Softball: Top teams for season finale

Seven of the top eight teams from the national club championships will line up for the men's softball season finale, the Dean Schick Memorial tournament, at Rosedale Park this weekend.

The eighth team will be the junior Black Sox, who will compete as part of their preparation for the Junior World Series in Sydney in April.

Tournament organiser Danny Frew said that would make it the toughest Dean Schick tournament yet.

"The Dean Schick has become the premier northern men's club tournament, and this year's field reflects that. To have seven of the top eight sides in the country here is fantastic."

Frew said it was pleasing to have the national under-19 side involved, and beneficial for the game.

"They are the stars of the future so they'll certainly add something to the tournament, and I think they'll be reasonably competitive as well with some of the players they have in their side.

"It's good that we're able to help them with their build-up in this way because we want to give them every chance of emulating the senior Black Sox team and coming home with a world title."

Wellington side Poneke-Kilbirnie are the defending champions after beating Christchurch United in last year's final.

This year, Christchurch United have an edge after winning the John Lennon Trophy at the New Zealand men's open club championships.

The home side, Northcote, will also be strong contenders after taking out the Doreen Dalton Memorial tournament early in the season.

Hutt Cardinals, spearheaded by Black Sox captain Mark Sorenson, will use this tournament as a chance to make something of the season after finishing runners-up at three big events - the Doreen Dalton, the national club championships and the Island Bay Classic.

The tournament will be played in two sections with Christchurch United, Hutt City United, Northcote and Auckland Marist on one side of the draw and Poneke-Kilbirnie, Hutt Cardinals, Ramblers and the junior Black Sox on the other side.

The tournament starts tonight, and ends on Sunday afternoon.