Softball: Wiser White Sox hope for better result

By JULIE ASH

The White Sox only have to think back four years to the last world championships to remember the bitter taste of disappointment.

New Zealand were confident going into the 1998 tournament in Japan, but finished a frustrating 12th out of 16 teams.

Present captain Fiona Timu was part of that team and said that although it was hard to pinpoint where they went wrong, she believed her side would achieve a better result at this year's championships, which start on July 26 in Saskatoon, Canada.

"The big difference since then is our coaching staff, with Mike Walsh and Dean Rice. We are learning all the time.



"Although we don't have big hitters and fast runners, we know how to attack our opposition. Our strength is also our defence and batting."

The White Sox go into the world championships ranked sixth, behind the United States, Japan, China, Australia and Italy.

They have been grouped in pool B with Japan, Australia, Cuba, Venezuela, the Netherlands, South Africa and Puerto Rico.

Pool A comprises world champions and Olympic gold medallists the United States, China, Italy, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Netherlands Antilles, the Czech Republic and Botswana.

Timu rates the US, Japan, Australia and China highly and said Canada and New Zealand probably came in the next bracket.







Her team head to Los Angeles this weekend where they will spend nine days playing against age-group sides.

They then go to Vancouver for the Canada Cup, a week-long tournament involving most of the teams who will compete in the world series.



The national men's team, the Black Sox, leave on Monday for a three-week tour of North America where they will play games against many of the top club sides.

White Sox: Pitchers: Phillipa McKenzie (Auckland), Michelle Kingi (Auckland), Sheree Cartwright (Canterbury), Ali Arnold (US). Catchers: Cindy Potae (Hutt Valley), Togi Lote (Wellington), Nic Pouaka (Canterbury). Infield: Fiona Timu (Auckland), Upu Lote (Wellington), Rhonda Hira (Canterbury), Char Pouaka (Canterbury), Kalala Faalogo (Auckland), Lisa Kersten (Canterbury). Outfield: Melanie Hulme (Canterbury), Nicole Stevenson (Wellington), Kim Dermott (Canterbury), Nardia Mauriohoohoo (Hutt Valley).