Softball: White Sox berths on the line as national league starts

By JULIE ASH

New Zealand's top women players have their first chance to impress national coach Mike Walsh this weekend in the opening round of the national league.

With test matches against Japan and Canada in March, Walsh said the national league was part of his selection process but the White Sox team would not be named until after the national club competition in March.

Six teams - Auckland, Central Vikings, Hutt Valley, Wellington, Canterbury and Southern Pride - will battle it out in the national league which kicks off in Christchurch tomorrow.

"Auckland are the defending champions and I would imagine they would be one of the top contenders again," Walsh said.

"I guess the other major contenders would be from Canterbury, Wellington and Hutt Valley. It is the first time for Southern Pride and Central in the competition, but I am sure they will be competitive and striving for a playoff spot like everyone else."

Walsh added: "One area we have been looking at is our pitching department. There are certainly some youngsters coming through, but that is one area we are always looking at.

"For the rest of the positional players it is just performing the fundamentals correctly, concentrating on their game awareness and their hitting skills."