CALLING THE SHOTS: Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson has named two trial squads.
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Softball New Zealand will be honouring two Waikato softball legends when the Black Sox world championship selection trial is held in Hamilton next month.
Coach Mark Sorenson and his co-selectors today named two squads for the trial at Resthills Park.
Team Herlihy has been named after the late Kevin Herlihy, the Waikato hurler widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest pitcher.
Team Mossman will honour former Waikato shortstop Carl Mossman, a regular New Zealand international in the 1970s.
Herlihy and Mossman were team-mates on the Cambridge Blue Streaks squad which was one of New Zealand's strongest clubs in the mid to late 70s, culminating in a national interclub championship victory in 1979.
Team Herlihy will be led by Black Sox captain Nathan Nukunuku and Hutt Valley infielder Tyson Byrne will captain Team Mossman.
Nukunuku, a Black Sox world championships ever-present since 2000, will be joined by Brad Rona, who has also played in four world series campaigns. Rona's son, Pita, back from a stint in baseball, has been named in the Team Mossman infield.
Veteran Auckland outfielder Donny Hale and centrefielder Ben Enoka will bolster Team Mossman.
Sorenson has selected some promising young players for the trial, including former Junior Black Sox pitcher Ethan Johnston (Canterbury) and Wellington infielder Dante Matakatea, whose father, Thomas Makea, retired in 2013 after winning four world championship gold medals.
He will play against his uncle, Wellington outfielder Campbell Makea, who is on the Team Mossman squad.
Team Herlihy has six members of the Black Sox's 2013 world championship winning squad and Team Mossman has three.
The trial will be held on February 28 and March 1, with double-headers played both days.
AT A GLANCE
 The trial squads are:
Team Herlihy
Pitchers
Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley)
Heinie Shannon (Auckland)
Ethan Johnston (Canterbury).
Catchers
Stephen Ratu (CB)
Connor Peden (North Harbour)
Infielders
Brad Rona (NH)
Joel Evans (HV)
Jerome Raemaki (Wellington)
Tyron Bartorillo (CB)
Dante Matakatea (WN)
 Outfielders
Thomas Enoka (AK)
Josh Thomson (CB)
Nathan Nukunuku (AK) Capt
Hohepa Monk (NH)
Wayne Laulu (WN)
 Team MOSSMAN
Pitchers
Bayley Hoani (AK)
Kurt Schollum (Marlborough)
Regan Manley (CB)
Catchers
Cory Timu (HV)
Matt Oxley (AK)
Infielders
Frank Pointon (CB)
Tyson Byrne (HV) (Capt)
Josh Harbrow (CB)
Cole Evans (AK)
Alfons Ovienikovas (AK)
Pita Rona (NH)
Outfielders
Campbell Makea (WN)
Ben Enoka (AK)
Jovaan Hanley (WN)
Donny Hale (AK).
 - Stuff.co.nz
