KEY POINTS:
National women's softball coach Dean Rice has reignited the international careers of five players by recalling them for February's Olympic Games qualifying series in Taiwan.
He has also named two newcomers in the side.
Rice said the national selectors' decision to put their weight behind experienced players was
a conscious effort to have a more balanced team that could be successful in two months.
"As a selection panel, we thought that it wasn't the right time to develop a lot of junior players. We have gone with players who have a history of doing the job in New Zealand and internationally," Rice said.
Those being recalled are Canterbury infielder Lisa Kersten, Hutt Valley's Togi Lote and Kiri Shaw, North Harbour's Jackie Smith and American-based Kim Dermot.
Wellington outfielder Brooke Cutting and Auckland's Amelia Rika will make their international debuts in Taiwan. Rice said Cutting, 17, put her hand up during the trial games in the Jefferies Cup last weekend.
"Brooke had a fantastic trial on Sunday, she hit extremely well and that is why we wanted to have a trial to give a number of players the chance to put their hand up and that is what Brooke did," Rice said.
"She showed she has definitely got some hitting power, the right attitude, speed and athleticism and she has been performing well in Wellington.
"The selection of Rika is an example of the selection panel's desire to include players to fill specialist roles in the team.
"Amelia is a sprinter. She has the fastest time in the squad from second base to home. We are looking at her in a specialist role - as someone we can use as a pinch runner that can come on late in the game. If a player can hit a single to the outfield we believe there is no one quicker [than Rika] in New Zealand to get home."
Lote is another player who could fill a specialist role.
Rice said the selectors saw her as a genuine power hitter and they wanted to make the most of that skill.
"Togi is only going to be used in a specialised role in the team as a hitter we can use off the bench to drive in a run," Rice said. "The winning factor will be playing as a team. We need team members trusting each other and playing for the team and everybody doing their own little bit."
The team will travel to Taiwan in late January next year, via Melbourne for six warm-up games ahead of the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifiers from February 1-5.
The format will be a double round-robin with the top two sides meeting in the best-of-three final.
The winners will qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Most of the team named yesterday will play the National Provincial Cup in Wellington from January 8-11. They will either play for their province or as a pick-up player for another team.
WHITE SOX SQUAD
Pitchers - Ali Arnold (Canterbury), Michelle Kingi (Counties Manukau), Sheree Cartwright (Hutt Valley).
Catchers - Jackie Smith (North Harbour), Kiri Shaw (Hutt Valley).
Infield - Fiona Timu (North Harbour), Upu Lote (Hutt Valley), Lisa Kersten (Canterbury), Shirley Povey (Hutt Valley).
Outfield - Melanie Hulme (Canterbury), Melisa Upu (Hutt Valley), Kim Dermott (America) Nadia Mauriohooho (Hutt Valley), Brooke Lockhart (Canterbury), Brooke Cutting (Wellington).
Utilities - Togi Lote (Hutt Valley), Amelia Rika (Auckland).
- NZPA
