From the Press/Stuff New Zealand:
By JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax NZ
Tyson Byrne grew up watching Mark Sorenson strut his stuff on Hutt Valley softball diamonds and now he’s become one of his right-hand men in the Black Sox camp.
Byrne starred at shortstop as New Zealand won a record sixth world championship title last year but he will suit up at second base at the Oceania qualifying tournament against Australia and Samoa in Auckland this weekend.
The 26-year-old has also become part of the Black Sox leadership group as a deputy to captain Nathan Nukunuku.
Byrne took last season off international softball due to family commitments but he is enjoying being back with the Black Sox and working with Sorenson.
“I played under Mark for my junior world series campaign and it’s good to be involved with him again. And coming from Hutt Valley, I grew up with Mark around the ball parks a lot.”
Byrne said he had been part of the Black Sox since he was 18, but always planned to take a year off after the world championships.