Softball: Sox down in Melbourne

Rest will be the last thing on the minds of the White Sox players after their performance at this weekend's Gilley's Shield softball competition in Melbourne.

In the competition, which involves the Australian state teams, the Bartercard White Sox side managed just one win - 4-0 against South Australia - from their six games.

The side was beaten by ACT 2-7 and Victoria 1-2 on Friday, the next day Queensland and New South Wales beat the White Sox 0-5 and 0-7 respectively and yesterday competition leaders Western Australia beat them 2-6.

"It was a bit disappointing," said Softball New Zealand general manager Dane Dougan. "There had been a higher expectation put on this weekend's games."

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for the players was that they had their chances in two of their other six games, having led ACT 2-0 before going down 7-2 and Victoria 2-0 before losing 3-2.

In those games errors at crucial times cost the New Zealand side victory with the winners capitalising on some fielding mistakes.

The players' focus will now switch from the White Sox team to their franchise sides with the ALAC National Fastpitch Championship beginning in Christchurch on December 27.

The four-day tournament is crucial to Bartercard White Sox coach Dean Rice as he looks to finalise his team for the test series against Australia which will be played in Brisbane next month.