded for guiding New Zealand's Black Sox to this year's Men's Softball World Championships crown with a contract extension through to the next championships in 2019. The Black Sox became softball world champions for the fifth time in 21 years in July, beating Australia 6-4 in the final in Canada. Losing just one pool match to … [Read more...]
Pitcher to throw for Queensland Australia Under-19s
Editor's note: Always good to read about the development of young, up and coming pitchers. From the Observer By Matt Harris SOFTBALL: Rising softball star Michael Ludkin has been rewarded for his display at the recent Under-19 State Championships with a place in the Queensland U19 Men's team. The men's and women's teams were announced following the conclusion of the … [Read more...]
Bumper year continues for NZ under-15 developing sox softball player Mitchell Tweedie
From Stuff.co.nz By SCOTT DONALDSON, Stuff.co.nz Mitchell Tweedie is preparing to go to Australia for the International Softball Academy. Tweedie,15, is a Southland age group hockey representative, but had to decide whether to represent his province at the national championships next week, or fly to Sydney to play softball as part of the International Softball … [Read more...]
Nik Hayes: World championship softball pitcher and LPG deliverer
From Stuff.co.nz By NICHOLAS BOYACK Pitcher Nik Hayes came of age as a closer in the Black Sox's world championship win. When not playing softball, he delivers LPG. Nik Hayes was one of the heroes for the Black Sox in their come-from-behind 6-4 win over Australia to win their seventh world title. On Wednesday he arrived home to the Hutt Valley after a 22-hour flight in … [Read more...]