Black Sox begin the pursuit for seventh world title

June 8, 2015

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The Golden Homes Black Sox departed from Auckland yesterday, officially beginning their world championship campaign. Seven will be the magic number for the six-time world champions heading into the 2015 WBSC Men's Softball World Championship in Saskatoon, Canada later this month.

The Black Sox have played in two world championship finals in Saskatoon and lost both. Head coach and Black Sox legend, Mark Sorenson, says that this is not the focus of the team. “We are aware of the history in Saskatoon but are really focused on not getting too far ahead of ourselves.”

Sorenson is pleased with where the team is at going into this month’s world championship. “The preparation has gone really well, the guys have been working hard on their strength and conditioning since the end of the season”, says Sorenson.

“This is going to be an extremely competitive championship and it’s important that we build throughout the event with solid team softball.”

There is plenty of new talent in the side and the style of play could be slightly different to what we have seen from Black Sox teams in the past. “There is a need to manufacture offensive production as a unit”, says Sorenson.

The head coach believes there is no extra pressure put on the team to win back-to-back titles. “We have had success in the past because we have set high standards for ourselves and this event will be no different.”

Despite their quiet New Zealand build-up, the Black Sox have 17 games scheduled in Canada prior to the world championship.

The 2015 WBSC Men's Softball World Championship will be staged from 25 June - 5 July. The Black Sox will face a tough Argentinean side on Opening Day.

Pool A: Argentina, Canada, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Guatemala, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Philippines

Pool B: Australia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, USA, and Venezuela

 

 

 

 

 

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New Zealand Black Sox World Champions: 76, 84, 96, 00, 04, 13

New Zealand White Sox World Champions: 82
New Zealand Junior Black Sox World Champions: 85, 89