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ORIGINAL STORY by Veronica Veen-Grimes
Cole Evans playing for Junior Black Sox in 2014 (Source: Judy O'Connor)
An Auckland teenager will be making his Black Sox debut in June as he helps defend New Zealand’s world championship title in Saskatoon, Canada.
No one was more surprised than 16-year-old Cole Evans when he got the call recently saying he had made the squad to compete at softball’s World Series.
“I was speechless. I didn’t think I’d make it,†says Evans. “My family was really happy. My grandparents cried.â€
Evans comes from a long line of softball players; his grandfather was a Black Sox player in 1972 and his father played for the Great Britain national team at the World Series in 2009.
The Mount Albert Grammar student is the youngest player to represent New Zealand at a world series since the current coach and Black Sox legend, Mark Sorenson.
When it comes to standing next to older players with more experience, Evans says: “It’s pretty daunting but it’s nice to have guys there that have done it before.
“Most of the time they don’t take you for your age and just see you as any other team mate.â€
The six-time world champions are determined to keep their title and Evans is quick to admit he’s feeling the nerves. “To be honest, I’m feeling pretty anxious about the whole thing.
“I’m not sure what the preparations are going to be like yet but we will have regional training groups.â€
Evans has already been awarded with Most Valuable Player of the Under 17s, Under 19s and the National Fastpitch Championship this season alone, the only New Zealand player ever to do so.
The International Softball Federation’s 14th Men’s World Championship is taking place from June 1 to July 21 with New Zealand facing two other top softball nations, Argentina and Canada, in Pool A.
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