NZCT Black Sox Player Profiles

JEREMY MANLEY 
Position: Pitcher
Club: Hutt City United
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 15/05/82
Career details – Victory in the 2006 Pacific Cup was Jeremy’s first taste of international softball with the NZCT Black Sox. He secured a place in the team last season on the back of strong performances for his club side Hutt City United as he led them to the 2006 NZCT National Club title. With his first taste of international softball behind him Jeremy is now looking to cement his place in the team with the 2009 World Championships in mind.

MICHAEL GAIGER 
Position: Pitcher
Club: Parklands Christchurch United
Province: Auckland
DOB: 06/12/70
Career details – Michael debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1999 but has had a stop start international career due to injuries. Despite injury frustrations Michael has tasted the ultimate success winning world championships gold in 2004 and was also part of the victorious NZCT Black Sox team in the Pacific Cup last season.
 
HEINIE SHANNON 
Position: Pitcher
Club: Auckland United
Province: Auckland
DOB: 21/06/75
Career details – It has been a long time between appearances for Heinie in the NZCT Black Sox uniform. Making his debut in 1998 Heinie has not played for New Zealand since the North American tour of 2002, so he will be keen to make the most of every opportunity in Canada. While he may not have been playing for New Zealand in recent years Heinie has not been lost to international softball as he has been representing Samoa. 


MARTY GRANT 
Position: Pitcher
Club:
Province: Nelson
DOB:
Career details – Marty made his debut for the Black Sox in 1990 and has played in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 world championship tournaments. Injury on the eve of the 2004 event ruled him out of a fourth world championship in front of his home crowd. Grant had retired after helping the Black Sox win the 2006 inaugural Commonwealth tournament in Melbourne, but made a return to the game earlier this year.


PATRICK SHANNON 
Position: Catcher
Club: Waitakere Bears
Province: Auckland
DOB: 21/06/75
Career details – Patrick first debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1995 and was in and out of the team before cementing his place in the side in 2001. Since then he has become a regular feature of the side and was part of the 2004 World Championship winning team.
Patrick is joined in the team by his twin brother Heinie.

JONATHAN MUNDEN
Position: Catcher
Club: Auckland Marist
Province: Auckland
DOB: 30/08/86
Career details – While still only young in years Jonathan has already had a wide taste of international softball. Jonathan debuted for the NZCT Black Sox as a 19-year-old in 2005 and in the same year he also captained the Junior Black Sox team at the Junior World Championships.
 
JARRAD MARTIN 
Position: Infield
Club: Northcote
Province: North Harbour
DOB: 05/02/73
Career details – When it comes to softball there is little that Jarrad hasn’t achieved in his illustrious career. Since debuting for the NZCT Black Sox in 1991 Jarrad has claimed three world championship gold medals, a Commonwealth Series gold, two Pacific Cup titles and numerous provincial and club titles in New Zealand.

TRAVIS WILSON 
Position: Infield
Club: Papanui
Province: Canterbury
DOB: 10/07/77
Career details – Travis debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1996 and was part of the World Championship winning team. Stella performances in that tournament caught the eye of American baseball scouts and he signed up for the Atlanta Braves in 1996. Travis played professional baseball in America for seven years before returning to softball in New Zealand 2004. Travis won a NZCT Black Sox recall in 2005 and is now targeting the 2009 World Championships.

BRAD RONA 
Position: Infield
Club: Northcote
Province: North Harbour
DOB: 17/02/76
Career details – Brad has been in the NZCT Black Sox team for the last seven years after making his debut in the team’s gold medal winning performance at the 2000 World Championships.  He claimed world championship gold again in 2004 with the NZCT Black Sox and caught the eye of the New Zealand sports fans with his power hitting and refusal to take a step backwards. 


NATHAN NUKUNUKU 
Position: Infield
Club: Mt Albert Ramblers
Province: Auckland
DOB: 08/05/80
Career details – Nathan burst on to the international softball stage as a 19-year-old in 1999 joining his older brother Dion in the side. Since then Nathan has gone on to claim two world championship titles with the highlight being the 2004 win in front of a home crowd in Christchurch. Nathan has also had plenty of success with both his club side and provincially for Auckland with three club national titles and three NZCT National League victories to his credit. 


THOMAS MAKEA 
Position: Outfield
Club: Porirua
Province: Wellington
DOB: 20/08/75
Career details – As a three time world champion Thomas is something of a veteran in the NZCT Black Sox team but the desire to be the best continues to drive the world class outfielder. Thomas debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1994 and has been a fixture of the team ever since.  A leader within in the team he is formidable in the batters box and hard to beat in the outfield.

DANIEL MILNE 
Position: Outfield
Club: Parklands Christchurch United
Province: Canterbury
DOB: 07/09/78
Career details – Daniel has been in and out of the Black Sox team since he made his debut in 1999. With the national side he has played in Australia, North America and Botswana. This series takes him a step closer to making the side to compete in the 2009 world championships.


STACY MCLEAN 
Position: Outfield
Club: Poneke Kilbirnie
Province: Wellington
DOB: 02/10/75
Career details – World Championships gold in 2004 with the NZCT Black Sox has been the highlight of a distinguished softball career for Stacy to date. At 23-years of age Stacy made his international softball debut in 1998 and while injuries have seen him in and out of the team he has been a regular member of the side since 2002.

GUS LEGER
Position: Outfield
Club: Auckland Marist
Province: Auckland
DOB: 12/10/74
Career details – Gus has a wealth of international softball experience behind him for both New Zealand and Samoa. Gus debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1995 and then took up an American baseball contract before returning to New Zealand. Gus reignited his international softball career in 2000 with Samoa and captained the side at the 2004 World Championships. Gus won a recall to the NZCT Black Sox team in 2005 and is now targeting the 2009 World Championships.

DONNY HALE 
Position: Outfield
Club: Mt Albert Ramblers
Province: Auckland
DOB: 03/04/75
Career details – Donny has been part of two world championship winning NZCT Black Sox teams in 2000 and 2004 and is an experienced member of the New Zealand team. The past season has seen Donny taste considerable success in the role of player coach as he has claimed the NZCT National League title with Auckland and the NZCT Open Club Championship crown with Mt Albert Ramblers.

RHYS CASLEY 
Position: Outfield
Club: Hutt City United
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 21/12/78
Career details – Rhys debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 2002 but is still to cement his place in the side. He won an international recall in 2005 for the Evodrive Series where he was in impressive form with the bat. Along with maintaining a successful career in New Zealand he has also tasted plenty of success in America where he plays in the off season.  

GARETH COOK 
Position: Outfield
Club: Parklands United
Province: Canterbury
DOB:
Career details – Gareth was a late replacement in the team for last year's Pacific Series and his performance at that tournament has seen him retained in the team for the qualifier. Made his Black Sox debut in 1998 for the North American tour. 


ROMAN GABRIEL   
Position: Infielder
Association: Auckland
Career details - Roman made his debut for the Black Sox in 1995 for the tour of North America but it was another three years before he played for the national side, but he was still unable to secure a regular spot in the team and again he found himself on the outer until a recall to the side in 2001. He was a member of the Black Sox team that won the 2004 world championship. He had retired from the game a couple of seasons ago, but returned to the diamond this season. Gabriel is also the assistant White Sox coach. 


AARON NEEMIA
Position: Catcher
Association: Wellington
Career details - Aaron has been recalled to Black Sox team having made his debut in 2001 and then last playing for the side in 2002. However, in the years since Aaron was not been lost to international softball having played for Samoa at the 2004 World Championship and in the Commonwealth and Pacific Series events.

WAYNE LAULU
Position; Outfielder
Association: Wellington
Career details - Will be making his debut for the Black Sox at the tournament. However, despite this Wayne has played international softball having played for Samoa at the 2004 world championship and again in the Commonwealth tournament and Pacific Series. Wayne was the inaugural recipient of the Kevin Herlihy Memorial Trophy for being the rookie of the year at the 2007 ISC tournament.