Softball: Busy schedule for Black Sox

The world champion New Zealand men's softball team have a busy few months in store in their season schedule confirmed today.

Softball New Zealand today confirmed a home series against Samoa, tours to Australia in January and August, and a trip to Japan in May to defend their Pacific Cup title.

The Black Sox will open their season with a four-match series against Samoa in Auckland on December 3 and 4.

In January they will contest the inaugural Commonwealth Cup in Melbourne against Australia, 2004 world championship finalists Canada, Samoa, South Africa and Botswana.

After the domestic season, the Black Sox travel to Japan in May for the Pacific Cup, before a development tour of Australia in August and September.

Coach Eddie Kolhase said the full schedule would be an opportunity to blood younger players with a view to defending their world title in 2009.

"We are very mindful that we need to extend our player base. At the moment we have 13 or 14 outstanding players but by 2009 we want to have increased that to 30 or 34," Kolhase said.

- NZPA