(click logo to visit the official ISF XII World Championships website)
The following is the first in a series of team previews for the 2009 ISF World Championships that begins later this week. We thought it fitting to begin with the reigning world champions, the New Zealand Black Sox.
(click logo to visit official team website for the Black Sox)
The following article ran back in March, 2009, but provides a good look at the squad preparing to defend its world title.
(click logo for original news story)
Black Sox go for new look
By Linda Wood
It will be a new-look Black Sox softball team that will attempt to win a fourth consecutive world championship crown in Saskatoon, Canada in July.
Four players who were available for this year’s tournament, and were members of the side in 2004 side, have missed selection in the team meaning captain Jarrad Martin, Patrick Shannon, Brad Rona, Nathan Nukunuku, Roman Gabriel, Thomas Makea and Donny Hale are the survivors while Aaron Neemia and pitcher Heinie Shannon were both members of the Samoa team at the 2004 world championships.
“It has been a big call,” Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said.
“The players have just been unable to recapture the form they had in 2004.
“There are some unlucky players and they will be disappointed.”
Kohlhase has also made a big call in going outside of his initial training squad and including Auckland’s Enoka brothers, Thomas and Ben, in the team. Just over a year ago the two were named in the Junior Black Sox team for that side’s world championship, which was also played in Canada.
Thomas has joined the pitching staff spearheaded by veteran Marty Grant, with support from Jeremy Manley and Heinie Shannon.
Ben has been named in the outfield with Rhys Casley, Thomas Makea, Donny Hale, Daniel Milne and Gareth Cooke.
“They are the real bolters,” Kohlhase said. “I think they have a very big future in the game.”
Kohlhase has also, as expected, named Travis Wilson in the side. Wilson was a member of the world championship team in 1996 but for the next eight years pursued a professional baseball career, mainly with the Atlanta Braves.
He returned to the Black Sox team four years ago and quickly re-established himself in the side but, due to his work commitments – Wilson is the fielding coach for the Black Caps – missed the tour of South America in November and then last month’s Pacific Series in Apia.
“He brings to the team another professional approach,” Kohlhase said.
While the Black Sox have dominated the world championships – they have contested the last six finals and won four of them including the last three – they don’t talk about defending the crown.
“This is a new team,” Kohlhase said.
“To win this tournament is going to take all 17 players pulling in the right direction.
“It is going to be a tough one, though.”
Meanwhile, a combination of experience and youth make up the White Sox team for the Southern Cross Challenge and the test series against Australia next month in Christchurch.
Recalled to the side are Cindy Potae, Kiri Shaw and Michal Tangaroa.
Potae and Shaw have more than a decade of international softball experience with world championship and Olympic Games experience behind them, while Tangaroa, who is the daughter of former Black Sox pitcher Chubb, has played in a world championship tournament.
The only new cap in the team is Hutt Valley’s Atsuko Tamaka.
“We need some experienced players in there so they can pass that on to the younger ones,” White Sox coach Dean Rice said.
Click here to view the player profiles at the official Black Sox website.
Roster and profiles (without photos) after the jump.
Black Sox Profiles
SNZ Webmaster23 Jun 2009
NZCT Black Sox Player Profiles
JEREMY MANLEY
Position: Pitcher
Club: Hutt City United
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 15/05/82
Career details: – Victory in the 2006 Commonwealth Tournament was Jeremy’s first taste of international softball with the NZCT Black Sox. He secured a place in the team last season on the back of strong performances for his club side Hutt City United as he led them to the 2006 NZCT National Club title. With his first taste of international softball behind him Jeremy is now looking to cement his place in the team with the 2009 World Championships in mind.
Highlight of playing career:
HEINIE SHANNON
Position: Pitcher
Club: Auckland United
Province: Auckland
DOB: 21/06/75
Career details: – It has been a long time between appearances for Heinie in the NZCT Black Sox uniform. Making his debut in 1998 Heinie has not played for New Zealand since the North American tour of 2002, so he will be keen to make the most of every opportunity in Canada. While he may not have been playing for New Zealand in recent years Heinie has not been lost to international softball as he has been representing Samoa.
Highlight of playing career:
MARTY GRANT
Position: Pitcher
Club: Stoke Eagles- Nelson, Southern Pride,
Province: Nelson
DOB: 16th February 1966
Career details: – Marty made his debut for the Black Sox in 1990 and has played in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 world championship tournaments. Injury on the eve of the 2004 event ruled him out of a fourth world championship in front of his home crowd. Grant had retired after helping the Black Sox win the 2006 inaugural Commonwealth tournament in Melbourne, but made a return to the game earlier this year.
Highlight of playing career: When I was first selected for the Black Sox was a most memorable occasion, however the highlight of my playing career was when the Black Sox played Japan at Trafalgar Park in Nelson in 2002 and I was able to pitch the team to victory in front of my home crowd.
THOMAS ENOKA
Position: Pitcher
Association: Auckland
Career details: – North Harbour National League squad 2009, New Zealand Junior Black Sox 2008
Highlight of playing career:
PATRICK SHANNON
Position: Catcher
Club: Waitakere Bears
Province: Auckland
DOB: 21/06/75
Career details: – Patrick first debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1995 and was in and out of the team before cementing his place in the side in 2001. Since then he has become a regular feature of the side and was part of the 2004 World Championship winning team.
Patrick is joined in the team by his twin brother Heinie.
Highlight of playing career:
STEPHEN RATU
Position: Catcher
Club:
Province: Canterbury
DOB:
Career details: –
Highlight of playing career:
JARRAD MARTIN
Position: Infield
Club: Northcote
Province: North Harbour
DOB: 05/02/73
Career details: – When it comes to softball there is little that Jarrad hasn’t achieved in his illustrious career. Since debuting for the NZCT Black Sox in 1991 Jarrad has claimed three world championship gold medals, a Commonwealth Series gold, two Pacific Cup titles and numerous provincial and club titles in New Zealand.
Highlight of playing career:
TRAVIS WILSON
Position: Infield
Club: Papanui, Christchurch New Zealand
Midwest Stampede, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Province: Canterbury
DOB: 10/07/77
Career details: – Travis debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1995 and was part of the 1996 World Championship winning team. Stella performances in that tournament caught the eye of American baseball scouts and he signed up for the Atlanta Braves in 1996. Travis returned to softball in New Zealand 2004 with a recall to the NZCT Black Sox in 2005.
Highlight of playing career: Winning 1996 World Championships and the NZ Club Champs with Mt Albert Ramblers.
Other sport involvement of note: Played 8 Professional Baseball seasons with the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.
Now Fielding Coach for New Zealand Cricket and the NZ Black Caps.
BRAD RONA
Position: Infield
Club: Northcote
Province: North Harbour
DOB: 17/02/76
Career details: – Brad has been in the NZCT Black Sox team for the last seven years after making his debut in the team’s gold medal winning performance at the 2000 World Championships. He claimed world championship gold again in 2004 with the NZCT Black Sox and caught the eye of the New Zealand sports fans with his power hitting and refusal to take a step backwards.
Highlight of playing career:
NATHAN NUKUNUKU
Position: Infield
Club: Mt Albert Ramblers
Province: Auckland
DOB: 08/05/80
Career details: – Nathan burst on to the international softball stage as a 19-year-old in 1999 joining his older brother Dion in the side. Since then Nathan has gone on to claim two world championship titles with the highlight being the 2004 win in front of a home crowd in Christchurch. Nathan has also had plenty of success with both his club side and provincially for Auckland with three club national titles and three NZCT National League victories to his credit.
Highlight of playing career:
THOMAS MAKEA
Position: Outfield
Club: Porirua
Province: Wellington
DOB: 20/08/75
Career details: – As a three time world champion Thomas is something of a veteran in the NZCT Black Sox team but the desire to be the best continues to drive the world class outfielder. Thomas debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1994 and has been a fixture of the team ever since. A leader within in the team he is formidable in the batters box and hard to beat in the outfield.
Highlight of playing career:
DANIEL MILNE
Position: Outfield
Club: PCU Devils,
Province: Canterbury
DOB: 07/09/78
Career details: – Daniel has been in and out of the Black Sox team since he made his debut in 1999 against Australia in Canberra.
Highlight of playing career: Making the 2009 world series team.
DONNY HALE
Position: Outfield
Club: Mt Albert Ramblers
Province: Auckland
DOB: 03/04/75
Career details: – Donny has been part of two world championship winning NZCT Black Sox teams in 2000 and 2004 and is an experienced member of the New Zealand team. The past season has seen Donny taste considerable success in the role of player coach as he has claimed the NZCT National League title with Auckland and the NZCT Open Club Championship crown with Mt Albert Ramblers.
Highlight of playing career:
RHYS CASLEY
Position: Outfield
Club: Hutt City United
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 21/12/78
Career details – Rhys debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 2002 but is still to cement his place in the side. He won an international recall in 2005 for the Evodrive Series where he was in impressive form with the bat. Along with maintaining a successful career in New Zealand he has also tasted plenty of success in America where he plays in the off season.
GARETH COOK
Position: Outfield
Club: Parklands United
Province: Canterbury
DOB:
Career details – Gareth was a late replacement in the team for last year’s Pacific Series and his performance at that tournament has seen him retained in the team for the qualifier. Made his Black Sox debut in 1998 for the North American tour.
ROMAN GABRIEL
Position: Infielder
Association: Auckland
Career details – Roman made his debut for the Black Sox in 1995 for the tour of North America but it was another three years before he played for the national side, but he was still unable to secure a regular spot in the team and again he found himself on the outer until a recall to the side in 2001. He was a member of the Black Sox team that won the 2004 world championship. He had retired from the game a couple of seasons ago, but returned to the diamond this season. Gabriel is also the assistant White Sox coach.
BEN ENOKA
Position: Outfield
Association: Auckland
Career details: Auckland 39ers 2008 and 2009. New Zealand Junior Black Sox 2008