Up for the Cup: Black Sox captain wary of challengers
Kiwi captain Cole Evans is convinced eight to nine teams are ‘‘legitimate contenders’’ to win the men’s Softball World Cup, underlining the challenge ahead for the Black Sox on home soil.
The Black Sox have never lost a world championship in New Zealand – winning titles here in 1976, 2004 and 2013 – but they are only ranked sixth for the 2022 edition which starts today in Auckland. Evans leads a new-look squad determined to atone for a fourthplace finish in Prague in 2019 after 10 consecutive world series finals since 1984.
Traditionally the seven-time world champion Black Sox have been top seeds. This time they are ranked sixth, a consequence of missing a medal three years ago and the burgeoning depth of international softball.
It’s vital for both the profile of an underthe-radar sport and the potential for ongoing state funding, that the side led by Evans and head coach Mark Sorenson returns to the podium.
Evans believes they ‘‘should be in a pretty good spot’’ after ‘‘two or three weeks together now’’, building combinations. But he’s also acutely aware that the level of competition is higher than it’s ever been.
‘‘I firmly believe men’s softball is one of the most tightly competed sports in the world. There’s probably eight or nine teams [in a field of 12] that are in with a legitimate chance,’’ Evans said.
The list includes the Black Sox, 2019 champions Argentina, runners-up Japan, four-time champions Canada, the Czech Republic and Australia, who won a preWorld Cup tournament in Palmerston North last weekend for the top six seeds.
‘‘Then you’ve obviously got the US and Venezuela, who are outside that top six,’’ Evans noted. ‘‘There’s some quality teams who are going to put their hand up over the next few days. It’s going to make for interesting watching and I hope the fans enjoy it because it’s a very exciting sport.’’
Still just 24, Evans is approaching his fourth world championship but his first as captain, following in the cleat marks of Sorenson (1996 and 2000), Jarrad Martin (2004), Rhys Casley (2013) and Nathan Nukunuku (2017), who all led the Black Sox to world titles.
Evans has a gold medal from 2017 in his kit bag but faces greater responsibility and scrutiny this time. A dazzling gloveman at shortstop, he has not previously tapped his undoubted hitting potential on the biggest stage, but there are signs that he is approaching his batting prime.
Evans is likely to bat in the key No 3 slot once filled so ably by coach Sorenson. It’s a pressure and a responsibility ‘‘that comes with the captaincy, just trying to lead the team around the park’’.
‘‘We’ve probably got three, four, maybe five guys who can hit right up and down the lineup, the boys just slot in wherever it’s best for the team. If that means [batting] six or seven then I’m happy with that. I’ll just hit wherever and the same attitude’s pretty much adopted by the rest of the boys.
‘‘I’ve been around the block a little bit now and seen most of the international pitching. I’m really looking forward to see
‘‘There’s some quality teams who are going to put their hand up over the next few days.’’ Cole Evans Black Sox captain
what the team and myself can do over the next 10 or 12 days.’’
Evans regards the captaincy as a ‘‘very exciting’’ opportunity. ‘‘Obviously, I’ve got a great crew of guys around me, there’s plenty of experienced players who have been to a lot of world series now, and a couple even played at home in 2013, so I’ve been leaning on them quite a bit, they’re very supportive and good guys to have around.’’
Making it more special is the chance to play alongside older brother Rhys at a World Cup for the first time. It’s a memorable occasion for their family, with grandfather Stu Kinghorn – a New Zealand representative 52 years ago in 1970, and aunt Jan, a former New Zealand White Sox infielder.
‘‘I’ve been playing with Rhys for a long time now, eight or nine years at club level, so it will be good to step out on the diamond for the first time with him at a World Cup for the first time in a New Zealand jersey. It makes for a pretty proud moment for the family.
‘‘In saying that we’re not the only set of brothers in the New Zealand side, there’s the Enokas [Ben and Thomas] and Dante and Reilly (Makea-Matakatea] too. It just highlights that family affair that we have in New Zealand softball.’’
Legacy is an important part of the Black Sox back story. Some players – notably the Makea-Matakatea duo and pitcher-utility Pita Rona – have fathers (Thomas Makea and Brad Rona) who have, like coach Sorenson, four senior world champion rings as players.
The Black Sox have traditionally batted their way to gold with a deadly long ball hitting game. They still have enough good hitters to rack up runs, but this time their title hopes hinge on the quality of their defence and the ability of their pitchers to
hit their spots and stop the top international hitters from clubbing home runs.
Daniel Chapman, who showed potential in Prague, and 2017 gold medallist Josh Pettett will lead the pitching, while dual softball-baseball international catcher Te Wera Bishop’s cannonball throwing arm and game management savvy is an asset.
Sorenson is likely to platoon Jerome Raemaki and Pita Rona between first base and designated player. Cole Evans will be at shortstop with Hutt Valley teenager Tane Mumu, an athletic middle infielder, pressing for a start at second base.
Mumu’s rise could mean Joel Evans – the grand slam home run hero in the 2017 gold medal game – moving to third base where Rhys Evans is also in contention.
The Enoka brothers and Reilly Makea are poised to be the first-choice outfield.
There is enough experience among the Black Sox to seal a return to the rostrum, but Cole Evans notes there are ‘‘eight or nine debutants this year’’.
‘‘That’s quite new, and just goes to show how we’ve been starved of international softball. It’s been good to get them onto the diamond and get them a bit more comfortable leading into the big one.’’
Kiwi softball fans – unaccustomed to seeing the Black Sox as underdogs – will find out in nine days time if the new breed are as good as the diamond dynasties of the past.