Auckland, NZ - Kyle Linton joins Auckland squad for the NZ National Fastpitch Championship inter-provincial softball tournament in Christchurch.
Auckland pitcher Thomas Enoka will be joined by Canadian import Kyle Linton for the national tournament.
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Canadian import Kyle Linton will bolster Auckland's pitching staff for the National Fastpitch Championship inter-provincial softball tournament in Christchurch next month.
Linton, who qualified on ancestral grounds to pitch for Great Britain at the 2015 world championships, joins a pitching roster led by Black Sox representatives Thomas Enoka and Bayley Pearson-Hoani.
Kyle Linton
The squads for the February 17-21 NFC tournament have been released by Softball New Zealand.
Auckland's has a family feel with three Enoka brothers (Thomas, Ben and Campbell) joined by Blacksox shortstop Cole Evans and his older brother, Rhys.
Former Black Sox hurler Penese Iosefo returns to lead the Canterbury Redsox's staff, backed by past Junior Black Sox pitchers Ethan Johnston and Ben Watts.
Coach Greg Newton has a mix of experienced players, notably past and present internationals Josh Harbrow, Gareth Cook, Josh Thomson and Tyron Bartorillo, and Junior Black Sox world championships aspirants Jackson Watt, Callum Bishop and Reilly Makea.
Hutt Valley have picked up the promising Eru Drage from Auckland to support their Black Sox ace Nik Hayes and a handy hitting lineup led by Black Sox vice-captain Tyson Byrne, Joel Evans and Cory Timu.
Marlborough's Black Sox pitcher Kurt Schollum will get some catching help at the Southern Pride with Auckland-based national training squad mask man Matt Oxley joining in the player draft, alongside former Black Sox outfielder Jerome Haretuku.
Wellington have named seasoned campaigner Thomas Cameron and Black Sox outfielder Jovaan Hanley as their main pitchers with talented youngster Sam Marley in reserve and Joel Harris in a hitting role.
Black Sox star Wayne Laulu and New Zealand player of the year Jerome Raemaki will guide the batting lineup.
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Veteran Black Sox infielder Brad Rona again spearheads a North Harbour side including his son Pita and promising pitchers Jackson Prime and Blake Radford.
Canterbury utility Bailey Hamilton has been snapped up by Counties-Waikato as a pitcher.Auckland again have the strongest pitching staff in the women's competition with naturalised Americans Jennifer Feret and Samantha Parkes joined by Pania Monk.
Coach Venita Hokai did not protect longtime White Sox first baseman Rebecca Bromhead in her initial squad so the Waitakere Bears stalwart has signed for Southern Pride with her sister Tegan Bromhead and ex-White Sox outfielder Sina Hunkin.
Hutt Valley have bolstered their lineup with White Sox left-handed hurler Rita Hokianga, home from a United States college stint. She will team up with American import Alyson Spinas and Junior White Sox prospet Pallas Potter.
Hutt have lost New Zealand player of the year Danica Ferriso to an American scholarship, but replaced her with American-born shortstop Hailey Breakwell, the daughter of a former Kiwi Olympic equestrian rider, who has joined the White Sox squad.
Newly naturalised American Marissa Berkes will pitch for the Southern Pride.
Canterbury's new coach Paul Stockford has added Auckland-based pitcher Tyla Morrison and Japanese player Tomoko Godo to his regular retinue, led by White Sox squad member Emma Frost and the experienced Nicole Baxter, Robyn Hall and Carly Werahiko.
The NFC tournament runs from February 17 to 21.
NFC squads
MEN
AUCKLAND: Thomas Enoka, Kyle Linton, Bayley Pearson-Hoani (pitchers), Kallan Compain, Ben Enoka, Campbell Enoka, Col Evans, Rhys Evans, Isaac Fletcher, Bobbie King, Joshua Kingi, Nathan Nukunuku, Alfons Oveinikovas, Connor Peden, Zane van Lieshout.
CANTERBURY: Penese Iosefo, Ethan Johnston, Ben Watts (pitchers), Tyron Bartorillo, Callum Bishop, Gareth Cook, Ihaka Davis, Curtis Dove, Josh Harbrow, Matt Holmes, Reilly Makea, Anthony Stuart, Josh Thomson, Jackson Watt, Cameron Watts.
COUNTIES-WAIKATO: Tiaki Te Wheoro, Saan Tuoro, Bailey Hamilton (pitchers), Peter Jay Dando, Carlaus Te Kawa, Jaxon Phillip Hays, Brodie Boyce, Jamie Matiu, Lincoln Posimani, Jamie Tanielu, Vernon Tapiki, Vishal Muks Toi Toi, Aaron Wairoa, Jarome McKenzie, Nopera Stockford.
HUTT VALLEY: Nik Hayes, Raj Kumar, Eru Drage (pitchers), Danny Brown, Tyson Byrne, Scott Cartwright, Terrence Davidson, Joel Evans, Jay Johnston, Campbell Ngarimu, Blour Thompson, Cory Timu, Craig Wallace, Caleb White-Hodge, Regan O'Neill.
NORTH HARBOUR: Takuro Kawano, Jackson Prime, Blake Radford (pitchers), Martyn Cannons, Vincent Harris, Aaron Knight, Hohepa Monk, Tony Niu, Brad Rona, Pita Rona, Kurtis Tomkins, Te Ate Walker, Kirby Roper, Carrone Conroy, Joshua Niu.
SOUTHERN PRIDE: Daniel Perry, Kurt Schollum, Daniel Chapman (pitchers), Timothy Campbell, Tyler Bird, Josh Kelly, Guisepe Lagrutta, Kyle Marfell, Mardi McBride, Gavin Peattie, Drew Roberts, Matthew Watts, Matt Oxley, Jerome Haretuku, Maddix Rice.
WELLINGTON: Thomas Cameron, Jovaan Hanley, Sam Marley (pitchers), Conrad Bain, Zac Boyd, Campbell Gaunt, Jack Fletcher, Josh Gettins, Joel Harris, Wayne Laulu, Campbell Makea, Ricky Manson, Dante Matakatea, Jerome Raemaki, Curts Cosh.
WOMEN
AUCKLAND: Jennifer Feret, Pania Monk, Samantha Parks (pitchers), Kyla Bromhead, Nita Hickey, Krysta Hoani, Aieesha Hooper, Alison Mohi, Mereana Monk, Katrina Nukunuku, Beth Stavert, Stefanie Smith, Ancelle van Molendorff, Rachel van Veen, Gillian Wills.
CANTERBURY: Teremoana Elliott, Sharnae Walsh, Tyla Morrison (pitchers), Nicole Baxter, Oriana Connell, Emma Frost, Robyn Hall, Stephanie Kepa, TeAwhina O'Hara, Christina Paul, Leah Stockford, Lauren Sutherland, Carly Werahiko, Meg Glading, Tomoko Godo.
COUNTIES-WAIKATO: Michelle Kingi, Jordan Leigh Koni (pitchers), Nichola Brodrick, Brooke Calverly, Rosina Chwesik, Jaedyn Stephens, Kyla Stephens, Leia Stephens, Stacey Te Kawa, Shaamila Tua, Nikki Walker, Aria Tawha, Kayla Clark, Bohemian Quinn, Beverley Lethlean.
HUTT VALLEY: Rita Hokianga, Alyson Spinas, Pallas Potter (pitchers), Hailey Breakwell, Yvonne Burgess, Megan Cross, Melanie Gettins, Ashley Johnston, Mikayla Lewin, Dinah Luke, Charlotte Pointon, Kuraroa Ratu-James, Denva Shaw-Tait, Otila Tavite, Aroha Hibbert.
SOUTHERN PRIDE: Marissa Berkes, Lorin Cook, Lucy McIntyre (pitchers), Hannah Cook, Kloe Milne, Brooke Pennicott, Lauren Phillips, Alex Thurlow, Samantha Andrell, Rebecca Bromhead, Zoe Tohlopf, Sina Hunkin, Wanaka Noanoa, Tegan Bromhead, Tessa Metuatini.
WELLINGTON: Melissa Brosnahan, Breanna Gibson (pitchers), Paiton Koko-Lutau, Lisei Le'aupepe, Madison Lovatt, Marama Makea, Mereana Makea, Ranui Robertson, Ashlyn Rupp, Keri Simeon, Taylor Siolo, Danielle Tanoa, Aroha Noanoa, Freya Bullock.
- Stuff
