Junior Black Sox

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).