Co-captain Gareth Cook is confident the Canterbury Red Sox have a great shot at winning the national men’s softball title for the first time in 14 years.
The former Black Sox outfielder – who shares the leadership with catcher Stephen Ratu – and coach Carl Franklin both believe Canterbury can draw confidence from their leading players’ efforts at last weekend’s Dean Schick Memorial club tournament in Auckland.
Richmond, with Canterbury strike pitchers Penese Iosefo and Nathan Taikato on the mound, made the final where they lost 2-0 to defending champions Miramar after beating Cook’s club, the PCU Devils, in the semifinals.
“That was a good hit-out,” Cook said. “We’ve seen some good pitching and we are just as good a shot [at winning the nationals] as anyone.”
Franklin – who played in the last Canterbury team to win a national title in 1997 – said the Dean Schick tournament results “showed that if we front up we are right up there. No-one’s any better than we are, that’s for sure.”
The National Fastpitch Championship tournament starts in Auckland today with six teams in the men’s field. After Canterbury lost last year’s final to Wellington, Franklin told his players immediately after that defeat “not to forget it, because it should make us stronger”.
The return of Black Sox outfielder Daniel Milne and experienced infielder Stephen McFarlane has bolstered the Red Sox’s defence and their batting depth. Milne will play both at shortstop and in the outfield.
Franklin said pitching coach Murray Britt had been working hard with the hurlers, Iosefo, Taikato and Papanui’s Scott Sutherland. Britt was yesterday trying to eradicate a problem Iosefo had with a slight movement of his front foot, which saw him called for illegal pitches in the Dean Schick final.
Cook and Ratu will be hoping for strong individual performances to press their claim for a Black Sox recall for this winter’s North American tour. But personal goals are secondary to the team’s title tilt.
Cook said the younger Canterbury players had “got a bit more confidence” from winning the Southern Cross tournament in Brisbane last April. “They realise they can compete with anyone in the country.”
Milne’s return to the number three hitting slot was a major boost. “It’s about me and him clicking. We’ve got to hit well together,” said Cook, who bats at four.
Canterbury also has a wealth of top contact hitters in McFarlane, Matt Holmes and Tyron Bartorillo. Cook said Iosefo, who will play at first base when not pitching, and outfielder Scott Higgins also had “good power”. “I think we cover all the bases.”
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Franklin is looking for Holmes, Bartorillo and outfielder Josh Thompson, “who are around 26 or 27 now”, to step up this week and young shortstop Josh Harbrow to continue his Dean Schick tournament form.
The Canterbury coach expects the pitching at the tournament to be “very even” with Black Sox pair Heinie Shannon and Thomas Enoka fronting for Auckland, Thomas Cameron, Frank Pointon and Karl Gollan toeing the rubber for Wellington, Regan Manley leading the charge for Hawke’s Bay and two Black Sox tourists Brad Rona and Shaun Jamieson doing the duties for North Harbour and Hutt Valley, respectively.
Wellington, with Black Sox veteran Thomas Makea and Wayne Laulu leading the long ball hitting, and Hutt Valley have particularly powerful batting lineups.
CANTERBURY RED SOX: Nathan Taikato, Penese Iosefo, Scott Sutherland (pitchers), Stephen Ratu (co-capt), Antony Stuart (catchers), Jamie Frisby, Matt Holmes, Stephen McFarlane, Tyron Bartorillo, Josh Harbrow, Daniel Milne, Gareth Cook (co-capt), Josh Thompson, Scott Higgins, Callum Muir.
[…] to settle for third behind Canterbury and Southern Pride. Editor’s note: The win makes this pre-tournament comment prophetic: “Co-captain Gareth Cook is confident the Canterbury Red Sox have a great shot at winning the […]