Hawke's Bay's four-time world softball champion Thomas Makea is on target to add another world title and a first as coach to his CV.
Makea, 39, who won four world titles during his playing days with the Black Sox, is head coach of the Junior Black Sox, his team yesterday downing defending champions and previously unbeaten Argentina 3-1 at the Junior World Series in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada in the double-life semifinal to secure a berth in today's final.
Makea's troops will play the winner of the curtainraiser, a sudden-death semifinal between Argentina and Japan. Maraenui Pumas utility Tiwana Aranui is the sole Hawke's Bay player in the Junior Black Sox, which also include Makea's son Dante Matakatea. who plays for Wellington.
Argentina opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning. New Zealand replied with three in the bottom of the third.
Argentina out-hit the Junior Black Sox 4-1 but made four errors, four more than the Kiwis. Short stop Matakatea batted one runner in.