Softball: Wake-up call for White Sox

The White Sox got a sharp reminder as to how tough international competition is when they were shut out of the tri-series final in Christchurch at the weekend.

New Zealand missed a showdown with Japan U-23 in the final after losing 7-3 in yesterday's elimination final to the World All Stars, whom they had beaten twice going into the match.

After leading the visitors 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning, the New Zealanders let the All Stars score three unanswered runs in the third.

"It was one of those games where they hit the ball reasonably well and our defence was really shown up," said White Sox assistant coach Dean Rice.

The All Stars added to their tally in the fourth inning when Kiwi Lisa Kersten raced home to take her side out to 5-2.

Australian pitcher Zara Mee had a good day on the mound for the All Stars, facing 31 batters and giving up only seven hits and three runs with seven strike-outs.

New Zealand pegged one back at the bottom of the fifth when Char Pouaka batted Kiri Shaw home, but the All Stars continued to reap the rewards of New Zealand's average pitching and sloppy fielding to extend their lead to 7-3.

Southland's Sheree Cartwright started the game on the mound for the White Sox, facing 13 batters, taking three strike-outs and giving up four hits and four runs.

Sixteen-year-old Jessica Hau came on to replace Cartwright in the third inning, taking three strike-outs and giving up three hits and three runs against the 23 batters she faced.

The White Sox missed the experienced arms of Ali Arnold and Cynthia Fallowfield, who were unavailable for the series.

"We have got a very young pitching staff ... but in saying that they are the best in New Zealand at the moment and at some point of time we have to start developing," Rice said.

"This was an opportunity for us to throw them in the deep end and give them a taste of international softball."

The tri-series was part of the White Sox's build-up to the next year's world series in Beijing and has given coaches Mike Walsh and Rice plenty to work on.

"There was no point playing teams we were going to thrash; we had to get tested. Now all the deficiencies have been shown," Rice said.

"We definitely have to improve our pitching strength and obviously the infield needs a lot of work.

"The pitchers both in the All Stars team and the Japanese team were better than anything we have in New Zealand."

The White Sox's next assignment is to face Olympic silver medallists Australia over Easter.

The Japan under-23 team beat the All Stars 2-0 in the final.