Former New Zealand Black Sox pitcher Greg Newton has taken over as coach of the champion Canterbury Red Sox men’s softball team.
Newton – part of the Black Sox pitching roster when they won the 2000 world championships in South Africa – replaces Carl Franklin, who led Canterbury to their first national title in 15 years last season.
“Carl finished on a good note last year so I will be trying to keep that going, especially with the world series coming up [in 2013]. We could have three or four or five guys in contention,” Newton said.
A native Southlander, Newton made his mark nationally with his home province before beginning a long association with Canterbury, a team he pitched to the national title in 1996 (Canterbury’s first triumph for 59 years).
He also pitched Christchurch United to the national interclub title in 2001. Now in his mid 40s, Newton pitched against Canterbury just last season for a Southland Development team in the Jefferies Cup South Island tournament title.
He works as a health and physical activity promoter in South Canterbury secondary schools. But neither he nor Canterbury Softball Association chief executive Cheryl Kemp see his Timaru base as an impediment to coaching the Red Sox.
“I will be coming up most Saturdays to have a look at the teams and check players out,” Newton said.
Canterbury have two Black Sox pitchers in the promising Penese Iosefo and veteran Nathan Taikato and Newton said he would “have some input” into pitching matters. “But I heard [former Canterbury pitcher] Murray Britt did a really good job last year [as pitching coach], so I don’t see why I wouldn’t go down that track again.”
Newton played with and respects Canterbury’s senior Black Sox internationals Daniel Milne, Gareth Cook and Stephen Ratu but he said he was also aware there was “a lot of young talent coming through” which would need to be developed for the future. Click to continue reading.
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