White Sox seek to stop slide
White Sox coach Kevin Gettins says the New Zealand women’s softball team needs to be exposed to more elite opposition to press their world championships and Olympic claims.
The White Sox have slipped five places to 10th in the world in the latest World Baseball Softball Council rankings issued this week.
However, Gettins has hailed the current visit of the University of Oregon Ducks team - ranked fourth in United States college softball - as ‘‘invaluable’’ to the White Sox’s four-part buildup to the 2018 world championships in Japan.
The White Sox lost a six-game series to Oregon, 5-1, in Auckland last weekend.
White Sox captain Ellie Cooper has arrived from Florida to bolster a New Zealand Selection squad to meet Oregon, coached by former Black Sox pitching great Mike White.
Gettins - speaking before the December world rankings were released - said the Oregon visit was the first of four tournaments which would be pivotal to the White Sox’s chances of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
They will play in the national under-19 boy’s tournament in Christchurch in early January before hosting a series against Chinese Taipei (ranked fifth in the
world) in late January and taking part in the Asia Pacific series in Sydney in February.
Gettins said the Oregon visit had been a success.
‘‘It’s important to get a team of that calibre to play against to raise our level of competition.
‘‘They are a very good team with strong pitching and hitting.’’
The White Sox won the last game, 4-2, but lost 7-0, 6-4, 3-2, 8-2 and 3-1 in earlier encounters.
Oregon - led by United States national team triallists Gwen Svekis, Jenna Lilley and Megan Kleist - impressed with a number of home runs with ace pitcher Kleist generally having the Kiwi hittters’ measure.
New Zealand finished on a high when Kingsley Avery, Hailey Breakwell, Lara Andrews and Mereana Makea scored in the first inning of the final game.
Gettins gave his team a ‘‘six out of 10 ranking’’ overall, saying they became more competitive as the series went on.
‘‘We had our peaks, but we couldn’t stay there long enough,’’ adding there were a few positives.
Experienced catcher Melanie Gettins batted strongly all weekend and left-handed hurler Rita Hokianga impressed on the pitching mound and in the batter’s box.
Coach Gettins said the pair had ‘‘shown the benefits of playing in the Hawke’s Bay men’s competition’’.
Wellington’s Mereana Makea who is on college scholarship in Florida - was also a consistent performer with the bat.
Shortstop Hailey Breakwell impressed with her range in the infield, making some snappy plays.
Hutt Valley first base Pallas Potter, 17, hit a two-run home run on her White Sox debut in the second game.