Four Canadians in Giants squad

Four Canadians will be part of a 16-strong Giants men's softball squad which will play in a pre-season tournament to be hosted by their own club at South Park in Masterton on Saturday and Sunday.
Second baseman Trevor Aldred, catcher Curtis Ames, outfielder Cory Kinnon and utility Jaret Lambert are all from Grand Prairie, Alberta and have come to the Wairarapa to enhance their softball careers.
Their main aim is to make the Giants line-up to contest the Hutt Valley premier one competition and the Inter-City series, which sees the top Hutt Valley and Wellington clubs engage in combat
And from what Giants co-coach Russell Thompson has seen of them they have a better-than-average chance of achieving their objective.
"They are young guys with a good work ethic, and we're expecting them to make a real impression here," he said. "Obviously this weekend will tell us more about them, but they've certainly started off the right way."
Last season was a struggle for Giants with a lack of playing resources the number one problem, but Thompson is confident it will be a whole new ball game for the side in 2005-06.
They had 22 players trying out for their premier side at a three-hour trial held at South Park last weekend and not only was the quality of play impressive but there was marked improvement in the attitude of the players.
"There is a lot more enthusiasm around ?everybody is keyed up and ready to go," Thompson said. "The signs are positive - very positive."
A major gain for Giants is the appointment of Tony Nixon to the co-coaching role. Nixon has played at the top level both in New Zealand and overseas and would be arguably the most respected softball identity in the Wairarapa.
"He (Nixon) has been there, done that and he has got a wealth of knowledge to pass on," Thompson said. "He's already done a lot of talking to individual players about skills and dedication, and the message seems to be getting through."
Captaining Giants this season will be another former top line player in Gordon Wilmshurst, who is returning to the sport after a break of five or six years. His batting skills will be invaluable.
Pitching should not be a worry for the team with Ames, Richard Clarke, Justin Karaitiana and national age group rep Blair Thompson all able to fill that crucial role with distinction. And in Rawiri Mariu, Giants have another player on the comeback trail who is capable of rolling his arm over with good effect.
"It's always a plus to have variation in the pitching and we've certainly got that," Thompson said "And they can all play in other positions as well, that's a big plus too."
Also in the Giants squad for this weekend are top age group player Ryan Shannahan, Mark Fricker, Corie Karaitiana, Greg Paku and Terry Waitere, all of whom are expected to shine in the field and in the batting box.
Hundreds of hours of voluntary work have South Park looking in tip-top shape, and it will be a hive of softball activity this season. In October alone Giants will play on eight occasions there, which is remarkable when you consider they had just the three home games all last season.
Thompson said Giants had talked "seriously" with Hutt Valley officials over the importance of making South Park a regular venue for competition matches in 2005-06, and he is optimistic they will be well catered for in that regard .
"I believe we now have one of the best venues in the whole of the lower North Island, if not New Zealand, and the more use it gets the better," Thompson said. "We want to lift the profile of the game in Wairarapa, and getting the top teams here is the best way of doing that."
With that in mind Giants are currently in negotiations with two of the country's leading clubs, Miramar and Poneke-Kilburnie, to play in a tourney at South Park on the weekend of October 8 and 9.