Auckland United are storming through the softball season as they look to secure their fifth straight premier men’s crown.
So far in the 2016/17 Auckland season, United are undefeated through 12 games with six games left to play.
Their only blemish was an unexpected loss to traditional rivals – Mt Albert Ramblers – in the final of the Rock Chote tournament in November.
They’ve since beaten Ramblers twice in the local competition and sit two points clear of them at the top of the table.
United’s captain and centre-fielder Ben Enoka said the team’s goal was to win the Auckland competition.
“Everything we compete in we always look to do our best and win everything we can,” Enoka said.
The side is bolstered by a handful of current Black Sox players including Enoka’s brothers Thomas and Campbell, as well as pitcher Bayley Hoani, Alfons Oveinikovas, Isaac Fletcher and Kallan Compain.
Those seven, plus some new additions to the squad, have helped United solidify their spot as Auckland’s premier softball club.
“With seven of us being part of the wider Black Sox squad, it definitely bolsters our team in terms of hitting,” Enoka said.
“We’re also fortunate enough to have one of the Black Sox pitchers in Bayley Hoani, and he’s been really good on the mound.”
So good in fact, that United have allowed just seven runs through their 12 games – scoring 73 runs of their own.
United’s coach Duncan Enoka – father of Ben – puts it down to the team’s focus on defense and their ability to gel both on and off the field.
“I just think we’ve established a culture within our team, which is a family culture, and we’ve benefited from it in terms of how we play,” coach Enoka said.
“Our emphasis is on defense, our batting comes naturally with these players, but in terms of training, we focus a hell of a lot on defense.”
United have dispensation for this weekend’s club game against Marist as they travel to the annual PK (Poneke Kilbirnie softball) Classic in Wellington.
They’ll look to back up their tournament winning performance at last year’s event with some of the best clubs in the country on show.
They will then eye up the NZ Open Men’s Clubs Championships in March – New Zealand softball’s premier club tournament which United won in 2012.
“Club nationals is the major goal, but the PK tournament will be the real test for us this weekend,” coach Enoka said.
For the Black Sox players, February’s Challenge Cup at AWF Sports Stadium in Albany will be their next focus as they compete against the likes of Japan, Argentina, Australia – all ranked in the world’s top five.
They will use this as preparation for the 2017 ISF Men’s World Championship held in Whitehorse, Canada, where the side will look to claim a record-breaking seventh world title.
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