By TONY SMITH OPINION: Retiring catcher Paddy Shannon summed up the challenge facing softball now when he said the Black Sox were "famous for an hour-and-a-half a night". "People like winning teams and the Black Sox are lucky to have a winning tradition." Live coverage of the New Zealand softball team's record sixth world championship success clearly struck a chord … [Read more...]
Black Sox back to day jobs after triumph
Veteran Jarrad Martin, 40, is a father of five and an electrician. Fellow old-timer Thomas Makea is a drainlayer, injured pitcher Heinie Shannon a panelbeater (needing some work himself) and brother Patrick is a cellarmaster. So much for being labelled too old, out of form and hardly befitting a million dollars of high-performance funding. "We were in a slump for a few … [Read more...]
Bartorillo bats aside irate former team-mates
By TONY SMITH Tyron Bartorillo says winning a gold medal with the Black Sox is sweeter than taking the title with his native Australia after being targeted during the tournament by his former team-mates. The Queensland-born Canterbury third baseman became only the second player in International Softball Federation history to win a world championship with different nations … [Read more...]
ISF World Champion Black Sox face exodus of talent
By Tony Smith Black Sox mentor Eddie Kohlhase is set to bow out as a world champion but the record-breaking team's two most decorated players might put up their hands as future coaches. The Black Sox, who beat Venezuela 4-1 in yesterday's final in Auckland, embellished their reputation as one of the most successful teams in New Zealand sport, winning their sixth gold medal … [Read more...]
Video Highlights from 2013 ISF Gold Medal Game
Click here for video highlights of the Gold Medal Game. Black Sox skipper Rhys Casley completed a miraculous comeback from injury to provide a winning three-run homer and secure New Zealand's sixth title at the world softball championship. New Zealand defeated Venezuela 4-1 in the final at Auckland's Rosedale Park on Sunday, coming back after Venezuela started strongly … [Read more...]
New Zealand Black Sox on top of the world
Coach Kohlhase proud as Captain Courageous Casley shoulders burden and steps up to plate when it matters. Three weeks before winning a record sixth world softball championship, the Black Sox couldn't even beat a club team. Or, more accurately, two club teams. Auckland side Ramblers and the Hutt Valley Dodgers combined to dish out three defeats to the national side, who … [Read more...]
New Zealand wins 2013 ISF Men’s Fastpitch World Championships
Article courtesy of British Softball Federation. Auckland, New Zealand: March 10 -- Two big swings of the bat -- a solo home run by Patrick Shannon in the second inning and a three-run blast by Rhys Casley in the third -- were enough to bring the ISF World Championship home to New Zealand today, as the Black Sox defeated Venezuela 4-1 in the Gold Medal game. Earlier … [Read more...]