Only gold is good enough for twins #WSC2013

March 8, 2013

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ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith

 

Black Sox catcher Paddy Shannon has one last goal to tick off before he doffs his mask and unbuckles his leg guards for the final time. 

    The 37-year-old plans to retire after the world championships in Auckland and go out as a gold medallist with his twin brother, Heinie, New Zealand's left-handed hurler. 

    They hope to achieve their mother Agnes' dream - and "get a monkey off our backs", one which has been shadowing them since Saskatoon where the Black Sox lost their world title to Australia four years ago. 

    No set of brothers have been on the mound and behind "the dish" for a world championship-winning softball team. 

    The Shannons had a shot at glory in 2009. "We were fortunate enough to start the gold medal match together, only to fall short ," Paddy said. 

    They're thirsting for another chance. 

    "I'm fortunate to have won a world championship in 2004 but he [Heinie] hasn't got one yet. It's a bit of a non-talked about subject," Paddy said. "He was the Samoan ace in 2004 and he came in [to the Black Sox] in 2009. 

    "We want to give one back to the family and [have] both us experience what it feels like. 

    "Hopefully, we get the chance to start this one. It would be pretty big to finish off - this is my last one, I'm retiring after this. 

    "He'll keep going though, you'd have to cut his leg off to stop him pitching." 

    The twins have been a tandem force on a softball diamond since they skipped T-ball and went straight to a junior grade "back when we were five or six" at the Auckland Metro club. 

    "He wanted to pitch and no-one wanted to catch so I got stuck with the job, I hated it," Paddy laughed. 

    "We played all the way through together, then had a bit of time apart at different clubs and went back together to Waitakere Bears. 

    "We've been going forever, so it's nice to go from throwing a ball together at home to playing in a world championship together. 

    "It takes you back and makes you feel lucky to be where you are. Mum's very proud but she's hoping for both of us to come out and win the gold medal; it's a nice talking point over Christmas." 

    The Shannons are a couple of softball's characters. 

    Paddy, an engaging character off the diamond, stands out in the batter's box with his open, attacking stance. He's been one of the world's most feared hitters for 15 years. 

    But in the first six games at the tournament he had an uncharacteristic batting slump with just two hits - both home runs. 

    After hitting his second dinger against the Netherlands on Wednesday, he quipped it was a "relief" because he "thought I might have been going for the record of the most strikeouts in a row at this tournament". 

    Heinie is a throwback to an era where pitchers threw every inning and were almost carried off the mound in a box. 

    He proved an inspiration for the rest of the pitching staff by hurling hurt for six innings to beat Argentina 2-1 - a night after the Black Sox had been blasted for 17 safe hits by Canada. 

    After almost every pitch, Shannon felt a stab of pain from a slight tear to his calf. The effort was etched all over his expressive face. 

    Coach Eddie Kohlhase hailed him as "heroic". 

    Catching great Mark Sorenson said not many other pitchers would play through the pain barrier to Shannon's degree. 

    Asked to grade the severity of his injury, Shannon chuckled and said: "It's just sore!" 

    Shannon - who pitched Auckland to the national title last season despite a chronic elbow problem - had hoped to finish the Argentina game. He may have hobbled to the dugout but he didn't look best pleased when pitching coach Chubb Tangaroa gave him the hook in the seventh inning after conceding two successive hits and a run to the Argentines. Relieved in one sense, but not in another. 

    But credit where it's due. Heinie attributed much of his success to "great catching by Paddy [and] good calling". 

    Paddy also offered praise for his twin's tenacious display. "It's gutsy, [but] he's renowned for it. He's a bit of a warrior on the hill. 

    "He's a quiet, unassuming guy as he goes about his business. But he goes about it the right wa