Rhys Casley, shown here with the Texaco Pirates, will be among the New Zealand Black Sox competing against Canada in June International Series
NZCT Black Sox Player Profiles
JEREMY MANLEY
Position: Pitcher
Club: Hutt City United
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 15/05/82
Career details – Victory in the 2006 Pacific Cup was Jeremy’s first taste of international softball with the NZCT Black Sox. He secured a place in the team last season on the back of strong performances for his club side Hutt City United as he led them to the 2006 NZCT National Club title. With his first taste of international softball behind him Jeremy is now looking to cement his place in the team with the 2009 World Championships in mind.
MICHAEL GAIGER
Position: Pitcher
Club: Parklands Christchurch United
Province: Auckland
DOB: 06/12/70
Career details – Michael debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1999 but has had a stop start international career due to injuries. Despite injury frustrations Michael has tasted the ultimate success winning world championships gold in 2004 and was also part of the victorious NZCT Black Sox team in the Pacific Cup last season.
HEINIE SHANNON
Position: Pitcher
Club: Auckland United
Province: Auckland
DOB: 21/06/75
Career details – It has been a long time between appearances for Heinie in the NZCT Black Sox uniform. Making his debut in 1998 Heinie has not played for New Zealand since the North American tour of 2002, so he will be keen to make the most of every opportunity in Canada. While he may not have been playing for New Zealand in recent years Heinie has not been lost to international softball as he has been representing Samoa.
PATRICK SHANNON
Position: Catcher
Club: Waitakere Bears
Province: Auckland
DOB: 21/06/75
Career details – Patrick first debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1995 and was in and out of the team before cementing his place in the side in 2001. Since then he has become a regular feature of the side and was part of the 2004 World Championship winning team.
Patrick is joined in the team by his twin brother Heinie.
STEPHEN RATU
Position: Catcher
Club: Miramar
Province: Wellington
DOB: 05/09/75
Career details – In the late 1990’s Stephen made his senior international softball debut but it wasn’t until his selection in 2005 that he became a regular member of the side. Stephen offers a degree of versatility to the NZCT Black Sox infield as he can successfully full the positions of both catcher and third base. Having fought his way into the NZCT Black Sox side Stephen is now targeting a world championship title in 2009.
JONATHAN MUNDEN
Position: Catcher
Club: Auckland Marist
Province: Auckland
DOB: 30/08/86
Career details – While still only young in years Jonathan has already had a wide taste of international softball. Jonathan debuted for the NZCT Black Sox as a 19-year-old in 2005 and in the same year he also captained the Junior Black Sox team at the Junior World Championships.
JARRAD MARTIN
Position: Infield
Club: Northcote
Province: North Harbour
DOB: 05/02/73
Career details – When it comes to softball there is little that Jarrad hasn’t achieved in his illustrious career. Since debuting for the NZCT Black Sox in 1991 Jarrad has claimed three world championship gold medals, a Commonwealth Series gold, two Pacific Cup titles and numerous provincial and club titles in New Zealand.
TRAVIS WILSON
Position: Infield
Club: Papanui
Province: Canterbury
DOB: 10/07/77
Career details – Travis debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1996 and was part of the World Championship winning team. Stella performances in that tournament caught the eye of American baseball scouts and he signed up for the Atlanta Braves in 1996. Travis played professional baseball in America for seven years before returning to softball in New Zealand 2004. Travis won a NZCT Black Sox recall in 2005 and is now targeting the 2009 World Championships.
BRAD RONA
Position: Infield
Club: Northcote
Province: North Harbour
DOB: 17/02/76
Career details – Brad has been in the NZCT Black Sox team for the last seven years after making his debut in the team’s gold medal winning performance at the 2000 World Championships. He claimed world championship gold again in 2004 with the NZCT Black Sox and caught the eye of the New Zealand sports fans with his power hitting and refusal to take a step backwards.
NATHAN NUKUNUKU
Position: Infield
Club: Mt Albert Ramblers
Province: Auckland
DOB: 08/05/80
Career details – Nathan burst on to the international softball stage as a 19-year-old in 1999 joining his older brother Dion in the side. Since then Nathan has gone on to claim two world championship titles with the highlight being the 2004 win in front of a home crowd in Christchurch. Nathan has also had plenty of success with both his club side and provincially for Auckland with three club national titles and three NZCT National League victories to his credit.
TYSON BYRNE
Position: Infield
Club: Hutt Valley Cardinals
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 27/09/88
Career details – Tyson is the youngest member of the touring squad and at the age of 18-years of age will be looking to make his NZCT Black Sox debut on tour. Following his international softball debut with the Junior Black Sox team in 2004 and 2005 Tyson has quickly risen through the ranks of senior softball in New Zealand.
THOMAS MAKEA
Position: Outfield
Club: Porirua
Province: Wellington
DOB: 20/08/75
Career details – As a three time world champion Thomas is something of a veteran in the NZCT Black Sox team but the desire to be the best continues to drive the world class outfielder. Thomas debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1994 and has been a fixture of the team ever since. A leader within in the team he is formidable in the batters box and hard to beat in the outfield.
DANIEL MILNE
Position: Outfield
Club: Parklands Christchurch United
Province: Canterbury
DOB: 07/09/78
Career details – Since making his NZCT Black Sox debut in 1999 Daniel has been in and out of the national team. Daniel has toured Australia, North America and Botswana with the NZCT Black Sox but is yet to attend a senior world championship. With his foot in the door Daniel is looking to cement his place in the NZCT Black Sox team with his eye on the 2009 World Championships.
STACY MCLEAN
Position: Outfield
Club: Poneke Kilbirnie
Province: Wellington
DOB: 02/10/75
Career details – World Championships gold in 2004 with the NZCT Black Sox has been the highlight of a distinguished softball career for Stacy to date. At 23-years of age Stacy made his international softball debut in 1998 and while injuries have seen him in and out of the team she has been a regular member of the side since 2002.
GUS LEGER
Position: Outfield
Club: Auckland Marist
Province: Auckland
DOB: 12/10/74
Career details – Gus has a wealth of international softball experience behind him for both New Zealand and Samoa. Gus debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 1995 and then took up an American baseball contract before returning to New Zealand. Gus reignited his international softball career in 2000 with Samoa and captained the side at the 2004 World Championships. Gus won a recall to the NZCT Black Sox team in 2005 and is now targeting the 2009 World Championships.
DONNY HALE
Position: Outfield
Club: Mt Albert Ramblers
Province: Auckland
DOB: 03/04/75
Career details – Donny has been part of two world championship winning NZCT Black Sox teams in 2000 and 2004 and is an experienced member of the New Zealand team. The past season has seen Donny taste considerable success in the role of player coach as he has claimed the NZCT National League title with Auckland and the NZCT Open Club Championship crown with Mt Albert Ramblers.
RHYS CASLEY
Position: Outfield
Club: Hutt City United
Province: Hutt Valley
DOB: 21/12/78
Career details – Rhys debuted for the NZCT Black Sox in 2002 but is still to cement his place in the side. He won an international recall in 2005 for the Evodrive Series where he was in impressive form with the bat. Along with maintaining a successful career in New Zealand he has also tasted plenty of success in America where he plays in the off season.