Softball New Zealand announced the names of the 16 athletes who have been selected to contest the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup. The Junior White Sox will open the tournament in Group A, to be played at Estadio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 23 to 27 July.
The 2024 New Zealand Junior White Sox team is as follows;
Clover Alapaki
Mckenzie Bailey-McDowell
Siobhan Bolger
Savannah-Lee Farrar
Yvanni Gibson
Angela Harrison
Caitlin Henderson
Maysen Kurene-Iwikau
Poppy Priddle
Kaiyah Ratu
Maggie Shields
Penny Starr
Waimarie Tawera
Maiarangi Waipara
Trinity Waiwiri-Toka
Jayda Walters-Rangitihi
This selection includes four non-travelling reserves: Abigail Church, Iris Feng, Jaimee Hoani and Riana Hill.
“It is a mixture of experience, players that have been in the Junior White Sox program for 2-3 years, with some exciting new younger talent that have really stood out this season and been consistent with their performance,” said head coach Kiri Shaw.
Editor’s Notes:
Kaiyah Ratu is the daughter of New Zealand Black Sox player Stephen Ratu. North Americans will remember that Stephen played in the ISC with Patsys for a number of years.
McKenzie Bailey-McDowell is the daughter of 2000 New Zealand White Sox Olympian Jayde Bailey at the Sydney Australia Games. McKenzie is also the youngest sister of Nerrisa, who played for the New Zealand White Sox at last year’s World Cup Group stage in Italy last year.
Head Coach Kiri Shaw was teammate of Bailey at the Olympics and daughter of New Zealand White Sox World Champion Captain Naomi Shaw, New Zealand’s only World Cup Gold in 1982. Naomi is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) award in the Queen’s Birthday honours.