Softball: Black Sox face obscurity after World Series win

By CHRIS RATTUE

The New Zealand men's softball side return home early tomorrow with another world title in the bag, and wondering what their success will mean for a battling sport.

Just hours after the win, New Zealand Softball chief executive Hadyn Smith called for New Zealand On Air grants to help second-tier sports get television coverage.

Smith said the 20,000 children playing the game would never even see their heroes on television.

"In 1980 we had 80,000 players and 22 hours of television a year," he said. "Now we have 30,000 players and no television hours."

After falling behind to Japan in the World Series final in South Africa yesterday, the Black Sox rallied behind the outstanding pitching of Marty Grant to retain the title they won in Michigan four years ago.

Japan opened the scoring in the third innings when lead-off batter Takashi Arizumi brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.

New Zealand equalised in the fourth innings when Jarrad Martin, from Wellington, hit an automatic home run over centrefield.

Outfielder Donny Hale, from Auckland, brought in the winning run in the seventh.

The match had some last-innings controversy when Japanese runner Takatoshi Yura was called out for interference on New Zealand second base Dion Nukunuku.

The New Zealand side had some hurried beers and battled the language barrier with the Japanese last night before heading home.

Their triumph in East London left New Zealand at the top of a sport played by 40 million people in more than 100 International Softball Federation countries, although New Zealand, Japan, Canada and the United States are the only World Series contenders.

The Black Sox players had to contribute $500 each and pay for many of their own meals at the World Series, and lived four-to-a-room at a school hostel.

Their buildup was aided by the Army, who over the past couple of years have let them use their camps at Trentham and Waiouru.

The computer firm that coach Don Tricker works for made its large holiday home in Ohakune available for a pre-series camp.

Softball's efforts to take advantage of its world-champion status finds its greatest hurdle with television, the make-or-break factor in world sport.

Black Sox manager Grant McCarroll said: "I think there are five sports in New Zealand who don't have to pay for coverage.

"If we brought the United States team here it would cost us around $30,000 to have one game covered, and even then it wouldn't be live. We just don't have that budget.

"We get a lot of help from the Sports Foundation, but it would be nice to get a backer. I suppose last time we won the Olympics were on at the same time and we got a bit overshadowed. But if we got television coverage most of these guys would be household names."

Added captain Mark Sorenson: "I hope as a team we get the recognition, and I hope for the sport it will give it a boost."