Softball: Kiwi who calls US home base

By JULIE ASH

The united states will be relying on a Kiwi should they meet the Black Sox in the world championship final on Sunday.

Former Black Sox pitcher Michael White has been a member of the American team since 1998 and with the US shaping as New Zealand's biggest threat, he will play a significant part.

The Wellingtonian represented New Zealand in four world championships, winning a gold medal in 1984 and again in 1996.

The American connection began when a US club came knocking with an offer when White was 18. He decided it was the chance of a lifetime and went over for six months.

He returned to New Zealand and started a career then had another offer to play so he went back.

"I did that for a few years and then I thought, 'I can't keep doing this because my arm is going to wear out'. So I decided to stay over there."

After completing a college degree and opening a sporting goods store, White was granted US citizenship in 1994.

"I got married in 1989, then had three children - you just start putting more and more roots down."

A few years later he was chosen for the American team.

The Americans have been the most successful team in softball.

They won the first world championship in 1966 and have since won in 1968, 1980 and 1988.

"Softball in America, especially at the top level has become more of an international game. You have a lot of Canadians and Argentinians coming over from different parts of the world," White said.

Softball's biggest problem in the United States was baseball.

"We don't even rate in the same family. We are not even close. We try and attract some of the ex-baseball players but we just can't compete with the money and the allure of it and the scholarships and everything else.

"Women's softball has really grown in the States through the scholarships. I work at the University of Oregon, and each scholarship they offer is worth US$22,000 [$32,000] so when you offer that kind of money people put a lot of effort in.

"That is what we need in the men's but they have baseball so we can't compete."

Competing in his sixth world championship, White has been impressed with the standard in Christchurch.

"The other teams have got a lot better. You can see that by the Netherlands who are playing really well. And even though we beat the Czech Republic pretty badly the other day they are a better team than that, as they showed against Argentina.

"I think the top four [New Zealand, Japan, the United States and Canada] are still the top four but Australia are very dangerous, they are right there and Samoa are very dangerous too. Throw those two into the mix and you have six good teams."

But the Black Sox were the team to beat.

"They are a very powerful hitting team, everybody knows that. They run the bases very well and they are smart and aggressive.

Provided both teams win all their playoff matches, New Zealand are likely to meet the US tomorrow with the winner advancing straight to the final.

The loser will then play the winner of the game between the pool runnersup, which is played immediately before Sunday's grand final.

White is not fazed coming up against his former team and the defending world champions.

"I try not to make it bigger than what it is. It is just a game - there is a lot of things happening overseas, like war, that are a lot worse than playing softball so I try and put it in perspective and just play a hard game. I try not to look at it as country versus country, it is just a game."

Like the Black Sox, the US easily cruised through their pool matches comfortably pushing aside 2000 finalists Japan 7-3.

"We are an explosive team, we have a lot of power but I think we have a better blend of speed this year than in the past.

"I think we defend very well. They may say that our pitchers are a little bit too old but if we can keep our team in the game we can score some runs in a hurry.

As for the future, White is not ready to throw in the towel just yet.

"I don't want to be someone who gets to 60 and says I wish I'd kept going."

Michael White

Born: Wellington, November 19, 1961.

Status: Married to Lisa with three children.

Nickname: Whitey

Position: Pitcher

Career highlights:

2000: 3rd in the world championships with the US.

1996: 1st in the world championships with New Zealand.

1992: 2nd in the world championships with New Zealand.

1988: 2nd in the world championships with New Zealand.

1984: 1st in the world championships with New Zealand