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 cattle class from Canada. On Monday it is back to work, delivering LPG.
It is a situation that applies to all the players in a team that, in terms of success (seven world championships), has a better record than the All Blacks.
The challenge facing softball is how to exploit that success.
Softball New Zealand (SNZ) chief executive Tony Giles has worked hard over the last three years transforming the organisation.
Black Sox head coach and Hutt Valley legend Mark Sorenson helped the team claim its seventh world title.
To him the challenge is not about exploiting the win but building on the sport’s momentum.
The team receives $250,000 from High Performance New Zealand and he said that was a solid start. There was a good sponsorship arrangement in place with Golden Homes and the relationship with Sky TV was growing.
With Mark Sorenson in charge, the Black Sox had undergone a transformation in style and athleticism.
The team no longer relied on brute strength to smash home runs but instead built pressure by looking to score at every opportunity.
Giles said improved fitness from better nutrition and preparation had also lifted the Black Sox, which was good for the image of the sport.
Their on-going success had created a positive vibe around softball and Giles was confident SNZ was well placed to continue the momentum that had been created.
One person who knows all about success is Rhys Casley.
In the 2013 final, held on the North Shore, the then Black Sox captain delivered a three-run homer to lead his team to their sixth world title.
These days he is on the board of SNZ and got a huge thrill from the win over Australia.
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