Softball: Future of national team in safe hands

Eddie Kohlhase's day job is at the Customs Service, but says he is blessed with an understanding boss. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Eddie Kohlhase is finally sleeping easy after the disappointment of losing softball's world championship to Australia in Canada a year ago.

Australia's crushing win ended a run of three straight world titles for the Black Sox.

Kohlhase, who won the world title as a player and assistant coach, has finally come to terms with the defeat in his first bid as head coach.

The 45-year-old is not resting easy though - he has just launched the Black Sox effort to regain the title at North Harbour in 2013 by running a wee broom through the national set-up.

Rhys Casley has replaced veteran Jarrad Martin as captain and Kohlhase is bringing in old playing comrades to re-shape New Zealand's game.

Kohlhase combines the national coaching job with a top position in the Customs Service - where he has worked for 28 years - managing the national unit targeting the crooks.

It was a typically busy week on both fronts when the Weekend Herald caught up with him.

He was just about to leave for Washington for meetings with America's mainland security division.

And he had also arranged a visit with former star softballer Dion Nukunuku, who is serving prison time on fraud charges.

Kohlhase hopes his old New Zealand and Marist club mate - who stole $450,000 from his employer to support a gambling addiction - will help coach the Black Sox fielders after he is paroled.

Kohlhase fielded a few questions from the Weekend Herald.

What effect has last year's defeat to the Aussies had?
We need to strip our game back to the basics. It wasn't just that we lost - we gave up 12 runs in two games and got cleaned out by Australia. We didn't fire a shot, which is what hurts. We may have had the wrong game plan, but we may have underestimated their battery - they had two pitchers throwing 145km/h rise balls. We have lost the great rise ball pitchers in New Zealand and many of our hitters have capitalised on facing weak rise balls. We were blessed in the 70s and 80s when every club side had two or three guys who could throw very, very hard but Marty Grant was the last of that line. We need to get our pitching right and defence back in order. We have outstanding fielders but went too much the American way sitting back on our heels. All New Zealand sport thrives on the hustle.

And you've turned to some old mates?
Once you are part of the Black Sox, you never really leave. It was gut-wrenching coming second in Saskatoon ... the boys were ringing me up and it was hurting them just as much and they wanted to help. I've brought Chubb Tangaroa in because he was a fantastic rise ball pitcher who understands people and patterns. Mark Sorenson and Dean Rice will assist with the batting, Mark for the right-handers and Dean for the left. We had won everything with a phenomenal batting lineup for the last five years - the batting is much better than in my playing days. But we've relied a bit too much on the power game. I'm looking to use Dion Nukunuku when he gets out ... he was an outstanding softballer and I want him to work with me on the infield defence. Dion made a big mistake but he has so much to offer as a coach and we want to help him integrate back into the community.

How did Jarrad Martin take the captaincy decision?
Jarrad is a legend in softball, like a Michael Jones or Pero Cameron. He wasn't expecting it - but he said it was a weight lifted from his shoulders. Jarrad is more of a facilitator ... this will allow him to concentrate on his own game for the next world champs. Rhys Casley is a very strong character, physically and personality-wise. He leads from the front. Telling Jarrad was a very emotional meeting - there wasn't a dry eye by the end.

Another busy week ... how do you juggle both jobs?
I'm away a lot for work ... making it succeed is down to my wife Amanda. When I got into the coaching we decided she would stay at home for the children (Joseph, 12, and James, 10). She is so supportive. My chief executive at Customs has been fantastic.

Your career highlight?
Winning the world title in 1984. We were a bunch of young guys who weren't expected to win. Winning the national club title with Marist in 1988 - the club had a long golden run which was very special.

Lowlight?
Last year's world championships ... you carry the weight of responsibility as national coach and it is hard not to take it personally. I was pretty low.

Did you have a childhood hero?
John Walker. He is an amazing man. I don't know him personally but remember him coming to our Ellerslie athletics club and presenting me with a book as a prize. I've still got it and cherish it. He was so humble - a legend who went to a junior club prize giving. He is so humble and down to earth with a simple message about hard work.

The best pitcher you faced?
Jacko [Steve Jackson]. He had all the pitches and that attitude ... although we played together for many years I faced him early on when he was at Ramblers. He was a tough guy to play against. He had the arrogance to go with the pitches but was also a lot of fun. I don't see a lot of that character around today.

What would you change in softball?
The beer tent - I'd get rid of it, partly because of what it stands for. I've always strived for our athletes to be considered as athletes ... the perception of softball was a sport played by unfit, overweight old guys. Hopefully we have changed that.

What is the future for softball?
The numbers are terrific in the juniors. We took a hit from touch rugby for a while but people are specialising these days. We are getting pure softballers, not those who also play other sports. Baseball is taking a hold in Australia and the Major Leagues see a lot of potential in the South Pacific. I don't see baseball as a threat but an exciting possibility. There are discussions with Sky TV at the moment around that. There is a one-diamond concept being looked at. It could be an opportunity for the young ones, to make a living out of the game. There are also discussions about men's softball being admitted to the Olympics along with re-admitting the women, maybe in 2020. These decisions will make or break the game in some ways.