- Softball New Zealand

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Click here for Live Updates

Black Sox team:
Heinie Shannon, Patrick Shannon, Nathan Nukunuku, Roman Gabriel, Donny Hale (Auckland), Mike Gaiger, Travis Wilson, Daniel Milne, Gareth Cooke (Canterbury), Jeremy Manley, Rhys Casley (Hutt Valley), Marty Grant (Nelson), Jarrad Martin (captain), Brad Rona (North Harbour), Thomas Makea, Aaron Neemia, Wayne Laulu (Wellington) ... more

[ Day 1 ] [ Day 2 ] [ Day 3 ] [ Day 4 ] [ Player Stats ]

Accountability will be a key word for the Black Sox during the Oceania World Championship qualifying tournament which begins on Thursday at Rosedale Park in North Shore City.

“ We have spoken about more accountability and not looking for the next person to do it,” Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said.

“There will be a lot of personal accountability.”
“We don’t want to be reliant on the big hit to win games. We want to be working together to manufacture runs and win games.”

At times during the December Pacific Series in Canberra the Black Sox side were perhaps guilty of doing that, and as a result the side suffered their first loss in an international final since the 1992 world championship in Saskatoon, Canada.

“ We would be lying to say that it didn’t hurt but there has been enough evaluation and interrogation in terms of what did work for us and what didn’t,” Kohlhase said.

“We are looking to improve on those things we were weak on.
“Our focus is on winning the qualifier.”
Vying for one of the two Oceania spots available for next year’s men’s softball world championship that will be played in Saskatoon, Canada are Australia, Papua New Guinea and Guam. Of those three side’s Australia is expected to provide the Black Sox with their toughest competition. It is also the side that Kohlhase has the most knowledge on. However, playing against side’s about which there is not a lot of knowledge on their players is not a new experience.

“It does replicate what happens in a world championship with some of the smaller nations. Whilst we don’t know a lot about the teams we will approach them like any other and just look on what we have to do and the game plan we are trying to develop,” he said.

“We expect three tough teams.”
For this series Kohlhase has wasted no time in rushing back both Marty Grant and Roman Gabriel into the national side. Both players had retired from the game, but returned to the diamond earlier in the year and have now found themselves back in black.

Grant’s presence will especially be watched with interest. The veteran of three world championships and robbed of a fourth on the eve of the 2004 tournament in Christchurch, Grant is the most experienced player in the team and his performance on the mound could come under close scrutiny with the side needing to tie down their opponents batting line-ups rather than relying on their own hitters to get them out of trouble if they concede early runs.

Grant is joined on the pitching staff by Jeremy Manley, Heinie Shannon and Michael Gaiger. All three were with the Black Sox in Canberra, but at times were unable to close down their opponents batters. Performances of all four pitchers at differing stages of the Radio Sport national men’s club championship and the NZCT national league demonstrated that they are in good form, but the big tests for them are to come this week.

Day 1:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	Auto Home Runs
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			0
New Zealand	0	1	5	0	0	0				6	Wilson (2), Hale,

Pitcher: Heine Shannon 11 Batters Faced, 2 Strike Outs, 1 Hit, 3 Walks
Pitcher: Michael Gaiger 12 Batters Faced, 6 Strike Outs, 2 Hits, 1 Walk
Pitcher: Jeremy Manley 4 Batters Faced, 2 Strike Outs, 1 Hit, 0 Walks

Travis Wilson made sure he was accountable in the opening game of the Oceania world championship qualifying tournament being played at Rosedale Park. Wilson hit two home runs and batted in another two to help the Black Sox to a 6-0 win over Australia last night.

Wilson’s first over the fence hit came in the second inning and was over the centre-field fence. His second was in the third inning and saw the ball land over the left field fence. He was also not the only Black Sox player to punish the Australian pitchers with Donny Hale adding his name to the home run list.

It was in the third inning that the Black Sox showed their class with the side scoring five runs and forcing the Australian coaching staff to make two pitching changes. Their third pitcher of the evening, Adam Humble finished the night giving up only one hit. He did manage to get himself out of some trouble in the fourth inning with two down he conceded consecutive walks to Nathan Nukunuku, Donny Hale and Brad Rona to load the bases but Patrick Shannon, batting at four in the order, had his hit gloved in the outfield by David Metekingi.

Pitching for the Black Sox, Heinie Shannon started the game and faced 11 batters and gave up only one hit and took two strikeouts, Michael Gaiger faced 12 batters, gave up two hits and took six strikeouts and Jeremy Manley who came in for the last inning faced four batters gave up one hit and took two strikeouts.

For the side last night’s win was crucial in that the last time the two sides met in the final of December’s Pacific Series it was the Australians that won. That was the first time since 1992 the Black Sox had reached a final of a international tournament and not won it.

In the opening game of the tournament Guam scored four runs in their first inning to beat Papua New Guinea 7-3.

Day 2:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	Auto Home Runs
Papua New Guinea	0	0	0	1	0					1
New Zealand	3	4	7	1						15

Pitcher: Marty Grant 17 Batters Faced, 8 Strike Outs, 3 Hits, 0 Walks

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	Auto Home Runs
Guam	0	0	0	0						0
New Zealand	5	2	4	4						15			Wayne Laulu

Pitcher: Jeremy Manley 13 Batters Faced, 11 Strike Outs, 0 Hits, 1 Walk

The message has been simple and the rewards have seen the Black Sox continue on their winning way in the Oceania world championship qualifying tournament that is being played at North Shore City’s Rosedale Park. Yesterday the Black Sox beat Papua New Guinea 15-1 and Guam 15-0, both games lasting only five innings.

“What we are striving for is perfection and we are working toward that,” assistant coach Dave Workman said. “These games are good opportunities for the guys to concentrate on playing a nice solid game.”

While all of the Black Sox players did their jobs those that made the most of their chances yesterday included Travis Wilson, the Canterbury representative added to his two home runs on Thursday night with a third such hit against Papua New Guinea and Rookie Black Sox player Wayne Laulu also had a good day at the ball park. The Wellington representative hit the only home run of the game against Guam and finished with two hits from three turns at bat. While the side’s captain Jarrad Martin had three hits from as many turns at bat also against Guam.

The game against Papua New Guinea also saw the return to the international game for Marty Grant, who had originally retired from the game after the 2006 Commonwealth tournament. Against Papua New Guinea the veteran of three world championships took eight strikeouts and gave up three hits, combining well with catcher Aaron Neemia, who was making his first appearance for the Black Sox since 2002.

“It was an emotional time for Marty to put the black shirt back on,” Workman said.
“He played well. That was a new combination and they worked well together.”

Also impressing in that game against Guam was Jeremy Manley, who finished with 11 strikeouts without giving up a hit. The only blemish for the Hutt Valley representative was the walk he conceded in the fourth inning.

Earlier yesterday Australia bounced back from their opening night loss and beat Papua New Guinea 8-0 and Guam 16-0.

Day 3:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	Auto Home Runs
New Zealand	4	5	2	2	6					19			Rhys Casley
Papua New Guinea	0	0	0	0	0					0

Pitcher: Heine Shannon 17 Batters Faced, 7 Strike Outs, 2 Hits, 0 Walks

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	Auto Home Runs
New Zealand	0	1	2	0	0	0	0			3	6		Wilson, Casley
Australia	0	0	1	0	0	0	0			1	3	1

Pitcher: Mike Gaiger 13 Batters Faced, 5 Strike Outs, 1 Hits, 3 Walks
Pitcher: Jeremy Manley 16 Batters Faced, 8 Strike Outs, 4 Hits, 0 Walks

A near perfect display of softball from the Black Sox team has them unbeaten at the Oceania world championship qualifying tournament being played at North Shore City’s Rosedale Park. The side yesterday (subs SAT) beat Papua New Guinea 19-0 and then backed up that performance with a 3-1 win over Australia. Those two wins confirming the Black Sox place in next year’s men’s world championship tournament and Australia the second Oceania spot that was available.

Leading the way for the Black Sox against Australia was again Travis Wilson, who hit his fourth home run and third against that opponent. Wilson’s hit opened the scoring account in the second inning. He was also not the only Black Sox player to put their name down on the home run list with Rhys Casley doubling the Black Sox score with his over the fence hit in the third inning.

The Black Sox other run was scored by Nathan Nukunuku also in the third inning.

However, the Black Sox did not have everything entirely their way with Australia opening their run account in the third inning with Michael Tanner crossing home plate for his side’s opening run. It was in that inning and the next that the Black Sox were put under some pressure with pitcher Michael Gaiger unable to find the strike-zone and with a combination of walks and wild pitches it saw Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase go to his bench and replace him with Jeremy Manley in the fourth inning.

In the early game against Papua New Guinea rookie Black Sox player Wayne Laulu and the side’s captain Jarrad Martin collected four hits from their five turns at bat, while Gareth Cook had four safe hits from as many turns at bat.

In the other games Papua New Guinea recorded their first win of the tournament when they beat Guam 8-1. That result is a reversal of the opening game of the tournament on Thursday night which saw Guam beat Papua New Guinea 7-3. In today's game Guam will be left ruing not making the most of their chances with that side leaving 13 players on base compared to the four Papua New Guinea players who were left stranded on bases.
Tomorrow the Black Sox will play Guam while Australia face Papua New Guinea in the final games of the round robin competition.

Day 4:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	Auto Home Runs
New Zealand	0	4	1	1	2					8	9	1	Laulu, Milne
Guam	0	0	0	0	0					0	1	1

Pitcher: Michael Gaiger 19 Batters Faced, 11 Strike Outs, 1 Hit, 2 Walks

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	Auto Home Runs
New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0	5			5	5	2	Hale
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			0	2

Pitcher: Jeremy Manley 23 Batters Faced, 11 Strike Outs, 2 Hits, 1 Walk

The Black Sox showed they are on track for a fourth consecutive world title when they beat Australia 5-0 in the final of the Oceania world championship qualifying tournament at North Shore City's Rosedale Park yesterday.

However, it was not until the seventh inning that the scoring account was opened with Roman Gabriel, who was running for Travis Wilson, the first to cross home plate and then followed quickly by Gareth Cook, who was running for captain Jarrad Martin. Then the icing to the cake was added by Danny Hale whose home run also scored Rhys Casley and Nathan Nukunuku.

"Australia are a very good side and we had to play outstandingly well to come out on top," Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said.

"Although there were not too many opportunities in that final our guys were just too good to let another chance go by."

Defensively the Black Sox were just as outstanding with Jeremy Manley playing one of his best games in the black shirt. The Hutt Valley pitcher faced 23 batters, gave up only two hits and took 11 strikeouts. In comparison Australia used three pitchers with Adam Folkard starting the game and tying down the Black Sox batters for five innings. His replacement Andrew Kirkpatrick faced only eight batters with his dreams of a second final win over the Black Sox turning to a nightmare as he gave up the five runs in the seventh inning. His performance on the mound forced a third pitching change for Australia in the seventh inning with Adam Humble coming in for the last three outs.

"He [Manley] has done a lot of work this week and with [pitching coaches] Jimmy Wana and Eric Wilson and I think also having Marty Grant around certainly helped as well," Kohlhase said.

Manley was also well supported by his fielders with only two Australian players managing to get past first base safely.

For the Black Sox the qualifying tournament helped make amends for the disappointment the side had at the Pacific Series in Canberra in December. At that tournament the side lost twice to Australia, including the final which ended a record of having won every international final that they had been in since 1992.

The Black Sox dominated the qualifying series with the side scoring 66 runs and conceding only two in the seven games they had at the tournament. Their biggest wins of the weekend were 15-1 and 15-0 against Papua New Guinea and Guam respectively on Friday.

Despite losing the final Australia has qualified as the second Oceania team for next year's world championships which will be held in Saskatoon, Canada.