We’ve bumped this back up to the top, as we’ve added the names of all of the New Zealand Black Sox shown in the team photo below. Thanks to SNZ statistician Ronlynne Gurney for providing the info!
DIAMOND DIRT Extra by John Thompson (photos courtesy of John as well)
Kitchener, ON – The touring New Zealand Black Sox ran the table at the 8th annual Legends Tournament, rallying to nip the Jarvis ON Travelers 4-3. Trailing 3-2 in the 5th inning, Black Sox Captain Rhys Casley launched a right-centre field moonshot that scored a pair and ended the scoring for the game. Jarvis threatened in the 7th but stranded a runner at third base. Winning pitcher in relief was Black Sox Penese Iosefo in a well-played game before an enthused crowd of fastball fans at Peter Hallman Ball Yard.
2011 Legends of Fastball Champions – New Zealand Black Sox(click photo to enlarge) (Thanks to Ronlynne Gurney for help with the names)
The team: Back row, L to R: Eddie Kolhlase, Chub Tangaroa, Penese Iosefo, Jeremy Manley, Rhys Casley, Thomas Makea, Pita Rona, Casey Eden, Daniel Tarapi, Wayne Laulu, Tyson Byrne, Thomas Cameron, Dave Workman, Doug Golightly; Front row, L to R: Rob Cashman, Tyron Bartorillo, Daniel Milne, Nathan Taikato, Jerome Raemkai, Ben Enoka, Jerome Haretuku, Craig Wallace, Campbell Makea
Members of the New Zealand Black Sox touring team were all smiles in capturing the championship of the 8th annual Legends of Fastball Classic in Kitchener ON on Sunday June 26. The Black Sox continue their tour through Ontario with a doubleheader in Jarvis on Monday evening June 27 and participation in the Peligro Cup Invitational on Randall's Island in New York City NY July 1-3. The tour is deemed to be an important step as New Zealand develops its roster and takes aim at re-claiming the International Softball Federation gold medal in 2013, which it lost to rival Australian Steelers in 2009 in Saskatoon SK; (click to enlarge) FINAL STANDINGS
Champions – New Zealand Black Sox (6-0)
2. Jarvis ON Travelers (5-1)
3. Midland MI Explorers (4-2)
3. Owen Sound ON Verge Selects (4-2)
5. New York NY Chicago/New York (2-3)
6. Quyon QC Combat Flyers (1-4)
7. Kitchener ON K-W Cubs (1-3)
7. Port Elgin ON Blue Devils (1-3)
7. Wellington ON Sox (1-3)
10. Elmira ON Erb Electric Expos (0-4)
Legends Honoree Tangaroa Focus of Haka
In Kitchener, ON at the 8th annual Legends Tournament, the New Zealand Black Sox perform the “Haka” in tribute to Legends Honoree Robert Nopara “Chubb” Tangaroa. “Chubb”, from Hawkes Bay NZ and a former Black Sox pitching ace and current member of the coaching staff, was one of three fastball honorees, prompting his mates to mark the occasion with the “Haka”.
Pictured left to right – Rhys Casley, Thomas Cameron, Wayne Laulu, Jerome Raemaki, Nathan Taikato, Ben Enoka (front,centre), Tyson Byrne, Penese Iosefo, Jerome Haretuku and Campbell Makea.
Ben Enoka performs the “pukana” by staring wildly with eyes dilated and tongue protuding.
Black Sox Haka for Chubb Tangaroa at Legends tournament Saturday. Pictured left to right - Rhys Casley, Thomas Cameron, Wayne Laulu, Jerome Raemaki, Nathan Taikato, Ben Enoka (front,centre), Tyson Byrne, Penese Iosefo, Jerome Haretuku and Campbell Makea.(click to enlarge)
The “Ka Mate” haka generally opens with a set of five preparatory instructions shouted by the leader, before the whole team joins in:
Leader: Ringa pakia!
Uma tiraha!
Turi whatia!
Hope whai ake!
Waewae takahia kia kino!
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate
Team: Ka ora’ Ka ora’
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate
Team: Ka ora Ka ora ”
All: T?nei te tangata p?huruhuru
N?na i tiki mai whakawhiti te r?
A Upane! Ka Upane!
Upane Kaupane”
Whiti te r?,!
H?!
Watch for the English translation in a future edition of Diamond Dirt.
Photos of Legends honorees to be posted in near future.
Thanks.
John Thompson
Diamond Dirt
sstj99 (at) gmail.com
The highly decorated New Zealand Black Sox pitching ace Chubb Tangaroa of Hawke's Bay, NZ was the first international honoree in the eight years of the Legends of Fastball event in Kitchener. 'Chubb' was very humble in his remarks, stating that he learned much while competing for North America teams that added significantly to success in his pitching career. Currently, Chubb is a pitching coach with the touring Black Sox national squad. A new generation of softball players enjoyed the Legends of Softball Tournament at Peter Hallman Ball Yard in Kitchener. Brothers Benjamin and Lucas Wagner, accompanied by their mother Stephanie, collected the autograph of Pat Shannon, a member of the New York, NY Chicago/New York team and a former member of the Kitchener Hallman Rivershark Twins. Shannon also plays for his home country New Zealand Black Sox.
Comments
John Thompsonsays
Thanks to Ronlynne Gurney (NZ Stats) for providing names for the New Zealand team photo – in future years the caption will add a lot to the memories of the Black Sox championship at the 8th annual 2011 Legends of Fastball Classic in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
roy stoutsays
SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, UMPIRED CHUBB MANY TIMES ROY
fpwsays
Roy,
Did you umpire games when he pitched for the Long Beach Nitehawks at Joe Rodgers Field or ?
Thanks to Ronlynne Gurney (NZ Stats) for providing names for the New Zealand team photo – in future years the caption will add a lot to the memories of the Black Sox championship at the 8th annual 2011 Legends of Fastball Classic in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, UMPIRED CHUBB MANY TIMES ROY
Roy,
Did you umpire games when he pitched for the Long Beach Nitehawks at Joe Rodgers Field or ?
-Jim