Softball: Junior Sox on track with win to start

Thomas Makea.

Hawke's Bay's Black Sox softball legend Thomas Makea won the first of his four world titles in Michigan in 1996.

Now his son, Reilly, who also plays at centre outfield, is attempting to emulate his father's feat as a member of the Junior Black Sox team.

The senior Makea coaches the team which opened its Junior World Series campaign in Michigan yesterday with a 3-1 win against Canada.

Canterbury-based Reilly finished the game with two hits from three turns at bat and opened the scoring in the first inning when he hit home catcher and lead-off batter Jarome McKenzie of Auckland.

McKenzie got on base with a triple to the right-field corner. The Junior Black Sox also scored runs in the fourth and sixth innings while Canada scored their only run in the seventh.

Three Hawke's Bay-based players are in the Junior Black Sox, the second seeds for the 13-team tournament. Saints utility Jacob Zurcher was the Kiwis designated hitter and had two turns at bat. He produced a sacrifice bunt in one and ground out in the other. His Saints team-mate, pitcher Adam Woon, and Maraenui Pumas utility Callum Carson didn't get game time against the Canadians.

In other games yesterday, defending champions Argentina pipped the United States 6-5, Japan beat Israel 8-0, Mexico beat Israel 7-0 and Botswana beat Denmark 8-1.

The Junior Black Sox are to play Israel and Japan today.