Top teams recruit pitching power for national softball championships

March 14, 2016

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Black Sox pitcher Kurt Schollum will again play for Albion as the Christchurch club prepares to defend the national club softball title.

ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith

Defending champions Albion will boast Black Sox pitchers Kurt Schollum and Penese Iosefo while seven-time winners Ramblers will field two overseas hurlers for the national open men's interclub softball championships.

Auckland United will also have a handy pitching pairing with former Black Sox representative Bayley Hoani back to partner Thomas Enoka.

Albion, from Canterbury, won the title in 2015 with Schollum on the mound and Iosefo patrolling the outfield.

But Albion player-coach Aidan Cocker said the pair would share the pitching duties at this week's tournament in Nelson.

 

READ MORE: 
* Albion win Canterbury title
* Schollum hurls Albion to national crown

 

Having a top pitching spearhead and a strong batting lineup anchored by Black Sox infielder Josh Harbrow and Marlborough pick-up Kyle Marfell, makes Albion one of the favourites for the 21-team tournament, which starts at Saxton Field ballpark on Wednesday.

The four top seeds are Albion, Ramblers, Auckland United and Hutt Valley Dodgers, who have split the titles in the last four years, with Albion, United and Dodgers all fresh from winning their provincial premiership grand finals.

Ramblers have been seeded number one, but player-coach Nathan Nukunuku conceded they "got a big wake-up call" after recent losses to Auckland rivals United and Marist to drop to third place in the Auckland premiership.

Canadian Kyle Linton and Japanese world championships pitcher Kento Okazaki  will form Ramblers' spearhead.

Nukunuku said Okazaki was recommended to Ramblers by former Black Sox star Donny Hale, who plays and coaches in Japan.

"He's been very impressive. I would say he's our No 1 going into this week." But Ramblers also have Linton and young pitchers Liam Twigden and Seth Bourgeois.

Ramblers have lost young Black Sox star Cole Evans to baseball but still boast a dangerous hitting lineup led by Black Sox skipper Nukunuku and Connor Peden and experienced recruit Carlaus Te Kawa.

Nukunuku expects Albion, United and Dodgers to be strong title contenders, but he said a number of other teams could surprise.

"Central Vikings, from Hawke's Bay, have got a good team and they've got Regan Manley on the mound, and Otahuhu have brought in Harry Peters, the No 3 Australian pitcher."

He predicted section B would be "the pool of death, with a lot of good teams in there and only two can come out of it".

Auckland United head section B and coach Duncan Enoka said winning the Auckland competition was a big confidence booster ahead of the nationals.

United were not looking too far ahead because of the depth in their section, Enoka said. "We've got Vikings from Hawke's Bay and Papanui, from Christchurch, who are very strong with a couple of good young pitchers, Ethan Johnston and Ben Watts, and in a good batting lineup, with Tyron Bartorillo there."

Enoka has a "couple of injuries" in his squad and is only taking 13 players to Nelson, but the core starting nine, led by his sons, Thomas, Ben and Campbell Enoka and Isaac Fletcher remains intact.

Hoani has not pitched since injuring a leg, pitching for Auckland at the National Fastpitch Championships, but Enoka said he was "ready now" and would share the workload with Thomas Enoka, with youngster Sean Sorenson as a back-up.

Dodgers won the Wellington-Hutt Valley inter-city title in fine style with Black Sox pitcher Nik Hayes leading the way with both bat and ball. His pitching has always been an asset, but Hayes hammered two home runs in the inter-city final to cap a good season with the bat.

Black Sox infielder Joel Evans and veterans Craig Wallace and Scott Cartwright lead a strong Dodgers hitting lineup and coach Steve Deans has picked up Canadian pitcher Kyle Crawford from Hawke's Bay.

Outside the "big four",  Auckland Marist have added Black Sox slugger Brad Rona and North Harbour team-mate Hohepa Monk to an already strong side coached by former Black Sox mentor Eddie Kohlhase. Rona will back up veteran New Zealand pitcher Heinie Shannon.

Poneke Kilbirnie have recalled 50-year-old Black Sox pitching star Marty Grant to throw with Jovaan Hanley and Thomas Cameron. Thomas Makea, who plays in Christchurch for Papanui, has gone back for one last campaign with his former Wellington club, alongside his son, Dante Matakatea, and brother Campbell Makea. 

AT A GLANCE

2016 NZ open inter-club men's softball championships at Nelson's Saxton Field from Wednesday to Sunday

Teams: Section A: Ramblers (Auckland), Waitakere Bears, Miramar, Johnsonville, Fairfield Otorohonga United (Waikato).

Section B: Auckland United, Papanui (Canterbury), Vikings (Hawke's Bay), Eden Roskill (Auckland), Hutt City United.

Section C; Albion (Canterbury), Auckland Marist, Porirua City United, Hutt Valley Marist, Stoke (Nelson).

Section D: Hutt Valley Dodgers, Poneke-Kilbirnie (Wellington), Roosters (North Harbour), Parklands Christchurch United, Otahuhu (Auckland), Nelson United.

Possible top eight:  Ramblers, Waitakere, Auckland United, Vikings, Albion, Auckland Marist, Dodgers, PK.

TITLEHOLDERS (since 2000):  2015: Albion. 2014: Ramblers. 2013: Hutt Valley Dodgers. 2012: Auckland United. 2011: Poneke Kilbirnie. 2010: Hutt Valley Dodgers. 2009: Ramblers. 2008: Ramblers. 2007: Ramblers. 2006: Hutt City United. 2005: Ramblers. 2004: Poneke Kilbirnie. 2003: Ramblers. 2002: Poneke Kilbirnie 2001: Christchurch United. 2000: Poneke Kilbirnie.

MOST WINS 

9-Miramar. 8-Hutt Valley Cardinals.  7-Ramblers, Poneke Kilbirnie.

 - Stuff