Danish u19 National Team

For the second time Denmark will send off a team to the u19 World Championships. First time around was in 2005 in PEI, Canada.

Softball is a very small sport in Denmark, so the playerpool is not huge. This means that we will be bringing players from 19 years olds down to a couple of 15 year olds. Several players have WC-experience from 2005, and also from the European Championships in 2006 (2nd), but unfortunately high school graduations have left a couple of our more experienced players at home.

A good deal of the players play regularly in the highest Danish senior league, which is considered one of the best in Europe. Players to watch will be WC veterans: team captain Jan Weichart and pitcher Valdemar Terkelsen, who also starred on the senior national team in 2007.

Coaching the team wil beKiwi’s Israel Nukunuku and Sam Woodcock, with Jens Terkelsen as manager.

The Danish team will not be going for gold, but we are convinced that we will cause some upsets during the tournament.

Team Denmark will be arriving on June 18th and will be playing a friendly against the Czech Republic on june 20th.

The whole delegation is looking forward to the trip to Whitehorse – at least your weather and your light will be almost normal for us, compared to several other nations!

www.softball.dk
Jens Terkelsen
Team Manager

Roster after the jump.

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Botswana: Under-19 Softball Team Leaves for Whitehorse
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
5 June 2008
Mosah Mokganedi

The national Under-19 softball team will this month travel to Whitehorse Yukon, Canada, for the Junior Men’s International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships.

The 10-day tournament starts on June 20-30. Earlier last week there was uncertainty as to whether the team would make it, as the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) did not have enough funds.

But BSA president Marumo Morule said in Gaborone yesterday that the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) has come to their rescue by giving them money for air tickets while the BSA would look for more funds to meet other expenses. Botswana, who will be making their maiden appearance at the championship, will feature in the opening game against defending champions Australia followed by a game between Canada and the Czech Republic later in the night. Organisers have announced that 12 countries will do battle in a round robin tournament with Botswana and South Africa being the only African nations participating. Other countries include three-time defending champion Australia, as well as Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States of America (US), and Venezuela. Canada previously earned bronze medals at the World Championships in 2005 in summer side, in 2001 in Sydney, Australia, and in 1997 in St. John’s, New Zealand. The top four countries will advance to the play-offs on June 28, as the third and fourth place teams will square off immediately followed by a second play-off game between the two top teams. The winner of the latter will advance to the Grand Final, while the losing team will meet the winner of the first play-off game to determine who reaches the Grand Final.

Joseph Moroka with Kabelo Kwape as his assistant will coach the Botswana team at the games. Others in the travelling party are Donald Ferguson, as the head of delegation, Donald Fologang (statistician), Kopanang Thekiso (manager) and Letsweletse Jonas (BISA liaison officer). The assistant coach said last week that the preparations for the team were going on well.

The BSA has also announced a 17-man final squad that will represent Botswana at the competitions as Aldrin Villander, Boikhutso Letlhomo, Edwin Gaofano, and Ene Makgetho, Eric Simwanza, Keabetswe Leagetse, Kagiso Mogale, Kealeboga Tsienyane, Moremi Moremi, Kedibonye Moseki, Bofelo Lopang, Phemelo Nyawe, Sean Ntshebe, Thata Ntau, Tiro Mazulugwa, Thabang Mokgabo, and Tshepiso Tinah. The team’s final preparation camp is scheduled for June 13. It is expected to play South Africa in international friendly games on June 14 and 15.

Editor’s Note: Where is Botswana you say? Right here:

Young USA Junior Players Ready for ISF Jr. World Championships

Seventh in a series of Player Profiles of USA Jr. National team members, who will be competing in the ISF Jr. World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, June 20-29, 2009. Ballparkradio will be broadcasting from Whitehorse, June 26-29, 2008.

#5 B.J. Hunhoff
Height: 6′ 0″
Position: Pitcher – L/L
Hometown: Harrisburg, South Dakota
2479 miles from Whitehorse

Did You Know?

• Born April 13, 1989
• Plays baseball for the University of Sioux Falls
• What inspires you to play softball? “I just love the competition and it is a game I have played since I was little.”
• Favorite pro team: Arizona Diamondbacks
• Dream career: Opening up a softball academy in the Midwest
• Favorite Quote: “Live life to the fullest, you never know when it is going to end.”
• Hero: My dad and my grandpa

Accomplishments

2007 USA Softball Men’s National Team
• Finished second at ISF Men’s World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic
• Finished first in inaugural American Challenge Series

2007 ASA 18U Sioux Falls Rookies
• National Champions

2007 ISC 19U McDermotts of Baltimore
• National Champions
• Named league’s Most Valuable Pitcher

2007 NAFA 23U Kegel Knights of Fargo, N.D.
• National Champions
• Named division’s Most Valuable Player

Coach’s Corner

“Hard throwing left-hander who is considered one of the top young American hurlers. Won every major title in age group tournaments in 2007, including the ASA 18-under, ISC 19-under, and NAFA 23-under.”

— Coach Gary Mullican

Editor’s Notes:

Links to other coverage of BJ Hunhoff here at Fastpitchwest:

BJ Hunhoff – Carroll Forbes Scholarship Recipient

B.J. Hunhoff makes Team USA roster
We added some Editor’s notes to this story, reprinted after the jump.

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Young USA Junior Players Ready for ISF Jr. World Championships

Sixth in a series of Player Profiles of USA Jr. National team members, who will be competing in the ISF Jr. World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, June 20-29, 2009. Ballparkradio will be broadcasting from Whitehorse, June 26-29, 2008.

#32 Michael Hayes
Height: 6′ 0″
Position: SS – R/R
Hometown: Salem, Utah
2361 miles from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Did You Know?

• Born March 22, 1990
• Attends Spanish Fork High School
• Favorite pro team: Atlanta Braves
• Dream career: Baseball coach
• Favorite movie: 61*
• Favorite TV show: Law & Order
• Favorite Quote: “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” — Yogi Berra
• Three people, living or dead, you would have dinner with: Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali, My Grampa

Coach’s Corner

“A quiet leader who will be the shortstop for the USA Team in 2008. A smooth fielder with a strong arm.”

— Coach Scott Standerfer

Young New Zealand Junior Players Ready for ISF Jr. World Championships

This is the seventh in a series of Player Profiles of the New Zealand Jr. National team members, who will be competing in the ISF Jr. World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, June 20-29, 2009. Ballparkradio will be broadcasting from Whitehorse, June 26-29, 2008.

(photo not available)
Thomas Enoka
DATE OF BIRTH: 20/02/91
CLUB TEAM: Auckland United
INFLUENCES ON PLAYING CAREER: Family, dad and Graham Gollan
HIGHLIGHT OF PLAYING CAREER: Making the team for the Junior World Series
EDUCATION/WORK DETAILS: Student at Massey High School

Young New Zealand Junior Players Ready for ISF Jr. World Championships

This is the sixth in a series of Player Profiles of the New Zealand Jr. National team members, who will be competing in the ISF Jr. World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, June 20-29, 2009. Ballparkradio will be broadcasting from Whitehorse, June 26-29, 2008.

Ben Enoka
DATE OF BIRTH: 11/08/89
CLUB TEAM: Auckland United
INFLUENCES ON PLAYING CAREER: Family, cousins, dad and Graham Gollan
HIGHLIGHT OF PLAYING CAREER: Representing New Zealand
EDUCATION/WORK DETAILS: Harper Collins Casual Worker

Young New Zealand Junior Players Ready for ISF Jr. World Championships

This is the fourth in a series of Player Profiles of the New Zealand Jr. National team members, who will be competing in the ISF Jr. World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, June 20-29, 2009. Ballparkradio will be broadcasting from Whitehorse, June 26-29, 2008.

(photo not available)

Joshua Cook
DATE OF BIRTH: 21/07/90
CLUB TEAM: Mt Albert Metro
INFLUENCES ON PLAYING CAREER: My granddads, god father and other family members.
HIGHLIGHT OF PLAYING CAREER: Making the Junior Black Sox
EDUCATION/WORK DETAILS: Currently in last year of school. Passed level 1 and 2 with merit.