Black Sox named for Oceania qualifier

Black Sox named for Oceania qualifier

Hard work has been rewarded in the naming of the Golden Homes Black Sox softball team for next month’s ISF Oceania Qualifying series at North Harbour.

Black Sox head coach Mark Sorenson has confirmed a 17-player team for the series against Australia and Samoa, where two teams will qualify for the World Championships in Saskatoon, Canada next year.

New Zealand is ranked first, Australia third and Samoa seventh after the 2013 World Championships held in Auckland, and Sorenson is mindful Australia will be at full strength and Samoa a tough team to beat.

“Samoa are going to be no slouches. We’re not taking them lightly, we know most of their players well. Australia have recalled a lot of their 2009 world champs-winning team and have great experience in their side across the park. We saw them earlier this year and it was a closely contested series. This will be a strong Aussie team,” says Sorenson.

Regarding his own team, Sorenson has named one new cap, Hutt Valley’s Cory Timu. Returning to the team is Jeremy Manley from the United States, who won the top pitcher award at the last world champs. Hutt Valley infielders Joel Evans, back after previously being part of the Black Sox squad, and Tyson Byrne a member of the world championship-winning team, return as well.

“Cory Timu is a debutant catcher and a good player, who has been in the extended squad previously," says Sorenson. "We asked him to work on some things, and he’s worked hard on them and has stepped up.

"We spoke to Joel [Evans] and asked him to work on his conditioning. Such was the turnaround that he was leading the fitness testing at Black Sox camps. It’s great to see that sort of determination coming through.

“Jeremy Manley pitched for us in the world champs final. We’re bringing him back from out of the depths of winter at Bloomington, Illinois. It will be good to have a look at him and have him back in the camp.”

Sorenson is at pains to point out the seriousness of the tournament.

“There’s no second chances in this tournament. It’s going to be tough. There’s going to be some quality softball and some really competitive play.”

The ISF Qualifier will be the highlight of this summer's softball calendar and broadcast by SKY Sports. The series is to be held December 12-13 at Rosedale Park, North Harbour. Tickets are now available from iticket.co.nz.

http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2014/dec/isf-mens-world-softball-championship-qualifiers/nocache

Tournament draw:
Friday, December 12
2pm: Samoa v Australia.
5pm: New Zealand v Samoa
7.30pm: New Zealand v Australia

Saturday December 13
12.30pm: New Zealand v Australia
3pm: Australia v Samoa
5pm: New Zealand v Samoa
7:30pm. Playoff/Final

Golden Homes Black Sox team: Nik Hayes(Hutt Valley) Tyson Byrne (Hutt Valley), Joel Evans (Hutt Valley), Cory Timu (Hutt Valley), Heinie Shannon (Auckland), Kurt Schollum (Marlborough), Stephen Ratu (Canterbury), Thomas Enoka (Auckland), Tyron Bartorillo (Canterbury), Nathan Nukunuku (Auckland, captain), Josh Harbrow (Canterbury), Jerome Raemaki (Wellington), Ben Enoka (Auckland), Wayne Laulu (Wellington), Campbell Makea (Wellington), Donny Hale (Auckland), Jeremy Manley (United States based).

© Scoop Media