‘‘There’s some quality teams who are going to put their hand up over the next few days.’’
Cole Evans Black Sox captain
When: Today to December 4.
Where: Tradestaff Softball Stadium, Rosedale Park, Albany, Auckland.
Pool A: Argentina, Czech Republic, New Zealand, United States, Cuba, Philippines.
Pool B: Japan, Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Denmark, South Africa.
How it works:
Each team has five round-robin pool games. Top three from each section enter the top-six Super Round and carry through their points against the other two qualifiers from their group.
They then play the top three teams from the other pool. The four teams with the highest points totals progress to the medal games on grand final day.
Black Sox draw:
■ Today: v Czech Republic, 1.30pm.
■ Tomorrow: v USA, 3pm.
■ Monday: v Argentina, 7.30pm.
■ Tuesday: v Philippines, 7.30pm.
■ Wednesday: v Cuba, 7.30pm.
■ Thursday: Super Round begins. Ends: Saturday, December 3.
■ Finals day: Sunday, December 4.
■ Bronze medal game: 1pm
■ Gold medal game: 4pm
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.’’
Lhit 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.