Veteran Black Sox pitcher Heinie Shannon keen to continue, catcher Stephen Ratu undecided
The two 40-year-olds formed the pitcher-catcher battery when the Black Sox took the silver medal at the 2015 world championships in Canada.
But while Shannon is still unavailable for selection for the 2017 series, Ratu is considering winding down his top-level career.
"I'm still undecided, but I'm not playing for Canterbury this year," Ratu said. "I'm just going to have a rest from it, but I may be back next year.
"Ideally, I kind of want to not play, but if they're struggling for numbers and need me, I'm not going to turn them down if they ask me. At this stage, I'll see how the body holds up."
Ratu said he was "still loving" playing club softball for the Parklands Christchurch United Devils where he was enjoying helping develop some younger players. "It's giving me a new lease of life."
The Ratu family are steeped in softball. Stephen is coaching the Canterbury under-15 boys team this season and his son's under-9 teeball team while his wife, Carley Ratu, a former Canterbury, Wellington and Junior White Sox catcher, is coaching their daughter's under-13 side and the Canterbury Development under-15 gilrls squad.
Ratu said he still had not completely got over the Black Sox's defeat in the world championships grand final, which they lost 10-5 to Canada after leading 5-0 after three innings, but he enjoyed the tournament in Saskatoon and "was really proud of the way the boys battled back after our losses to Argentina and Canada [in pool play]."
Shannon is still playing club softball in Auckland for Marist and declared he was as keen as ever to take the mound for the Black Sox again.
"It wasn't the result we wanted [in Canada], but I am still putitng my hand up. It depends on what [Black Sox head coach] Mark Sorenson wants. It's up to him who he selects, but at the moment I am just playing anyway."
Shannon said he had turned 40, but he believed he could continue through to the 2017 tournament in Whitehorse, Yukon. "You are a long time retired, but anything can happen and it's up to the coaching staff.
The Aucklander said losing the final in Saskatoon "left a bad taste in my mouth" and he was keen to for another chance to get a gold medal.
Shannon was New Zealand's pitching ace in Saskatoon and was seleted to start the big games ahead of younger pitchers Nik Hayes and Kurt Schollum.
He said he was happy with his form for most of the tournament, but was still disappointed with the outcome.
But Shannon hurt his knee in Canada, but said it had recovered after "a couple of months' rest" and he was "back into it" on the Auckland club scene.
 - Stuff
