Star_studded_line_ups_in_men’s_National_

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 12/7/06 4:11:45 AM 
From:  Vance <vanf(at)ihug.co.nz> 


 
Subject:  Star_studded_line_ups_in_men’s_National_  
   

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Star studded line ups in men’s National League teams
Thursday December 7th 2006

The announcement today of protected players for the New Zealand
CommunityTrust Men’s National League has highlighted the depth
of men’s softballin the country.

Each of the six teams in the league had the option today of naming
asmany of 14 players from within their region. Of the players
named todaythree franchises, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury
have announced fullsquads while Hutt Valley have selected 12,
North Harbour 11 and SouthernPride four.

Franchises that still require players will full out their squads
withselections from the player draft on Tuesday December 12th.
The team fromthe deep south Southern Pride requires the most
draft selections with thekey requirement being two pitchers.


Of the teams named today defending champions North Harbour should
againbe strong led by NZCT Black Sox representatives Jarrad Martin
and BradRona. Harbour also has a new coach this season in the
form of GraemeGollan.

The team from the capital Wellington were runners up last year
and areintent on going one better this time around. They have
the hitting powerfrom the likes of Stephen Ratu, Stacy McLean,
Fabian Makea and ThomasMakea but a lot will come down to the
performance of pitchers TaneRichardson and Craig Gibson who are
still to prove themselvesconsistently at the highest level. 

Auckland have the best record in the men’s National League having
claimedthe title twice and one again they have an impressive
lineup. On themound Heinie Shannon and Thomas Cameron have pitched
Auckland to the topin the past and they also have international
class players in the form ofNathan Nukunuku, Gus Leger, Patrick
Shannon, Lyndon Andrew andplayer/coach Donny Hale.

Another title contender this season will be Hutt Valley who have
depth onthe pitching mound with the Manley brothers Jeremy and
Regan. They have ayoung and talented infield with junior internationals
such as Tyson Byrneand David Butler, how they come together as
a team and perform underpressure will be influential to how Hutt
Valley fares. 
Canterbury have selected an experienced team led by the likes
of TravisWilson, Daniel Milne and Todd Grego. A stumbling block
for the Canterburyteam in the title race may be their inexperienced
pitching line up ofPenese Iosefo and Nathan Taikato. 

Southern Pride have only named four protected players today and
will haveto rely heavily on the player draft. There is enough
talent in the draftto make Southern Pride a competitive team
and they are likely to getbetter as the league goes on once the
team have had time together on thediamond. 

The first round of the NZCT Men’s National League will be played
inJanuary on the 20th and 21st followed by the second round on
February17th and 18th before the top four teams contest the finals
weekend onMarch 3rd and 4th.   

New Zealand Community Trust Men’s National League Teams: 

North Harbour- Brad Rona, Jarrad Martin (Pitchers), Andrew Clark,
LeonLambert, Michael Booler, David Down, Aaron Collier, Todd
Wilson, CallumRyan, Jason Gerbes, Zack Doney.
Coach – Graeme Gollan. 

Wellington – Craig Gibson, Tane Richardson (Pitchers), Stephen
Ratu,Wayne Laulu, Gene Lutton, Les Poutama, Craig Wallace, Stacy
McLean, DaveBishop, Thomas Makea, Fabian Makea, Corey Matakatea,
Rick Manson, JohnPotts.
Coach – Les Bishop.

Canterbury – Penese Iosefo, Nathan Taikato (Pitchers), Clayton
Ellis,Darren Davies, Jamie Frisby, Steve McFarlane, Paul DeLatour,
TravisWilson, Paul Stead, Anthony Stewart, Gareth Cook, Todd
Grego, DanielMilne, Brad Annandale.
Coach – Mike McDowell.

Southern Pride – Scott Cartwright, Bevan Passmore, Daniel Tarapi,
ChrisTelfer.
Coach – Ted Forrester.

Auckland – Heinie Shannon, Thomas Cameron (Pitchers), Lyndon
Andrew,Patrick Shannon, Nathan Nukunuku, Bobby King, Michael
Cameron, Carlaus TeKawa, Jonathan Munden, Michael Gibbs, Aaron
Thompson, Gus Leger, BernardHale.
Player / Coach – Donny Hale.

Hutt Valley -  Jeremy Manley, Regan Manley (Pitchers), Steven
Deans,Curtis Ames, Justin Karaitana, Jerol Lajpold, Tyson Byrne,
David Butler,Rakai Hokianga, Scott Higgins, Bronson Marino, Geoff
Packer. 
Coach – Dominic Richards.



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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