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Players
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Name: Ben Enoka
Province: Auckland
Club: Auckland United
Position: Centrefield
Born: August 11, 1989 at Auckland
Nicknames: Benny, Jamin
Ethnicity: Maori (Ngapuhi)
Enoka debuted for the Black Sox in the build up to the last world championship in 2009. He's played the last three years with the Jarvis Travelers from Ontario and all three years, they've won the International Softball Congress title.
Enoka played in seven games at the last tournament at Saskatoon, scoring three runs. |
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Name: Tyron Bartorillo
Province: Canterbury
Club: Papanui
Position: Infielder
Born: June 28, 1984 at Brisbane
Nickname: Barty, Barto
Ethnicity: Italian/Australian
Bartorillo has married a Kiwi and has resided, on and off, in Christchurch since 2006, but was selected to represent his native Australia when the won the 2009 world title. His part in that win over New Zealand was one at bat as a pinch hitter and he was struck out by now team mate Heinie Shannon. Bartorillo debuted for New Zealand on a 2011 tour to North America and played his first club season overseas last year with the champion Jarvis Travelers from Ontario. |
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Name: Brad Rona
Province: North Harbour
Club: Northcote
Position: Infielder
Born: February 17, 1976 at Wanganui
Nickname: B-Man
Ethnicity: Maori (Te Atiawa)
Rona debuted for the Black Sox at the 2000 world championship, so this will be his fourth appearance at the tournament. He has played 11 years with North American clubs, most recently with the ISC champion Jarvis Travelers from Ontario. Rona’s son, Pita, recently signed a Major League Baseball contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
In 2009, Rona was New Zealand’s top batter, with 13 hits from 28 turns at bat, for an average of 0.464. His fearsome reputation in the batting box saw him walked on 12 occasions.
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Name: Tyson Byrne
Province: Hutt Valley
Club: Hutt Valley Dodgers
Position: Short stop
Born: September 27, 1988 at Lower Hutt
Nickname: T-Money
Ethnicity: Maori (Ngati Porou)
Byrne debuted for the Black Sox in a 2007 tour to Canada, but this will be his first appearance at the world championships. |
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Name: Rhys Casley (Captain)
Province: Hutt Valley
Club: Hutt Valley Dodgers
Position: Infielder
Born: December 21, 1978
Nicknames: RC
Casley first played for the Black Sox in 1997, but had to wait until 2009 for his first appearance at a world championship. He assumed the captaincy from Jarrad Martin soon after that tournament. Over recent months, he has battled back from shoulder surgery on an injury sustained in last year's International Softball Congress finals and this may yet see his role at Rosedale park restricted to that of a designated hitter.
At Saskatoon, he played 12 games for 24 turns at bat and nine hits, for an average of 0.375. |
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Name: Donny Hale
Province: Auckland
Club: Ramblers
Position: Outfielder
Born: April 3, 1975 at Auckland
Nickname: Otis, Halestorm
Ethnicity: NZ/Samoan
Hale first played for the Black Sox in 1995 and this will be his fourth appearance at the world championships – he was a member of the winning NZ sides in 2000 and 2004. He has played extensively in the US and Japan, and has a reputation for his power hitting, Hale was named Most Valuable Player when Jarvis Travelers of Ontario won their third ISC crown last year, after hitting a home run against Australian ace Adam Folkard in the final.
At the 2009 tournament, Hale played in 12 games and scored 12 runs to rank third behind current team-mates Thomas Makea (15 runs) and Brad Rona (14. He was also third behind Makea (15) and Jarrad Martin (14) for runs batted in at the tournament. In31 turns at bat, Hale had 10 hits for an average of 323.
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Name: Nic Hayes
Province: Hutt Valley
Club: Hutt Valley Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Born: June 2, 1989 at Blenheim
Nicknames: Hazel, Hazy
Hayes is one of the true rookies on this Black Sox roster, having served on the national team for less than 12 months. His only overseas club experience has been in Indonesia. |
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Name: Penese Iosefo
Province: Canterbury
Club: Albion
Position: Pitcher (Right handed)
Born: March 18, 1987 at Christchurch
Nicknames: PI, Magnum, Nese, Ice
Ethnicity: NZ/Samoan
Iosefo debuted for the Black Sox during a 2010 tour to the United States, but has been around much longer, debuting at the world championships for Samoan in 2004. He has played club softball in Denmark and the Netherlands, before trying his hand in Iowa and Missouri. Iosefo was also part of the Crusaders rugby development programme, but quit to concentrate on his softball. He pitched Canterbury to victory in this summer’s national championship final over Auckland. |
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Name: Wayne Laulu
Province: Wellington
Club: Miramar
Position: Outfielder
Born: January 7, 1981 at Wellington
Nicknames: Lala
Ethnicity: NZ Samoan
Laulu first played for the Black Sox in 2008 at Rosedale Park in a world championship qualifying tournament, but missed out on the roster when the tournament rolled around the following year. He had previously represented Samoa at the 2004 event, and has US club experience in Wisconsin and New York. |
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