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White SoxNew Zealand White Sox Release9 JanuaryWhite Sox coach Naomi Shaw believes her players are making good progress despite being white-washed in the three-game test series against Australia in Canberra at the weekend. The White Sox lost the opening test on Saturday 9-1 and then on Sunday were beaten 11-4 and 8-0. “It is about development and we have learnt a lot from this experience and the Gilley’s Shield,” Shaw said. “There was a lot of information gathered and some good lessons for the players.” For Shaw the Gilley’s Shield competition, which also doubles as the Edebone-Weber Shield competition, has given her the opportunity to introduce a number of players to the senior team. “It [the Gilley’s Shield] is a tough competition but it is all about experience for us.” The series gave Shaw an opportunity to introduce a number of players to the senior team, with Brooke McManus, Robyn Hall, Katarina Hiku, Alex Forsyth, Poihaere Clark, Courtney Warren, Danica Ferriso, Jessica Hollett and Jessica McDonald making their debut for the White Sox at same stage of the Gilleys Shield and Edebone-Weber Shield competitions. Of those players Hall, Clark, McManus, McDonald and Hollett played in the series against Australia. An infielder, Brooke McManus’ appearance for the White Sox over the weekend meant she came up against her sister Stacey and while it was the latter who earned the bragging rights, Brooke did get her sister out in the first time they opposed each other in an international game. Shaw also believes her side will benefit from the performance of the junior White Sox team, which finished sixth at their world championship last year. That side had been seeded 12th going into that tournament. The two squads are now working together and that is beginning to pay dividends with a handful of the players from the junior White Sox having played for the senior side this season. "We have to work closer together. The gap is then not as big." New Zealand White Sox Release25 NovemberExpect an improved effort from the White Sox team as they embark on the second round of games in the Australian State competition for the Gilley's Shield in Brisbane this weekend. The side won just one of its five games in the opening weekend of games last month, but coach Naomi Shaw believes there were some positives from that. "A number of new players were exposed to a higher level of play thus broadening the base of players who have now faced an elite level of game," Shaw said. "The more opportunities we get to face better opposition the better our development will be." "The big picture is the world championships in Whitehorse, Canada in 2012, these games are perfect for us to gauge where we are at, what we need to work on and identifying players who are able to step up to the higher level." This weekend Shaw knows where she wants to see the improvement. "The game at international level is played much faster. We will need to adjust accordingly and quickly on offence and defence." The Gilley's Shield competition is an ideal test of players with none of the Australian sides an easy challenge. "There are no easy beats in this competition," Shaw said. "Traditional weaker teams like South Australia have introduced this year a new pitcher who now makes them extremely competitive and they have been taking the bigger gun teams to the wire in games. Last year's Gilleys Shield winners Western Australia are looking solid as do New South Wales. But to be honest, it really is down to how teams perform on the day." For this weekend's games Shaw has included Yvonne Burgess, Megan Tasker and Ashley Johnston, who have all played for the national side in recent years. The only new comer to the team is Robyn Hall from Canterbury. "All of them will relish the opportunity to play this level of competition and I look forward to seeing them play in this elite environment," Shaw said. Team: Tiana Areaiiti (Southland), Rebecca Bromhead, Megan Farrell, Melanie Gettins, Amanda Preston, Michal Tangaroa, (Auckland), Yvonne Burgess, Ashley Johnston (Hutt Valley), Brooke Cutting, Charlotte Pointon, Megan Tasker (Wellington), Robyn Hall (Canterbury), Poihaere Clark (Sydney), Ngamoko Hiku, Api Stone (Brisbane). New Zealand White Sox Release28 OctoberA handful of rookie international softball players will be out to impress during the opening weekend of the Gilley's Shield and Edebone-Weber Shield competitions in Melbourne. The competitions involve the Australian state sides and the New Zealand women's team and are held over three weekends with the final two in November and January. For White Sox coach Naomi Shaw the weekend is the first steps toward the 2012 women's world championship. "It is a great start to our world championship build-up," Shaw said. "It is a great opportunity to blood some new players." Those players given the chance to impress this weekend are Courtney Warren, Katarina Hiku, Danica Ferriso, Poihaere Clark and Alex Forsyth, who will be making their White Sox debuts. "Other squad members will be given their chance in the Brisbane and Canberra tournaments," Shaw said. "I am regarding all three tournament weekends as a trial situation for the players and it will give us a good steer on who can step up to the elite level." The White Sox will open their campaign in the competitions against the ACT team this afternoon beofre playing South Australia in the final game on the opening day. Tomorrow the White Sox face hosts Victoria and then two hours later Queensland. However, it is on SUnday this side has perhaps its toughest test with games against defending title holders Western Australia and last season's beaten finalist New South Wales. The team is: Tiana Areaiiti, Kyla Bromhead, Rebecca Bromhead, Poihaere Clark, Brooke Cutting, Megan Farrell, Danica Ferriso, Alex Forsyth, Melanie Gettins, Katarina Hiku, Ngamoko Hiku, Charlotte Pointon, Amanda Preston, Api Stone, Michal Tangaroa, Courtney Warren. New Zealand White Sox Release28 SeptemberA blend of youth with experience will carry the hopes of the New Zealand White Sox when they play for the Edebone-Weber Shield, within the Gilley's Shield in the Australian state championship beginning next month in Melbourne, Australia. The competition is played over three weekends and will culminate with the test series which will be played in January in Canberra. New Zealand White Sox head coach Naomi Shaw has included 9 players who were members of the team that played in the series last year and at the other end of the experience scale Kyla Bromhead, Poihaere Clark, Courtney Warren, Danica Ferriso, Robyn Hall, Katarina Hiku and Alex Forsyth will be getting their first taste of the compeition. Ferriso, Hall, Hiku and Forsyth, along with last year's team Jordan-Leigh Koni are all members of the Junior White Sox team that are preparing for their world championship at the end of the year. Shaw has also included a handful of New Zealanders who are based in Australia. "The Australian based players currently play in a more competitive environment than we have in New Zealand and it will be interesting to see how they match up with our New Zealand counterparts," Shaw said. Of the players named in the team to make the trip to Australia, perhaps the biggest surprises are Kyla Bromhead, who is returning to the game after the birth of her second child earlier this year, and Courtney Warren who impressed at the recent training camp in Hawke's Bay. "They both earned another look at for the Gilley's Shield," Shaw said. Bromhead is not the only new mum in the team with Hutt Valley's Ashley Johnston, who is expected to play in the second weekend of the competition in Brisbane in November. The Gilley's Shield competition is crucial to the White Sox build-up for next year's world championship. "For some it is a big step up and we will be watching closely to see who can perform under pressure," Shaw said. "Obviously as we are only 10 months out from our world championship it is crucial we put in a big performance". "However, the Gilley's Shield is also viewed as an opportunity to experiment with players and see who can produce the goods. Following play in Melbourne and Brisbane, Shaw will reselect a squad to play in Canberra. There are a few Kiwi's still playing oversea who have not been considered for the October & November tournaments". The opening round of the Gilley's Shield competition in Melbourne is from October 28-30, the second round is in Brisbane from November 25-27. The final round and test series will be held from January 3-7 in Canberra. The White Sox team is: Tiana Areaiiti (Southland), Kyla Bromhead, Rebecca Bromhead, Megan Farrell, Melanie Gettins, Katarina Hiku, Jordan-Leigh Koni, Amanda Preston, Michal Tangaroa, Courtney Warren (Auckland), Yvonne Burgess, Danica Ferriso, Ashley Johnston (Hutt Valley), Brooke Cutting, Charlotte Pointon, Megan Tasker (Wellington), Robyn Hall (Canterbury), Poihaere Clark (Sydney), Alex Forsyth, Ngamoko Hiku, Api Stone (Brisbane), and 1 other player to be confirmed. New Zealand White Sox Release30 AugustNZ White Sox Head Coach Naomi Shaw has named a large squad of players as the NZ White Sox team prepare for the ISF Women’s World Series in Whitehorse, Yukon in July 2012. The squad includes players in the Junior White Sox team and those who have indicated a strong desire to be part of the rebuilding women’s programme. Scouting over the past year has also unearthed a number of Kiwi’s currently playing in Australia and the United States. The NZ White Sox will play in Softball Australia’s Gilley's Shield (Open Women’s Championships) and the Edebone – Weber Shield Test Series (Australia v NZ) in early January 2012. Round one of the Gilley's Shield is played in Melbourne 28-30 October 2011, round two in Brisbane 25-27 November, and round three in Canberra 3-7 January 2012. The test series against Australia will be held in Canberra following the completion of round three of the Gilley's Shield. Future plans include 1 day regional training camps following the Softball NZ National Fastpitch Championships in February 2012 and the Women’s Open Club Nationals in March 2012. Shaw say’s the door for final selection is open to any players who are performing at elite level and have the desire to be part of the “New Beginnings” New Zealand White Sox culture. The final team to travel to World Series will be named at the end of March, 2012. New Zealand White Sox Squad – August 2011 Andrews Lara USA Avery Kingsley AK Areaiiti Tiana SL Boys Alison WN Bromhead Rebecca AK Burgess Yvonne HV Cartwright Sheree HV Clark Poihaere Aust Cooper Ellie USA Cutting Brook WN Davis Hayley USA Farrell Megan AK Ferriso Danica HV Forsyth Alex Aust Gettins Melanie HB Hall Robyn CB Harris Santana AK Hiku Kataraina AK Hiku Ngamoko Aust Hoani Krysta AK Hokianga Rita HV Hollett Jessica Aust Johnson Ashley HV Koni Jordan-Leigh CM Luke Dinah HV Maihi Courtney USA Matautia Te Reo Powhiri AK McDonald Jessica Aust Ngatokorua Alorna AK Preston Amanda AK Pointon Charlotte WN Puketapu Tania Aust Ratu-James Kuraroa HV Rika Amelia HV Ropata Micah Aust Stewart Taylor-Paige USA Stavert Beth AK Stockford Katrina HV Stone Api Aust Sutherland Lauren CB Tangaroa Mitch AK Tanoa Danielle WN Tasker Megan WN Tonga Jasmine Aust Tourangi Krystal AK Warren Courtney AK Werahiko Carly CB Whitman Matie HV Weber Hope WN Wells Keeley AK Wills Gillian AK Shaw has also named a squad to attend a national training camp in September to be held in the Hawkes Bay and in conjunction with the Junior White Sox Team as they finalise their preparation towards the ISF U19 World Series in South Africa in December 2011. The September camp will be attended by the following players: Areaiiti (SL) Boys, Cutting, Pointon (WN) Farrell, Ngatokorua, Preston, Tangaroa, Tourangi, Warren (AK) Gettins (HB) Rika (HV) New White Sox Assistant Coach Named12 AugustSoftball NZ takes great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Debbie Mygind as Assistant Coach of the New Zealand White Sox Team. Debbie joins Head Coach Naomi Shaw and Manager Anaru Pewhairangi to guide the team through to 2014. Debbie comes witha wealth of experience having spent playing time on scholarship in the States, also played in Canada, Italy and coached in Sweden before returning to New Zealand. She was the assistant coach for Sweden at the 1994 ISF Women's World Series and the NZ U19 team at the ISF U19 Women's World Series in 1995. She played for New Zealand from 1979 to 1989, won a world championship bronze medal in 1986 (in NZ) and was the winning pitcher for the 1982 NZ Women's World Championship Team in Taiwan. New White Sox squad named9 DecemberWhite Sox Head Coach Naomi Shaw has taken the opportunity afforded to her under the rules of the Gilley's Shield to name a new squad of 22 players for the final round in Perth. The squad of 22 includes a mix of youth and experience with the inclusion of seven Junior White Sox squad members and eight players who competed at the Women's World Championships earlier this year. Also included in the squad is American pitcher Jennifer Feret who has been playing for the Auckland based Western Magpies team. Shaw was in Auckland last weekend watching players and was impressed with Feret. Her inclusion comes after an exemption to the eligibility criteria was sought and approved due to the unavailability of Megan Farrell for the 3rd round of games. Fifteen players from the squad will be named to travel to Perth after the second round of games being played in Melbourne next weekend, December 17th - 19th. At the same time, Shaw will name her test team which will contest a 3 match test series against the Australians at the conclusion of the Edebone-Weber/Gilley's Shield. The Perth tour runs from 4th to 9th January, with the test matches being contested on the 8th and 9th. Australia have named a full strength line up for the test series. The Softball New Zealand White Sox squad for Perth is: Zavana Aranga, Tiana Areaiiti, Kingsley Avery, Alison Boys, Rebecca Bromhead, Yvonne Burgess, Brooke Cutting Jennifer Feret, Mel Gettins, Robyn Hall, Rita Hokianga, Rebecca Hicks, Katarina Hiku, Sina Hunkin, Ashley Johnston, Jordan-Leigh Koni, Dinah Luke, Charlotte Pointon, Beth Stavert, Katrina Stockford, Megan Tasker, Hope Weber. Positive first up performance from White Sox3 DecemberFollowing a positive performance at the Softball Australia Gilley's Shield Tournament held in Sydney, the New Zealand White Sox Team are looking forward to the opportunity to be playing the high standard of competition offered by the three weekends of tournament play. The team selected to play in Melbourne 17-19 December 2010 retains most players from the Sydney Series with the impressive Rookie Pitcher Jordan-Leigh Koni from Counties Manukau being rested. Koni has been retained for the Perth leg of the Gilley's Shield following am impressive debut in Sydney. New players into the NZ White Sox Team include Auckland's Kingsley Avery and Beth Stavert. Both players are eligible for the NZ U19 2011 World Series Team and will relish the opportunity to play alongside U19 team mate Rita Hokianga from Hutt Valley. Returning to the team following the World Series in Venezuela is Hutt Valley's Zavana Aranga and Melanie Gettins from Hawkes Bay who is home on holiday from her Us College Scholarship break. Coach Naomi Shaw will look to build on the useful start the NZ White Sox Team made in the Sydney Tournament. "It's an extremely high standard of softball played at the Gilley's Shield and I was really impressed that the team were in most part very competitive and composed at this level. We had a tough schedule having to arise in the early hours of the morning to catch the early flight to Sydney and from there straight to the park for our firstgame. The schedule certainly tested the players character and revealed a desire and motivation to be part of the elite softball scene. I will be looking to experienced team members Zavana Aranga, Alison Boys, Rebecca Bromhead, Megan Farrell and Katrina Stockford to set the scene for the rookie sox players and to build on what was an extremely positive start for the Gilley's Shield". The team for Melbourne is: Zavana Aranga, Yvonne Burgess, Rita Hokianga, Ashley Johnston, Dinah Luke, Katrina Stockford (Hutt Valley) Kingsley Avery, Rebecca Bromhead, Megan Farrell, Beth Stavert (Auckland) Alison Boys, Charlotte Pointon, Megan Tasker, Hope Weber (Wellington) Melanie Gettins (Hawkes Bay)
NZ White Sox Off to Face the Australians18 NovemberNew Zealand White Sox coach Naomi Shaw will be looking to her senior players this weekend as her side begins a new chapter in their history book when they play in the opening Gilley's Shield competition in Blacktown, Sydney. The Gilley's and Edebone-Weber Shield involves leading women's players from six Australian state sides and includes the New Zealand national team. The games are played over three weekends and conclude with a finals weekend in January. "The senior players will provide a crucial role in guiding, supporting and encouraging the newer members in the team so that they have a challenging and enjoyable experience," Shaw said. "The competition we are going into is really tough and we are under no illusion as to the difficult task ahead. The weekend tournaments we are attending will tell us as much about our players character and determination as it will about their level of skill. The New Zealand White Sox open their campaign on Friday against Victoria before facing New South Wales three hours later. It will be the first outing for the side since their disappointing performance at the world championship in Venezuela six months ago. For Shaw the opportunity to get together will provide an opportunity for her and the team to establish the New Zealand White Sox team values looking ahead to the 2012 world championship. "We must set the scene for what we agree on as acceptable values and behaviours across a wide spectrum," she said. "Once we have the player's input we can start developing the overall plan." The opening game will also be the first time Shaw has had her side together since she named it last month. "We are going into this competition without any training camps prior to the series and we are lacking intensive quality game time," she said. "The situation is not ideal, but I would much rather have this opportunity to play games of this level than not at all." "It is what it is and we will simply have to work with what we have got and make the best of the opportunity we have." Senior team members will be charged with leadership roles this weekend. The team for this weekend is: Alison Boys, Charlotte Pointon, Megan Tasker, Hope Weber (Wellington), Rebecca Bromhead, Megan Farrell (Auckland), Yvonne Burgess, Ashley Johnston, Dinah Luke, Katrina Stockford (Hutt Valley), Rita Hokianga (Hawke's Bay), Jordan-Leigh Koni (Counties Manukau).
White Sox team named for first weekend of Gilley's Shield21 OctoberSoftball New Zealand would like to congratulate the following players on their selection into the White Sox for Weekend 1 of the Gilley's Shield in Australia.
The first round will be played in Sydney over the weekend of 19-21 November 2010. Once again congratulations to those players. New White Sox manager appointed13 October
New White Sox squad named8 OctoberCoach Naomi Shaw has named her first NZ Women’s White Sox squad with the aim of preparing a team to attend the Gilley's “Weber-Edabone” Shield Series in Australia shortly. Congratulations to those who have made the squad for the first time especially a few of the current Junior White Sox team. Lara Andrews, Aranga Zavana, Areaiiti Tianna, Avery Kingsley, Alison Boys, Rebecca Bromhead, Yvonne Burgess Sheree Cartwright, Megan Farrell, Mel Gettins, Rita Hokianga, Sina Hunkin, Ashley Johnson, Jordan-Leigh Koni, Upu Lote, Dinah Luke, Charlotte Pointon, Amanda Preston, Beth Stavert, Katrina Stockford, Megan Tasker, Hope Weber New White Sox coach named22 SeptemberWorld championship winning softball player Naomi Shaw has been appointed head coach of the White Sox team. Shaw has replaced Dean Rice, who stood down after July's world championship. For Shaw it will be her first time as head coach of the White Sox, but she was the assistant coach from 1992 to 1999, including attending the 1994 and 1998 world championships in that role. She was also a national selector from 1991 to 1999. "It is quite a privilege really," Shaw said. "I am under no illusion as to the difficult task we have ahead of us. But I am really excited by the challenge. I am really pleased with the depth we have in the juniors. Critical to the women's program developing over the next four years is the Junior White Sox, as there is a lot of depth there to be developed." On the national scene she has been one of the most successful coaches. In the past seven national provincial tournaments her Hutt Valley team has won it six times, making the finals in all of them, and winning the last four finals in a row. "I have been fortunate to have very good players," Shaw said. “It's been really enjoyable with Hutt Valley and I am going to miss that." Shaw's first task in her new role will be to select the White Sox team that will play in Australia's state championship for the Gilley's Shield. That competition begins on November 19. "It is real pressure cooker time," Shaw said. "I am going to be a little hamstrung in terms of time to actually see who is available and who is playing. Time is really tight." Shaw will be contacting the members of the White Sox team who played in the world championship and see if they are available for the national side. |
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