Black Sox squad a family affair

A former professional baseball catcher will make his New Zealand Black Sox World Cup debut next month alongside the sons of two softball greats.

Pita Rona and Dante Makea-Matakatea are among seven Cup rookies named yesterday by head coach Mark Sorenson for the tournament in Auckland from November 26 to December 4.

Rona (North Harbour) is the son of Brad Rona while Wellington infielder Makea-Matakatea’s father is Thomas Makea.

Rona Sr and Makea – both four-time world champions – were on the Black Sox’s gold medal team the last time the world tournament was played at Albany in 2013.

Makea-Matakatea will play alongside his brother Reilly Makea, who is heading to his second World Cup.

The Tuatara’s Australian Baseball League catcher Te Wera Bishop will play for the Black Sox two months after turning out for the New Zealand Diamondblacks in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in the United States.

The 16-strong squad features four uncapped players – and three sets of brothers.

Captain Cole Evans, attending his fourth world championship, is joined for the first time by brother Rhys, an Auckland infielder.

Makea and Makea-Matakatea and Ben and Thomas Enoka are the other sibling sets. Ben Enoka will be playing at his sixth world championships since 2009 and Thomas his fourth for the Black Sox.

The seven first-time World Cup players are Rona, Bishop, Makea-Matakatea, Rhys Evans, Auckland outfielder Bradley Bennett, Hutt Valley infielder Tane Mumu and Dunedin-based Canterbury catcher Cameron Watts. Matakatea, Bennett, Mumu and Watts are the four uncapped players.