may2006

Black Sox double up on Pacific Series titles

May 7, 2006

Sendai, Japan

Black Sox double up on Pacific Series titles
Saturday May 6th 2006



Once again the New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox are sitting at thetop of the softball world having retained the Pacific Series title inSendai, Japan this afternoon.

The NZCT Black Sox have claimed the title with a 5-2 win in the final atthe Shellcom Dome over the home side Japan. As the three time worldchampions the Kiwi team were always hot favourites to win the tournamentand once again they have lived up to expectation.

It has been a successful week for the NZCT Black Sox as they have gonethrough the tournament against Australia, Samoa and Japan unbeatenpicking up seven wins.

Following the final NZCT Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase was full ofpraise for the victorious 17 man squad.

“This is the culmination of a whole years work it was a fantastic effortby all 17 players, I am very proud of them,” said Kohlhase.
 
The NZCT Black Sox made the perfect start to the final scoring two runsin their first at bat courtesy of a home run from the bat of NathanNukunuku with Thomas Makea on base. The lead was extended in the fourthinning with home runs to Patrick Shannon and Rhys Casley.

Japan made a late comeback in the game as they picked up two runs andapplied pressure but good defence and strong pitching saw the NZCT BlackSox through.

In dominant form of the mound for the NZCT Black Sox was Hutt Valley’sJeremy Manley who pitched the full game facing 29 batters and taking fivestrikeouts while giving up six hits and two runs.

Manley in just his first season with the NZCT Black Sox has been inoutstanding form in the tournament and was rewarded today with thestarting position in the final. Manley was also named top pitcher in thetournament while Wellington outfielder picked up the MVP title and DonnyHale was the tournaments top batter.

“Jeremy has pitched very very well in the games he has pitched but tosingle him out is potentially dangerous because we had the top batter inDonny Hale and the MVP in Thomas Makea. The whole 17 players contributedto getting the win.”

While happy with the victory Kohlhase can still see room for improvementnoting that his side had Japan on the ropes in the final but failed toput them away.

“We had an opportunity to put Japan away two or three times in the gameand we failed to execute some times. The boys hit the ball very hard andwe were leading 5-0 at one stage and Japan was staring down the barrel ofanother five inning game but they came back into it.”

With the Pacific Series title safely packed away for another year theNZCT Black Sox can sit back and reflect on a successful 2005/06 season.The world champion team have gone through the international seasonunbeaten for an 18-0 record. They defeated Samoa in a home series andbacked that up with gold at the Commonwealth Championships in Australiaand have now taken out the Pacific Series title once again.

The NZCT Black Sox will fly into Auckland International Airport on Mondaymorning with the Pacific Series title in tow. The players will take abreak from international duties over the next few months with manyheading to North America for the club season over there.

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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