Auckland, NZ - Veteran Black Sox stalwarts Brad Rona, Heinie Shannon and Stephen Ratu have been left out of a January training camp squad but the door is still open for world championship selection.
All three were part of the Black Sox's silver medal winning squad at the 2015 world series in Saskatoon, Canada.
Catcher Ratu, 40, is taking a year off representative softball, but left-handed pitcher Shannon, 40, and infielder Rona, 39, are still playing and keen to continue with the Black Sox.
Brad Rona on the diamond when the Black Sox won the 2013 world championship gold medal in Auckland. He is one of three veterans omitted from a 2016 training camp.
Veteran Black Sox stalwarts Brad Rona, Heinie Shannon and Stephen Ratu have been left out of a January training camp squad but the door is still open for world championship selection.
All three were part of the Black Sox's silver medal winning squad at the 2015 world series in Saskatoon, Canada.
Catcher Ratu, 40, is taking a year off representative softball, but left-handed pitcher Shannon, 40, and infielder Rona, 39, are still playing and keen to continue with the Black Sox.
Head coach Mark Sorenson has named a 26-man squad for the training camp in Auckland between January 15 and 17.
Sorenson told the three stalwarts he was "looking to the future and we've got to get some more talent involved".
"But if we get to the [2017] world series and they are still the best in their position, they will be selected."
Rona has played in five world championships since 2000 and won three gold medals. Shannon has represented New Zealand in the last three world tournaments after playing for Samoa in 2004. Ratu went to the 2009 and 2013 world championships.
Canterbury pitcher Penese Iosefo returns to the training squad as one six hurlers. He was part of the 2013 gold medal winning team, but stepped down from representative softball last year.
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"It's nice to have Penese back, he's a talented athlete who's been part of the national programme for some years, Sorenson said. "I first met him when he was part of my under-19 squad. I've coached him before and like the talent he brings to the diamond."
Iosefo will join Shannon's 2015 understudies Kurt Schollum (Marlborough) and Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley). Former Junior Black Sox pitchers, Ethan Johnston (Canterbury) and Auckland-based left-hander Eruera Drage have also been added.
Sorenson, a former catcher, is excited "by the talent we have available" in the catching department with North Harbour's Conor Peden, the back-up to Ratu in Saskatoon, joined by Hutt Valley's Cory Timu and Aucklanders Zane van Lieshout, Matt Oxley and Kallan Compain, a former Samoan international.
The infield group includes incumbents Nathan Nukunuku, the Black Sox captain, Jerome Raemaki, Tyson Byrne, Joel Evans, Josh Harbrow and Cole Evans with Auckland's Isaac Fletcher added.
"Isaac was unlucky to miss out for the last world series after playing really well in the back half of the season," Sorenson said.
Three Enoka brothers are part of the outfield contingent. Ben and Thomas Enoka, two mainstays in Saskatoon, are joined by younger brother Campbell.
They could be in line to become the first set of three brothers to represent New Zealand simultaneously.
Thomas Makea and his brothers Fabian and Campbell have all been Black Sox, but not at the same time.
Sorenson has also elevated the uncapped Hohepa Monk (North Harbour) and Alfons Oveinikovas (Auckland) and recalled former Canterbury's former Black Sox representative Josh Thomson.
Wellington veteran Wayne Laulu and Hawke's Bay-based utility Jovaan Hanley have been retained.
"When we selected our world series squad, we only had two specialist outfielders so there are plenty of spots up for grabs," Sorenson said.
He said Canterbury infielder Tyron Bartorillo, a world championship winner with both Australia and New Zealand, was not considered after trialling for the New Zealand Diamondblacks baseball team.
Campbell Makea, who went to Saskatoon, has not been selected for the training camp.
"Campbell's committed to doing a master's degree and he isn't able to commit to the full [Black Sox programme], but we've put him in an extended squad of 13 players we're also looking at," Sorenson said.
The selectors had named a 13-man extended squad to "keep an eye on their progress and to throw a lifeline to those guys by letting them know they are on the radar, and they are doing well."
The 26-man Black Sox training squad is: Pitchers: Kurt Schollum (Marlborough), Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley), Penese Iosefo (Canterbury), Bailey Pearson-Hoani (Auckland), Ethan Johnston (Canterbury), Eruera Drage (Auckland).
Catchers: Connor Peden (North Harbour), Cory Timu (Hutt Valley), Zane van Lieshout, Matt Oxley, Kallan Compain (Auckland).
Infielders: Jerome Raemaki (Wellington), Tyson Byrne, Joel Evans (Hutt Valley), Josh Harbrow (Canterbury), Nathan Nukunuku, Cole Evans, Isaac Fletcher (Auckland).
Outfielders-designated players: Ben Enoka, Thomas Enoka, Campbell Enoka, Alfons Oveinikovas (Auckland), Josh Thomson (Canterbury), Hohepa Monk (North Harbour), Wayne Laulu (Wellington).
Extended squad: Pitchers: Blake Radford (North Harbour), Josh Pettett (Wellington), Campbell Gibson (Auckland). Catchers: Ihaka Davis, Antony Stuart (Canterbury). Infielders: Pita Rona (North Harbour), Rhys Evans (Auckland), Dante Matakatea (Wellington).
Outfielders-designated players: Vincent Harris (North Harbour), Jerome Haretuku (Auckland), Campbell Makea (Wellington), Rongo Rapaea (Hawke's Bay), Frank Pointon (Canterbury).
- Stuff
