Softball: Black Sox go for new look

It will be a new-look Black Sox softball team that will attempt to win a fourth consecutive world championship crown in Saskatoon, Canada in July.

Four players who were available for this year's tournament, and were members of the side in 2004 side, have missed selection in the team meaning captain Jarrad Martin, Patrick Shannon, Brad Rona, Nathan Nukunuku, Roman Gabriel, Thomas Makea and Donny Hale are the survivors while Aaron Neemia and pitcher Heinie Shannon were both members of the Samoa team at the 2004 world championships.

"It has been a big call," Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said.

"The players have just been unable to recapture the form they had in 2004.

"There are some unlucky players and they will be disappointed."

Kohlhase has also made a big call in going outside of his initial training squad and including Auckland's Enoka brothers, Thomas and Ben, in the team. Just over a year ago the two were named in the Junior Black Sox team for that side's world championship, which was also played in Canada.

Thomas has joined the pitching staff spearheaded by veteran Marty Grant, with support from Jeremy Manley and Heinie Shannon.

Ben has been named in the outfield with Rhys Casley, Thomas Makea, Donny Hale, Daniel Milne and Gareth Cooke.

"They are the real bolters," Kohlhase said. "I think they have a very big future in the game."

Kohlhase has also, as expected, named Travis Wilson in the side. Wilson was a member of the world championship team in 1996 but for the next eight years pursued a professional baseball career, mainly with the Atlanta Braves.

He returned to the Black Sox team four years ago and quickly re-established himself in the side but, due to his work commitments - Wilson is the fielding coach for the Black Caps - missed the tour of South America in November and then last month's Pacific Series in Apia.

"He brings to the team another professional approach," Kohlhase said.

While the Black Sox have dominated the world championships - they have contested the last six finals and won four of them including the last three - they don't talk about defending the crown.

"This is a new team," Kohlhase said.

"To win this tournament is going to take all 17 players pulling in the right direction.

"It is going to be a tough one, though."

Meanwhile, a combination of experience and youth make up the White Sox team for the Southern Cross Challenge and the test series against Australia next month in Christchurch.

Recalled to the side are Cindy Potae, Kiri Shaw and Michal Tangaroa.

Potae and Shaw have more than a decade of international softball experience with world championship and Olympic Games experience behind them, while Tangaroa, who is the daughter of former Black Sox pitcher Chubb, has played in a world championship tournament.

The only new cap in the team is Hutt Valley's Atsuko Tamaka.

"We need some experienced players in there so they can pass that on to the younger ones," White Sox coach Dean Rice said.