Junior Black Sox

ISF IX Junior Men's World Championships

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New Zealand Junior Black Sox - 2012
Campbell Ngarimu - Catcher	Cory Wilson - Infield	EJ Albright - Infield
Jackson Prime - Pitcher	Hohepa Monk - Outfield	Josh Pettett - Pitcher
Matt Oxley - Catcher	Morgan Cook - Outfield	Regan O'Niell - Utility
Tamihana Nau - Outfield	Tim Campbell - Utility	Jerome Raemaki - Infield
Pita Rona - Infield	Ben Bull - Infield	Ben Watts - Pitcher
Campbell Gibson - Pitcher	Campbell Enoka - Infield
Roger Aranui - Manager	Phil Johnston - Assistant Coach	John Love - Head Coach

Teams Confirmed For Junior Men's World Championship

June 2012

Largest field ever for a Junior Men's World Championship.

Plant City, Florida (USA) - A great many firsts will take place in Parana, Argentina from November 1-10, 2012. Parana, will host the first ever Junior Men's World Championship in Latin America. The host organising committee has worked hard over the years having hosted the Pan American Softball Championship in 1989 and the Pan American Games in 1995, these events were precursors to hosting the pinnacle of events for the sport - the International Softball Federation Junior Men's World Championship.

Fifteen countries will compete in the tournament, making this the most countries to ever participate in a Junior Men's. This is another first which indicates the growth and popularity of the sport. All regions will be represented by the national teams from the following countries:Argentina, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United States and Venezuela.

This will mark the first time four countries have participated in the Junior Men’s World Championship: British Virgin Islands, Croatia, India, and Singapore.

“We cannot be more pleased with the turnout for this event. The host organizing committee is charged and ready to put on the best event the Junior Men’s World Championship has ever seen and we are looking forward to their hospitality,” ISF President Don Porter said. “The growth of the game is evident with new countries achieving qualification for a spot to participate, we are very fortunate that countries like British Virgin Islands, Croatia, India, and Singapore have worked to elevate their play to this level as it should provide for good experience for the athletes.”

The Australians are the four time defending champions, having defeated Canada 2-1 after an eight inning pitching duel in 2008 in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Seven scoreless innings saw Canada score first in the top of the eighth under the international tie-breaker rule. Canada’s pitching had held up in the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and two outs, only one out was needed in order for Canada to stop Australia’s rein as champions, however a pinch hitter (Drew Faulkner) thwarted Canada’s hopes by hitting a single scoring both runs giving Australia the Gold Medal once again. This year’s World Championship expects to be just as exciting.

The official event website for the world championship in Parana, Argentina is: www.worldjuniormenfastpitch2012.com

About the International Softball Federation
The ISF is the world governing body of the sport as recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations). Softball (women's fast pitch) made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. There are 127 affiliated countries in the ISF and millions of participants in the sport worldwide. The sport is contested in more than a dozen multi-sport Games. Learn additional details about the Federation at www.ISFsoftball.org.

Rising Softball Star

April 2012

International sporting glory awaits Regan O'Neill.

The Howick softballer, 18, will travel to Argentina in October to compete at the junior world championships with the Junior Black Sox. The second baseman and short stop was called into the team following consistent performances over the past couple of years. Coach John Love says the Howick resident has been on the Auckland softball scene for several years.

Regan got his first big breakthrough last year when he was picked in the New Zealand development team to play at the Friendship Games in Australia.

"I went over there to see how he went and he hit well over there," he says.

"I just kept an eye on him after that and saw good progress in the premier season where he performed really well for his club," Mr Love says. Regan also did enough at the under-19 national champs, where he represented Auckland, and a men's tournament in Wellington with the Junior Black Sox to warrant selection for the world champs in October.

Mr Love says Regan offers consistency and versatility.

"He's got good utility factor," he says.

"He can play in the infield and outfield and his ability to hit the ball gives him a big tick - he's a strong hitter." He is also a good team man which will prove useful for a young side playing in a foreign country.

"It's the pinnacle for their age group and a big thing will be how we handle the environment.

"It will be very hot and it's not English speaking and those sort of factors come into it.

"Regan is a good boy and a good team man who contributes to everything and that carries some weight."

The call-up to the squad of 17 came as a surprise to Regan.

"It was unexpected," he says.

"I didn't really have a good tournament in Wellington, I didn't play as well as usual so it was a bit overwhelming."

Regan followed his father into the sport and has been playing for seven or eight seasons.

He's played for Auckland since he was in the under-13 age group and started getting really serious for the under-17 nationals in Nelson in 2010.

"I started getting serious and working my way up."

His goal is to help the Junior Black Sox win the worlds for the first time since 1989.

"I want to play well and come back with the gold."

And beyond that?

"The Black Sox would be my biggest goal to achieve,: Regan says.

 

NZ Junior Black Sox Team Named for World Championships in Argentina

March 2012

Three years of hard work has paid off for seventeen softballers with their selections in the Junior Black Sox team to compete in the junior world championship in Parana, Argentina in November. It was also not an easy task for the coaching staff to finalise the team.
 
“There are some very good players who have missed out and it is unfortunate for them,” coach John Love said.
 
Love has included six players from the North Harbour team that won the national under-19 tournament and three players from beaten finalist Hutt Valley in his team. While all 17 players have been involved with the under-19 squad Love also has the luxury of being able to call on Black Sox international Jerome Raemaki and baseball bound Pita Rona. Rona has also played for the Black Sox before opting to pursue a baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles organisation.
 
“That is a bonus. It is good to have boys who have had experience with the Black Sox and hopefully they will bring what they have learnt in that environment to this team,” Love said.
 
Love has also gone with form, with Josh Pettett the top pitcher at the national under-19 tournament and Bradley Worsley third on that list while Tamihana Nau was the top batter. Raemaki and Campbell Ngarimu also featured among the top 10 hitters at that event.
 
Among the players Love in particular is looking forward to seeing test themselves at the international level is utility player Tim Campbell from Southland.
 
“He has consistently hit well throughout this season and at the men’s tournaments in the South Island,” Love said.
 
“He went very well when he got his opportunity to play in the juniors and showed a high maturity level and showed no nerves in his game. He really said “pick me” in the way he plays. He is 6’4 and can run like a winger. He is quite an athlete.”
 
Tim Campbell is the second member of his family to play for the Junior Black Sox side with his brother Jonathan a member of the 2008 team. However, he is not the only player to be following in the footsteps of an older brother with Campbell Enoka the third member of that family to have played for the juniors. His brothers Thomas and Ben were also in the 2008 side.
 
The team is: Ben Bull, Campbell Enoka, Regan O'Neill, Matt Oxley (Auckland), Edward Albright, Campbell Ngarimu, Brad Worsley (Hutt Valley), Tim Campbell (Southland), Morgan Timoti-Cook, Tamihana Nau, Josh Pettett, Jackson Prime, Pita Rona, Cory Wilson (North Harbour), Hohepa Monk (Waikato), Jerome Raemaki (Wellington), Ben Watts (Otago). The two non-travelling reserves are Kurt Schollum (Wellington) & Campbell Gaunt (Hutt Valley).

NZ Junior Black Sox to Play at PK Tournament

 January 2012

Following on from the National U19s the following players have been selected to play in the PK tournament over the Wellington anniversary weekend starting Friday night against the host Poneke Kilbirnie.
 
Jackson Prime, Cory Wilson, Max Hodgekinson - North Harbour, Regan ONeill - Auckland, Karaitiana Aranui -Hawkes Bay, Ben Watts - Otago, Tim Campbell - Southland, Josh Dickson, Matt Verhuel - Canterbury, Campbell Gaunt, Campbell Ngarimu, Zane Siolo, Joe Ferrisso, EJ Albright - Hutt Valley, Danny Brown, Tailah Love - Wellington.

NZ Junior Black Sox Media Release

18 August

NZ Junior Black Sox Squad 2011

Head Coach John Love has named a strong squad to compete in the Nelson Based Labour Weekend tournament. The squad includes Black Sox players Jerome Raemaki (Wellington) and Pita Rona (Nth Harbour) and Black Sox training squad members Josh Pettett (Wellington) and Kurt Schollum (Marlborough).

The tournament will be the start of the NZ Junior Black Sox World Series campaign as they step up their preparations for the Junior Men's World Series to be held in Parana, Argentina in November 2012.

The NZ Junior Black Sox campaign will involve playing in NZ tournaments and attending training camps over the next 12 months

The team for the Labour Weekend tournament is:
Andrew Verhuel, Matt Verhuel (Canterbury), Kurt Schollum (Upper South Island), Brad Worsley, Zane Siolo, Campbell Gaunt, Campbell Ngarimu, Edward Albright (Hutt Valley), Josh Pettett, Jerome Raemaki (Wellington), Hohepa Monk (Waikato), Matt Oxley, Campbell Enoka, Ben Bull (Auckland), Pita Rona, Tamehana Nau, Morgan Timoti-Cook (North Harbour).

NZ Junior Black Sox Media Release

8 February

Head Coach John Love has named a squad of 16 players to take part in the 2011 Southern Cross Challenge in Christchurch in April, with a 17th player still to be added.

This tournament will be very tough involving some of the worlds best players and will provide the challenge and pressure that the NZJBS need to continue to improve as a team. Many of the players are currently playing premier softball and with the entire squad under 18 years it will definitely be a step up and an opportunity to see how individuals perform.

The selection of the squad was extremely difficult due to quality performances displayed by numerous players at Under 19s & Under 17s national tournaments. Two new players, Matt Verheul & Hohepa Monk, have gained selection based on their performances at the National U19 Tournament. Kurt Schollum who has been a Junior Black Sox training squad member has gained selection after missing out in 2010 showed good form in both the U19 and U17 tournaments.

Another former Junior Black Sox training squad member who missed out on selection in 2010 due to injury, Tamihana Nau, has also gained selection due to good form shown at the NZ U19 tournament. Long standing squad member, Te Wera Bishop, is unavailable. There will be one more player to be added.

In October (Labour weekend) 2011 the Junior Black Sox will also play in a tournament in NZ, and all players not selected on this occasion will be considered for selection.

NZ Junior Black Sox 2011 - Southern Cross Challenge:
Kurt Schollum (Upper Sth Island), Matt Verheul (Canterbury), Levi Elliot, Hohepa Monk (Waikato), Jerome Raemaki, Josh Pettet (Wellington), Pita Rona, Tamihana Nau, Morgan Timoti Cook (Nth Harbour), Ben Bull, Matt Oxley, Campbell Enoka (Auckland), Brad Worsley, Zane Siolo, Campbell Gaunt, EJ Albright (Hutt Valley). 1 to be added.

Roger Aranui - Manager
NZ Junior Black Sox

 

What's on for the Junior Black Sox in 2011?

17 January

The Junior Black Sox will compete in the Southern Cross Challenge in Christchurch in April 2011.

Head Coach John Love says, we are looking to take a squad of 17 players into camp on the 18th April in preparation for the tournament which is from the 20th - 24th April. Players will be selected from the Under 17 & 19 National Championships and the Men's Open Club Championship.

I'm under no illusions that this tournament will be very tough which is excellent as it will provide the challenge and pressure that we need to continue to improve as a team.

Many of the players eligible are currently playing premier softball which is great however when the entire squad is under 18 years it will definitely be a step up and an opportunity to see how individuals perform.

There will be no out of season tour. Having reviewed our plans for 2011 the Junior Black Sox will also play a tournament at Labour weekend in Auckland or Hawkes Bay.
         

NZ Junior Black Sox squad announced

23 April

The following boys have been named in the 2010 NZ Junior Black Sox Softball Squad. The team will play in the Sydney-based Friendship Series in July followed by a seven match test series against Australia. Pita Rona, Morgan Cook (Nth Harbour), Campbell Enoka, Ben Bull, Mark Sorenson, Matt Oxley (Auckland), Levi Elliot (Waikato), Horowai Puketapu (Hawkes Bay), Isaac Hekenui (Taranaki), Campbell Gaunt, EJ Albright, Zane Siolo (Hutt Valley), Josh Pettett, Brad Worsley, Jerome Raemaki, Te Wera Bishop (Wellington), Sam Church (Nelson), Sam Hazeldine (Canterbury). The team will be coached by John Love (Auckland) and Phil Johnston (Canterbury). The squad will be preparing for the World Series Under 19 Tournament to be held in Parana, Argentina in 2012.

Te Wera Bishop

John Love announces first training squad

8 February

JBS Head Coach John Love has announced his first training squad in the build up to the Junior World Series in Argentina 2012.

A squad of 28 players have been named to attend a training camp in Hawkes Bay from the 16th - 18th April 2010. Impressed with the talent at the Under 17s in Nelson John has increased the initial squad numbers and advises that he will look to add more players following Club Nationals.

Those that have not made this initial squad should keep working on their game. John said "Some players that missed selection played well early on in Nelson but failed to perform in the back end of the tournament when it counted."

Following the training camp 17 players will be selected in a Junior Black Sox Squad to attend the Friendship Series in Sydney in July 2010.

The 17 players selected will be announced within a week of the training camp.

All players selected must attend all training camps pre & post final selection.

Squad members -
Jackson Prime, Morgan Timoti-Cook, Tamihana Nau, Taylor Hicks, Pita Rona (NH), Matt Oxley, Ben Bull, Campbell Enoka (AK), AJ Tuimavave (CM), Levi Elliot, Te Ati Walker (Waikato), Isaac Hekenui, Karaitiana Aranui, Horowai Puketapu (HB) Campbell Gaunt, Boe Watene, Campbell Ngarimu, Edward Albright, Zane Siolo (HV), Jarrod McDonald, Josh Pettett, Brad Worsley, Te Wera Bishop, Jerome Raemaki (WTN), Sam Church (Nelson), Kurt Schollum (MarlB), Sam Hazeldine (CB), Ben Watts (Otago).