SNZ Liberación de Medios de comunicación - el 29 de octubre de 2008.






An international recall has been given to six softball players with their inclusion in the Black Sox team for next month’s November/December trip to Argentina.

SNZ Media Release - 29th October 2008.Of the six the biggest surprise is the return of pitcher

Karl Gollan, who last played for the national team at the 2004 world championship in Christchurch. Gollan has been based in the United States, but has returned to New Zealand to enhance his chances of making the national team. “He deserves his selection in this team based on some really strong performances in the US which culminated last year’s most valuable player award at the International Softball Congress tournament ,” Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said. “This is just a good opportunity to get Karl back in the environment and work with him again.” Also back in the Black Sox team is Stacy McLean, Steven Ratu, Fabian Makea, the Cameron brothers Michael and Thomas. Both Ratu and McLean have been regular members of the Black Sox side, but were overlooked for the Oceania World Championship qualifying tournament which was held in April. Makea last played for the Black Sox at the Commonwealth tournament in Melbourne in 2006, Michael Cameron was a member of the team in 2005 and was also in the New Zealand A team the following year while his older brother Thomas was last in the side in 2006 for the Pacific Series tournament in Japan. The six changes have come mainly through a combination of work, family and injury. Kohlhase losing the experienced Travis Wilson through work commitments with the New Zealand cricket team, Brad Rona, also work commitments, pitcher Heinie Shannon pending fatherhood, catcher Aaron Neemia wedding and infielder Nathan Nukunuku recovering from an injury. Another player that will also come under close scrutiny during the South America tour is Wayne Laulu, who was the 2007-2008 most promising men’s player. Laulu made his debut for the Black Sox at the world championship qualifying tournament and certainly made an impression finishing the tournament as the top batter with an average of .600. While there are some forced changes from the team that contested the world championship qualifying tournament Kohlhase believes that is healthy for the team with the side still having a core of experienced players making the trip. “In some respects we are lucky to have such talent available, and that they are still producing good softball,” Kohlhase said. For Kohlhase the tour to South America, which also involves games against Venezuela, is crucial in the side’s preparation for a fourth consecutive World Championship crown in July next year. The Argentina team have a number of players involved with American club sides and have on their roster two world class pitchers, while the Venezuela side are traditionally among the top six sides in the world. “They play a different brand of softball, they are very free spirited,” Kohlhase said. “This is a good opportunity for us to play against some teams we will see in 2009 and also do some hard serious training in between those international games.” The team leaves New Zealand on November 14 and return December 4. During the tour the side will play games against Parana club sides Don Bosco, Patronato, CPEF No 5 and Estudiantes. These games will provide the Black Sox with some competition ahead of the tournament which will involve Venezuela, Argentina, the Parana All Stars and the Black Sox. The team is: Michael Cameron, Thomas Cameron, Roman Gabriel, Donny Hale, Patrick Shannon (Auckland), Gareth Cook, Daniel Milne, Stephen Ratu (Canterbury), Rhys Casley, Jeremy Manley (Hutt Valley), Marty Grant (Nelson), (North Harbour), Wayne Laulu, Stacy McLean, Fabian Makea, Thomas Makea (vice captain), Jarrad Martin (captain) (Wellington), Karl Gollan (US-based).

Fuente: http://www.softball.org.nz/