Softball: Hectic schedule begins for NZ women's team

By JULIE ASH

White Sox captain Fiona Timu stresses her side will need to be "on their toes" when they line up against China and Japan in Wellington this weekend.

The New Zealand women's softball team have a hectic week ahead - after this tri-series they play another - against Canada and China the following weekend in Auckland.

The New Zealand side include five new caps - Auckland catcher Jorja Bell, Wellington pitchers Lisa Such and Naomi Ioasa and their team-mate Talilotu Tonu'u and Canterbury's Brooke Lockhart. Wellington infielders Api Stone O'Kane and Kiri Shaw have been recalled.

Experienced infielder Char Pouaka (playing in Italy) and her sister, catcher Nic Pouaka (just married), are unavailable.


The 2002 world championships were the last time New Zealand played Japan and China, ranked second and third in the world respectively behind the US.

Japan is fielding more of a development side - but both they and China are using the series as part of their buildup to the Athens Olympics.

Timu expected strong opposition.

"Both are very quick. They'll have a lot of left-handers and both have always had really good defence. We'll have to be on our toes."

Missing out on an Olympic spot themselves, the New Zealanders, ranked sixth equal in the world, will use the series as a buildup to July's Canada Cup and to develop players for the 2006 world championships.

The New Zealand team assemble this morning and play their first match against China tonight. The teams meet again tomorrow, and then New Zealand have two matches against Japan. The top two teams play a final on Sunday.