New Zealand Black Sox name blend of seasoned softballers and rising talent in new-look training squad

Veteran Black Sox captain Nathan Nukunuku heads a 32-strong national training squad.

New Zealand Black Sox men’s softball coach Mark Sorenson has kept faith with his world champion team and has also called up 11 uncapped newcomers in naming a 32-man training squad to prepare for a series with the Czech Republic.

Veteran infielder Brad Rona and pitcher-utility Karl Gollan have retired, but the remaining 15 gold medallists involved in the Black Sox’s record seventh world championship victory at Whitehorse, Canada in July will take part in the Czech series on February 10-11 at Albany.

The squad includes captain Nathan Nukunuku, who is bidding to attend a record seventh world championships tournament in 2019.

Jerome Raemaki returns to the Black Sox training squad after knee surgery.

“All the guys available from the Whitehorse squad are back,” Sorenson said. “It’s recognition of their achievement. This is their free pass – from here, moving forward, we’ll be back to selecting entirely on performance.”

Sorenson and his selection panel have also added a clutch of promising younger players, including Canterbury utility Reilly Makea and Auckland catcher Harrison Valk, who are still eligible for the 2018 Junior Black Sox under-19 world championship team.

Canterbury teammates Callum Bishop (L), Reilly Makea and Jackson Watt have been named in the Black Sox training squad after earlier representing the Junior Black Sox. The trio play for champion Canterbury club Papanui.

“We are quite excited by the young talent coming through,” said Sorenson, who added the Black Sox were building depth in most positions.

Former Junior Black Sox standout Daniel Chapman (Auckland) and left-hander Eru Drage (North Harbour) – who have yet to play for the Black Sox – join 2017 world championships pitchers Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley), Josh Pettett (Wellington) and Campbell Gibson (Auckland).

The other uncapped players include Valk, Makea and his Papanui and Canterbury teammates Jackson Watt (outfield) and Callum Bishop (infield), infielders Dante Matakatea (Wellington), Zac Boyd (Wellington) and Rhys Evans (Auckland) and outfielders Bradley Bennett (Auckland) and Vinnie Harris (North Harbour).

Auckland Marist pitcher Daniel Chapman has been called into the Black Sox training squad.

Most have already had international experience with the Junior Black and the New Zealand Major Sox under-23 team.

Wellington infielder Jerome Raemaki, who missed the 2017 world championships after knee surgery, returns for the trial series.

Sorenson said Raemaki and Auckland outfielder Ben Enoka, who was side-lined for most of the tournament in Canada with a leg problem, were “not quite 100 per cent” fit, but would be by the time the trial rolled around.

The players will assemble in Auckland on Thursday February 8 for a training camp on Friday February 9.

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