Black Sox to take on Australia in Series

Softball in New Zealand will be receiving a huge boost in March this year with confirmation of a three-test series between the world champion New Zealand Black Sox and the Australian Steelers will be shown live on Sky Sport in New Zealand.

Rosedale Park, the scene of the Black Sox world championships win last year will be the venue for the series with a Friday night game and then a Saturday double-header.

“This is a significant milestone for our game and of course the Black Sox brand. Other than hosting the world championships in 2013, these tests represent the first time the Black Sox have been involved in an international game on home soil since 2008,.” said Tony Giles, Chief Executive Softball New Zealand “Having live coverage on Sky gives the sport an ideal opportunity to profile our sport and just how talented the Black Sox really are.”

The series is likely to feature a powerful Black Sox team with Australia also intending to send a team with all of their stars in a bid to avenge their quarterfinal loss to the Black Sox in the 2013 world championships.

Meanwhile Mark Sorenson the Black Sox coach believes it is a huge bonus in so many ways to have this series on the calendar and on TV.

“It’s exciting for the Black Sox and for softball. The games which were televised last year at the world champs were well received,“ says Sorensen. ”There’s no better team to play than the Aussies. In the last probably six to seven years there has been real competition between the two countries which is to their credit – they’ve raised their game. We will select the best team available from the players in New Zealand. We want to reward the domestic based players.”

The New Zealand Black Sox will host the Australian Steelers over the weekend of March 28-30 at Rosedale Park, North Harbour.

ENDS

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