Mix of youth and experience in Black Sox team

[Al Doran]

Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 11:31:20 +1300

From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Mix of youth and experience in Black Sox team

Mix of youth and experience in Black Sox team
Tuesday November 22nd 2005

With a busy international softball season ahead of him New Zealand 
Community Trust Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase has named a squad mixed with 
youth and experience to take on Samoa in 10 days.

Kohlhase’s squad of 17 includes two debutants and four experienced players 
returning to the team. New to the team are Auckland’s Michael Cameron and 
Corey Matakatea of Wellington while Darren Davies, Travis Wilson, Daniel 
Milne and Gus Leger have all won Black Sox recalls.

“We are very aware that we have got a pretty intensive international 
programme ahead of us over the next nine months and the Samoan series is a 
stepping stone to kick it off. We have selected the 17 athletes for this 
series with the whole year in mind and we are looking to build depth in key 
positions,” said Kohlhase.

The youngest in the squad 20-year-old Michael Cameron wins his place at the 
expense of Brad Rona who was not considered for selection due to injury. 
Cameron joins his brother Thomas in the team and is seen by Kohlhase as a 
utility infielder.

“Michael has been around for a while now although he is still very young 
and this is an opportunity for him to step up and push his chances for 
2009,” said Kohlhase.

Also looking to make his debut for the Black Sox during the Samoan series 
will be Wellington outfielder Corey Matakatea who has been on the fringes 
of the team in recent years making training squads but never before the 
playing squad.

Kohlhase says the series will be a good chance to introduce Matakatea to 
the Black Sox environment and international softball.

Those to win international recalls include Canterbury first baseman Darren 
Davies who last played international softball in 2002 when the Black Sox 
toured North America.

Kohlhase says in the past Davies has missed selection with softball legends 
such as Jarrad Martin and Mark Sorenson being picked ahead of him. But with 
Martin moving into the pitchers role and with the retirement of Sorenson, 
Davies has played his way back into the team.

“Darren is a seasoned campaigner and he is a specialist first baseman and 
an outstanding hitter while he is also left handed which brings a left hand 
element to our batting line up.”

Joining Davies back in black is Travis Wilson who last turned out for the 
Black Sox in 1996 when the team claimed world championship gold. Following 
that Wilson took up a professional baseball contract in America where he 
remained until last year.

“Travis is part of our long term planning and we are easing him back into 
our environment, he is one of our leaders and he is leading by example in 
terms of training on and off the diamond.”

Current Samoan captain outfielder Gus Leger has also won a Black Sox 
recall. He last played for the New Zealand team in 1998 and since then he 
has captained Samoa at the 2004 World Championships while also playing 
rugby for Tonga at the 2003 World Cup.

Also recalled to the squad is Canterbury outfielder Daniel Milne, he 
debuted for the Black Sox in 1999 on tour in North America and last played 
for the team in 2003 during a home international series.

The 17 man squad will assemble in Auckland next week ahead of the four 
match series to be played in Auckland and North Harbour against Samoa on 
December 3rd and 4th.

NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST BLACK SOX TEAM TO PLAY SAMOA –

Pitchers: Marty Grant (Wellington), Jarrad Martin, captain (North Harbour), 
Thomas Cameron (Auckland), Tane Richardson (Wellington).
Catchers: Patrick Shannon (Auckland), Lyndon Andrew (Auckland).
Infield: Darren Davies (Canterbury), Travis Wilson (Auckland), Steven 
Ratu  (Wellington), Nathan Nukunuku, vice captain (Auckland), Michael 
Cameron (Auckland).
Outfield: Stacy McLean (Wellington), Thomas Makea (Wellington), Gus Leger 
(Auckland), Cory Matakatea (Wellington), Fabian Makea (Wellington), Daniel 
Milne (Canterbury).

By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
*  mailto:kelly.mitchell(at)xtra.co.nz

http://www.softball.org.nz/
* mailto:snz(at)softball.org.nz


Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
*   mailto:vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz

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