White Sox ready for acid test in Beijing, China

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 8/24/06 4:26:06 AM 
From:  Vance <vanf(at)ihug.co.nz> 


  
Subject:  White Sox ready for acid test in Beijing, China  
  

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White Sox ready for acid test
Thursday August 24th 2006

The New Zealand Community Trust White Sox travel to Beijing,
China todayfor the start of the 2006 Women’s Softball World Championships
on SundayAugust 27th.

For the past two weeks the White Sox have been based in Jakarta
trainingand playing against men’s club and representative sides.
Coach Mike Walshsays the team’s time in Jakarta has proved worthwhile
and beneficial.

“As the last two weeks have passed by we have been keeping up
with thepitching, getting runners in scoring positions and scoring
some runs andI think we will see the benefits of that at the
world champs,” saidWalsh.

While based in Jakarta the White Sox have been playing men’s
teams in anattempt to simulate the greater pitching speeds and
hard hitting they arelikely to face against the best teams at
the world championships.

Walsh is confident that when it comes to the world champs his
side willnot be intimidated by the top teams or face any surprises.


“The top teams in our pool such as USA, China, Italy and Canada
are goingto be good but they won’t be better than what we have
faced so far. Noneof the pitchers we will face in Beijing will
be faster than what we haveseen in Jakarta. And while there will
be some very good hitters at theworld champs they are not going
to have the same power as some of the menwe have faced,” said
Walsh. 

The two weeks spent in Jakarta has also given the White Sox a
chance toadjust to the high heat and humidity they will encounter
in Beijing.Walsh says at times conditions have been very tough
with temperatures inthe high 30’s but the players have fought
hard and handled things well.

While the past two weeks have been tough for the team Walsh says
everyonehas contributed at different times which means narrowing
down the squadof 17 players to a starting team of nine will take
a lot of thought.

Walsh believes the true test of how worthwhile and beneficial
the twoweeks of build up games have been will come on the opening
day of theworld champs. In their first game of the tournament
on Sunday the WhiteSox take on Canada. 

“The key will be on Sunday against Canada if we win or perform
extremelywell then everything we have done to prepare will have
been worth it. Theteam is ready for it.”

Messages of support for the White Sox can be sent tomailto:whitesoxtour1 at hotmail.com


NZCT WHITE SOX SQUAD FOR THE 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Pitchers - Michal Tangaroa (Hawkes Bay), Ali Arnold (USA based).
Pitcher / Utility - Sheree Cartwright (Canterbury). 
Catchers - Cindy Potae (Hutt Valley), Carmelle Sorensen (Canterbury).
Infield - Fiona Timu, Captain, (Auckland), Shirley Povey (Hutt
Valley),Tianna Areaiiti (Southland), Nadia Mauriohooho (Hutt
Valley), AmandaPreston (Auckland), Katrina Stockford (Hutt Valley..
Outfield - Melanie Hulme (Canterbury), Melisa Upu (Hutt Valley),
NgamokoHiku (North Harbour), Kalala Gabriel (Auckland), Brooke
Lockhart (USAbased).
Utility - Maleme Williams (North Harbour).


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:vanf(at)ihug.co.nz 

 

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