This Month's News
March2015

Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson sweating over squad selection

March 14, 2015

Wellington, NZ

 

ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith

 

   Up FOR SELECTION: Canterbury's Josh Harbrow is a strong defensive option at third base.

 

Pitching and power hitting may prove the biggest posers for Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson as he finalises his world championship team.

The Black Sox great has some big calls to make before Tuesday when he names a 17-strong squad to defend New Zealand's world title in Canada in June.

Sorenson's conundrum is whether to take three or four specialist pitchers, bearing in mind the Black Sox will play just one game a day until the playoffs.

He could opt to go with just three hurlers, knowing he can use outfielders Thomas Enoka and Jovaan Hanley, both accomplished club pitchers, to throw against minnows like Indonesia.

Jeremy Manley, the United States-based hurler who pitched the Black Sox to victory in 2013, is a certain selection but has been troubled by a leg problem in the past year and, based on that, Sorenson may want four specialists in his roster.

Nik Hayes did enough in 2013 to secure another berth, although he will want to display more consistent control. The selectors are almost certain to want a left-hander in the bullpen, so Heinie Shannon, in his 40th year, should get another callup.

If Sorenson only selects three specialists, 20-year-old Marlborough prospect Kurt Schollum could be most at risk. But the hard-throwing former Marlborough rugby backrower appears to have the most potential to become the next world-class Black Sox pitcher. He could also be a secret weapon because the top northern hemisphere batters haven't faced him.

Besides, the Black Sox may need four pitchers, used strategically, to beat the best teams like Australia, Canada, Argentina and Venezuela.

Manley's younger brother, Regan, might also be a contender after some good pitching form for Christchurch United.

Veteran Stephen Ratu will be the first-choice catcher with Cory Timu (Hutt Valley) and Junior Black Sox mask man Connor Peden (North Harbour) vying to be his understudy. Peden appeals for the future and would benefit from being around Ratu and Sorenson, a world-class catcher in his heyday.

 

The Black Sox have a raft of talented infielders, led by Hutt Valley's Tyson Byrne and Canterbury's Tyron Bartorillo, a double world champion with Australia and New Zealand.

Jerome Raemaki (Wellington) should get the nod for his first world series. The bolter could be teenage Auckland shortstop Cole Evans, the best fielder and MVP at the recent national fastpitch championships. He is only 16, but that won't deter Sorenson, who was the same age when he won the world title in 1984.

That would leave the selectors a choice between Canterbury's Josh Harbrow, a strong defensive option at third base and a quick baserunner, or Hutt Valley second baseman Joel Evans, a more proven power hitter.

Brad Rona has only recently returned from injury but his blazing bat will ensure he gets a call-up for his fifth world championship. He was a world-class third baseman in his prime, but now, in his late 30s, his best position is the batting-only designated player role.

But the same applies to outfielders Donny Hale, Wayne Laulu and Frank Pointon, though the latter is an option at first base, as is Rona.

The outfield virtually picks itself with Ben Enoka leading from centrefield. He will be joined by brother Thomas, who pitched for Samoa in 2013, and captain Nathan Nukunuku.

Campbell Makea is one of the best defensive outfielders in New Zealand and his baserunning speed would be another asset.

But Hanley is the closest the Black Sox have to a cricketing all-rounder. He's a handy pitcher, but an accomplished outfielder and power batter, who deserves a callup.

Sorenson will want at least one specialist pinch-hitter on his bench. It would be hard to omit Hale, a veteran of four world series and once, arguably, the best batter in the world. It would be equally tough to leave out Laulu.

But Sorenson will be mindful of the need to have his best defensive players because the Black Sox no longer have the overpowering pitching depth of old.

So, 16 players virtually pick themselves, but the 17th slot is a lottery between Schollum (fourth pitcher), Harbrow (baserunner), Joel Evans (second base cover and pinch hitter), Cole Evans (rookie shortstop), Makea (defensive outfielder and baserunner) and veteran sluggers Hale and Laulu.

Possible Black Sox world championship squad:

Pitchers: Jeremy Manley (United States), Heinie Shannon (Auckland), Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley), Kurt Schollum (Marlborough).

Catchers: Stephen Ratu (Canterbury), Connor Peden (North Harbour).

Infielders: Brad Rona (North Harbour), Tyson Byrne, Joel Evans (Hutt Valley), Tyron Bartorillo (Canterbury), Jerome Raemaki (Wellington), Cole Evans (Auckland).

Outfielders: Nathan Nukunuku, Ben Enoka, Thomas Enoka (Auckland), Jovaan Hanley (Wellington), Donny Hale (Auckland).

 - The Press

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