The 2003-04 Season Review of the International Scene
27 April 2004

It is my aim to give people something to think about, rather than end the season with no news and wait for next year.
Trevor Rowse.


No one could believe the weather in Christchurch during the world series, but neither could they believe the form that the Black Sox achieved, especially the batting.

The Black Sox line-up was so strong that they were knocking three or four pitchers out of the game, and ending matches in the fifth, restricting the team management use of the group of pitchers. It was reminiscent of the batting supremacy of the US side in the 1960’s, when New Zealand first entered international play.

NZ went into the event a little short of proven form players, with the injuries to Bevan Martin, Michael Gaiger and the absence of long-term star Mark Sorenson right through the national league. When Marty Grant’s tragic injury struck, just days before opening night, the situation was a little fraught.

But the team showed so much aggression that any gaps were puttied over easily, and Jimmy Wana came into form. Someone had to, with rookie pitchers Gaiger, Thomas Cameron and Kurt Gollan standing by. Wana was a world series rookie too, but one with vast overseas experience. (He caused a stir until fans, and the scorers, realised that he was Jimmy Seaman, the Hutt Valley man of many years).

Sorenson was not supposed to catch any games, but who could predict that he could bounce back so magnificently, after a quiet start, or that Paddy Shannon would have such a devastating spell with the bat, plus his catching, or that Brad Rona would not only take Dean Rice’s position, but be as deadly with bat and ball.

Dion Nukunuku made second base his, with great batting and determined fielding while brother Nathan was totally safe at shortstop and became a top number nine batter. What a prospect for an opposing pitcher – nine batters in a row, all home run capable.

There were ace batters in Donny Hale, Thomas Makea, Stacy McLean and Taifau Matai. No rest for the pitchers against that nine.

What is so obvious when you talk to the management is how intelligent Don Tricker and Eddie Kohlhase are and how they have gathered a similar group around them. No layabouts or hangers-on, just men who know and believe the team philosophy. It was a delight to deal with such a group.

Let us not forget that this squad is the result of Mike Walsh’s foresight in going for a different breed of player and, but for some machinations which dropped him from the position, he might still be taking this team. But his successors are outstanding men and the tradition is set. One can see Sorenson, Rice, Dion Nukunuku and some others lining up for the job in a few years.

International softball has a new benchmark and we need the next series to be sooner than the planned five years, plus. Who cares whether the series clashes with the Olympics, or the World Cup. There is a different clientele.

Canada was a powerful opponent and the side will match NZ next time around. The US side faded, again, as did the expected powerful push from Japan. The Japanese had gone from third to second, but then showed no initiative. Think back to 1966, 1968 and 1972 when the US pitching and batting was superlative.
Compare the Japanese attitude with the Black Sox. The Kiwis think, add players’ ideas to the coaching staff knowledge and let the team develop tactics. They adapt to changing circumstances and everyone is with the team.

Samoa was a pitcher short of being a top side, even though Mike Roberts showed his intelligence by mixing it up so much that he was the only man to stun the Sox batting line-up. He was always good and a great back up for Heinie Shannon, one of the stars of the series.

The Samoa squad had experienced and determined coaching and wanted to win, for the team, and for Samoa, and because they did not want to face Mike Forsyth when they showed lack of spirit. They were two batters short of a podium place, and showed inexperience in not getting bat to ball against the USA when the game was there to be won.

The management of the team must at least get the team members names right for the programme. A once in a lifetime event, with both names spelled incorrectly, as with Duane Jerard, is inexcusable. And his photo was missing.

There were so many New Zealanders involved in the various teams, such as Kevin Henderson with the promising Czech Republic, Steve Jackson, Roger Marshman, Tony Simpson, Latham Tawhai, Clive Evans and Steven Tau with Great Britain, with Glen Roff coaching and the entire Samoa squad. Michael White was with the USA and Loran Algar was coaching with Australia.

The Australians will be better than the jaded showing they put up against Canada to miss out on the chance to play the final and they will be back. Argentina showed flashes of form, as did the Netherlands and their Caribbean players, while South Africa should improve. Botswana will struggle, especially with the lack of finance.

Don Porter, the ISF head, talked of softball at the Commonwealth Games. There would be NZ, Australia, South Africa, Great Britain, with the chance of Fiji.

The problems we face in the future are the continued supply of top pitchers and to keep some of our top men in the game for the next few years. We cannot afford to lose players of the current crop. Again, there is a need for the next series to be earlier than almost six years.

The women did not qualify for the Olympics so there was no bite in the double series involving the White Sox, Japan, China and Canada. The Sox are young and desperately need some older players to cement the team’s young echelon.

The young pitchers, Michelle Kingi, Amanda Preston and Jessica Hau have been put into hot competition very early and, many believe, have been over-exposed. Part-games are plenty for some pitchers, even if they do have to learn.

They also need experience catchers. When Jorja Bell returns from the States she will have the experience to guide the younger women, but putting Preston and Bell together in a game against Canada is a big responsibility. They are both trying to exist in the team.

Expect some pitching talent from Hastings where the old master Chubb Tangaroa is working hard with young people, especially his family members. Marty Grant is expected to do the same all over.

But everyone has faith in Mike Walsh. He has shown, in the past thirty years, that he can mould a team into a winning combination. It will be almost impossible to beat the USA, and perhaps Australia now. But there will be a battle each time. Walsh and Rice must find a way to get to the Olympics and the play-off system for the Pacific is useless, as we will find when New Zealand men, Australia and Samoa have to face off for two places next time. All three deserve to attend.

Softball New Zealand is in fine administrative hands. Those at the top have tried hard to build on international success and have given the women many chances to shine, including an overseas tour coming up. The women need to make the extra effort, to hone skills, develop batting, encourage pitchers and to get super-fit. It will never be easy again.