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By BILL WALKER , SUN TIMES SPORTS EDITOR
It’s rare that any three-time defending world champions can walk down the streets of their hometowns without creating a stir. Yet the New Zealand Black Sox men’s fastball team might be bigger celebrities abroad than at home.
While the national team plays to packed houses in Canada and the U. S., fastball is far off the mainstream radar in New Zealand.
“The softball people at home recognize our players, but they’re the only ones, which is an unfortunate thing we have to deal with at home,” Kiwi team manager Wayne Small said prior to his side’s exhibition doubleheader with the Owen Sound Verge Senior Selects.
“Fastball has been in the decline, much like in Canada. We’re competing against cricket, which is a big national sport in New Zealand, and touch rugby, which is becoming more and more popular. Softball New Zealand is trying to develop new strategies to build the game.”
The New Zealand national team is playing 14 exhibition games in Ontario in preparation for the 2009 International Softball Federation world championship July 17 to 26 in Saskatoon.
The Ontario tour is a necessity for the Kiwis because it’s currently winter in New Zealand.
“We’ve had five of our boys playing offshore in Japan and the States during your ball season, and the rest of the boys have elected to stay at home and train,” said Small.
New Zealand will be challenged in Saskatoon by Canada, the U. S., Australia and Japan.
“Everyone wants to knock you off when you’re at the top but we look at it as our motivation to maintain our world ranking,” said Small. “We’re going there to win it and not defend it. Hopefully about 4:30 (p. m.) on the 26th of July, we’ll have the answer that we’re after.”
The Kiwi side is led by former Major League Baseball prospect Travis Wilson, a second baseman who spent time in the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds organizations.
There’s also first-baseman Jarrad Martin, who is a stalwart with the Broken Bow Gremlins. Centrefielder Thomas Makea and young left-fielder Ben Enoka also help power the offense.
The Kiwis hit five home runs off the Selects in a five-inning 12-2 win in yesterday’s opener.
Wilson led the attack with a two-run homer and five RBIs. Patrick Shannon also had a two-run homer for New Zealand while Donnie Hale, Nathan Nukunuku and Rhys Casley added solo shots.
Marty Grant earned the win while Andy Skelton, Jamie Simpson and Andrew Scott all pitched for Owen Sound. Skelton was two-for-two for Owen Sound with a two-run homer. Game 2 details were unavailable.