This Month's News
March2015

Black Sox face tough task to defend world softball title

March 6, 2015

Wellington, NZ

 

BIG JOB AHEAD: Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson.

Original

Story by Tony Smith

Coach Mark Sorenson says the Black Sox have drawn a tough opening game against Argentina to kick off their world softball championships defence in Canada this June.

Sorenson admitted he was a little surprised to learn "the No 1 seed [New Zealand] from the last world series is playing the No 3 seed [Argentina] on the opening night".

"I'm concerned about that game. Argentina have really made some improvements to their programme in the last few years. They beat us in Canada last year and they've won the last two under-19 world championships.

"But if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best."

The Black Sox will then play Great Britain and host nation Canada at the 2015 world tournament in Saskatoon. Their other Pool A opponents will be the Czech Republic, Guatemala, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"Argentina and Canada will be very tough," Sorenson said. "I think it's going to be a very tightly contested series."

The 2013 tournament silver medallists, Venezuela, and 2009 world champions Australia, head Pool B with the United States, Japan, Denmark, Mexico and the Netherlands.

The top four from each pool qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Black Sox's draw is: June 27 (NZ time): v Argentina. June 28: v Great Britain. June 29: v Canada. June 30: v Philippines. July 1: v Indonesia. July 2: v Guatemala. July 3: v Czech Republic. Playoffs: July 4 and 5. Final: July 6.

Meanwhile, the Junior Black Sox under-19 New Zealand men's team has been named for the 2015 European Men's Super-Cup tournament in Prague in from August 24 to 29.

 

The squad is: Seth Bourgeois, Jerome McKenzie, Joseph Kohlhase, Marshall Layt-Maynard (Auckland), Joshua Merritt, Dante Matakatea, Reilly Makea, Jayden Stratford, Alex Lundon (Wellington), Bailey Hamilton, Callum Bishop, Jackson Watt (Canterbury), Phillip Manning (North Harbour), Murphy Albright, Jason Tanirau (Hutt Valley), Callum Lewis-Carson (Hawke's Bay), Mardi McBride (Nelson). Non travelling reserves: Brodie Boyce (Counties), Sean Mulholland (Wellington).

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