Cap tip Blair Setford
The Black Sox are confident they’ve put their spat over baseball behind them as they begin the countdown to next year’s world championships on the North Shore.
Less than a year out, they are being measured for fitness, minus two defectors, but the watchword now is “togetherness”.
Just a handful of home runs from Rosedale Park, where the world championships take place next March, the Black Sox are putting on a show of unity after a difficult year.
“For us it’s just about togetherness,” says captain Rhys Casley. “There’s only one way we’re going to win this thing, and that’s together. We need to be closer than ever before to get this thing back.”
The Black Sox suffered defections when leaders forced players to choose between the Softball World Championship and the Baseball World Qualifiers.
“There’s a lot of friendship,” says outfielder Ben Enoka. “It’s real close, you know, brothers. We get along well.”
Back in the family fold, but almost a black sheep, Enoka flirted with the bigger sport and wanted to continue with both, but was told no.
“I would have, but I guess I had to make a decision, and my decision at the end of the day is to be a Black Sox and be committed to this plan.”