Black Sox need cool heads to win world title

March 6, 2013

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ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith in Auckland

 

The Black Sox have the ability to win a sixth world softball title - if they improve their hitting discipline, fielding alignment and pitching control and are more aggressive on the bases. 

    That seems to be the verdict around the Albany ballpark as the XIIIth world championships approach the playoffs phase tomorrow. 

 

    Three of the Black Sox's newer players - Tyson Byrne, Ben Enoka and Wayne Laulu - topped the batting averages in the three pool games that really count, against Japan (won 7-2), Canada (lost 7-9) and Argentina (won 2-1). 

 

    There have been useful contributions from power hitters Thomas Makea, with a two-RBI double against Japan and a home run against Argentina, Brad Rona (a homer against Japan and two in the Canada clash) and Donny Hale, who smashed what Mark Sorenson dubbed "a moon shot" to take the Canadian game to a tiebreaker. 

 

    But Hale only hit .182 against the big ball teams and, worryingly, Jarrad Martin, Patrick Shannon and Rhys Casley were unable to muster a hit between them. 

 

    The Black Sox had 31 hits in their first five games in pool B, compared with 27 by arch rivals Australia who are unbeaten in six pool A games. 

 

    They are too good to write off and experienced enough to peak at the right moment. But New Zealand needs batting depth - a feature of past Black Sox world champion units. They have a big bench with four pitchers and a reserve catcher not usually considered for hitting cameos. They can't afford for their big guns to be spiked. 

 

    Don Tricker, who coached the Black Sox to the 2000 and 2004 titles, has been watching the action at Rosedale Park and said New Zealand were good enough to win the title. 

 

    "I thought they had a really tough game against the Canadians and there were some some things that were a little disturbing, but it was pleasing to see how they came back against the Argentines, which was a real must-win game. 

 

    "They are pretty much where they want to be, they just need to . . . finish second in their bracket which will set up a game against the Australians in the first game of the playoffs." 

 

    But Tricker said the Black Sox had to have "a little bit more belief in the pitching, so they're not so animated out on the mound, so if they throw a pitch and it doesn't quite go their way, they let it go and don't let it get to them". 

 

    He'd like to see the gifted hitters "work the pitchers a little more, be a little more disciplined and swing at strikes and leave the balls". 

 

    "If they can do that they will start to apply a bit more pressure on the good pitching.  

    "I'd like to see us putting more pressure on the defence and putting more runners on base and playing with a bit more speed." 

 

    The Black Sox have stolen just four bases at the tournament - and just one against the top trio. Enoka, Byrne, Makea and Tyron Bartorillo have all had single swipes. 

 

    Only two Kiwi runners have been thrown out on the basepaths, meaning the Black Sox have attempted six steals.