The Timaru Herald

Up for the Cup: Black Sox captain wary of challenger­s

- Tony Smith tony.smith@stuff.co.nz

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

Black Sox squad:

All the details:

egacy 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

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? There has been a golden flow to Lydia Ko’s play throughout a trophy-laden 2022.
GETTY IMAGES There has been a golden flow to Lydia Ko’s play throughout a trophy-laden 2022.
 ?? JASON DORDAY/STUFF ?? The Black Sox are among a half dozen potential world championsh­ip winners in Auckland.
JASON DORDAY/STUFF The Black Sox are among a half dozen potential world championsh­ip winners in Auckland.
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