december2006

Star_studded_line_ups_in_men’s_National

December 7, 2006

Wellington, NZ

Star studded line ups in men’s National League teams

Thursday December 7th 2006

The announcement today of protected players for the New Zealand CommunityTrust Men’s National League has highlighted the depth of men’s softballin the country.

Each of the six teams in the league had the option today of naming asmany of 14 players from within their region. Of the players named todaythree franchises, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury have announced fullsquads while Hutt Valley have selected 12, North Harbour 11 and SouthernPride four.

Franchises that still require players will full out their squads withselections from the player draft on Tuesday December 12th. The team fromthe deep south Southern Pride requires the most draft selections with thekey requirement being two pitchers.

Of the teams named today defending champions North Harbour should againbe strong led by NZCT Black Sox representatives Jarrad Martin and BradRona. Harbour also has a new coach this season in the form of GraemeGollan.

The team from the capital Wellington were runners up last year and areintent on going one better this time around. They have the hitting powerfrom the likes of Stephen Ratu, Stacy McLean, Fabian Makea and ThomasMakea but a lot will come down to the performance of pitchers TaneRichardson and Craig Gibson who are still to prove themselvesconsistently at the highest level.

Auckland have the best record in the men’s National League having claimedthe title twice and one again they have an impressive lineup. On themound Heinie Shannon and Thomas Cameron have pitched Auckland to the topin the past and they also have international class players in the form ofNathan Nukunuku, Gus Leger, Patrick Shannon, Lyndon Andrew andplayer/coach Donny Hale.

Another title contender this season will be Hutt Valley who have depth onthe pitching mound with the Manley brothers Jeremy and Regan. They have ayoung and talented infield with junior internationals such as Tyson Byrneand David Butler, how they come together as a team and perform underpressure will be influential to how Hutt Valley fares.
Canterbury have selected an experienced team led by the likes of TravisWilson, Daniel Milne and Todd Grego. A stumbling block for the Canterburyteam in the title race may be their inexperienced pitching line up ofPenese Iosefo and Nathan Taikato.

Southern Pride have only named four protected players today and will haveto rely heavily on the player draft. There is enough talent in the draftto make Southern Pride a competitive team and they are likely to getbetter as the league goes on once the team have had time together on thediamond.

The first round of the NZCT Men’s National League will be played inJanuary on the 20th and 21st followed by the second round on February17th and 18th before the top four teams contest the finals weekend onMarch 3rd and 4th.  

New Zealand Community Trust Men’s National League Teams:

North Harbour- Brad Rona, Jarrad Martin (Pitchers), Andrew Clark, LeonLambert, Michael Booler, David Down, Aaron Collier, Todd Wilson, CallumRyan, Jason Gerbes, Zack Doney.
Coach – Graeme Gollan.

Wellington – Craig Gibson, Tane Richardson (Pitchers), Stephen Ratu,Wayne Laulu, Gene Lutton, Les Poutama, Craig Wallace, Stacy McLean, DaveBishop, Thomas Makea, Fabian Makea, Corey Matakatea, Rick Manson, JohnPotts.
Coach – Les Bishop.

Canterbury – Penese Iosefo, Nathan Taikato (Pitchers), Clayton Ellis,Darren Davies, Jamie Frisby, Steve McFarlane, Paul DeLatour, TravisWilson, Paul Stead, Anthony Stewart, Gareth Cook, Todd Grego, DanielMilne, Brad Annandale.
Coach – Mike McDowell.

Southern Pride – Scott Cartwright, Bevan Passmore, Daniel Tarapi, ChrisTelfer.
Coach – Ted Forrester.

Auckland – Heinie Shannon, Thomas Cameron (Pitchers), Lyndon Andrew,Patrick Shannon, Nathan Nukunuku, Bobby King, Michael Cameron, Carlaus TeKawa, Jonathan Munden, Michael Gibbs, Aaron Thompson, Gus Leger, BernardHale.
Player / Coach – Donny Hale.

Hutt Valley -  Jeremy Manley, Regan Manley (Pitchers), Steven Deans,Curtis Ames, Justin Karaitana, Jerol Lajpold, Tyson Byrne, David Butler,Rakai Hokianga, Scott Higgins, Bronson Marino, Geoff Packer.
Coach – Dominic Richards.


By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
* mailto:kelly.mitchell@xtra.co.nz

http://www.softball.org.nz/
*mailto:snz@softball.org.nz


Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
* mailto:vanf@ihug.co.nz

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