Let women face men: Coach

Melanie Gettins (left) and Rita Hokianga enhanced their chances of World Series selection at the weekend.

Expect to see members of the New Zealand women's softball team playing in men's competitions around the country in the near future.

That will happen if Hawke's Bay-based White Sox head coach Kevin Gettins gets his way.

"We have to do that to close the gap a little more. Our girls don't see the level of pitching we saw in Aussie week in and week out," Gettins said as he reflected on the White Sox' one-win, six-loss record at the weekend's Australia Down Under Series in Sydney.

The Kiwis, ranked eighth in the world, took on world champions Japan as well as Australia Gold and Australia Green at the tournament. While Japan recorded 13-0 and 10-0 wins against the White Sox, Gettins' troops opened their campaign with a 1-0 win against Australia Gold and were never beaten by more than three runs in their other matches against the Aussies.

The White Sox, who included the Hawke's Bay pitcher-catcher combination of Rita Hokianga and Melanie Gettins lost their playoff for third 4-2 to Australia Gold. Their victory was their first against Australia in at least 10 years.

"Japan are a different level ... their whole programme. They arrived in Sydney six days before the tournament for training and stayed four days later to continue training. They are well structured with plenty of financial support," coach Gettins said.

"In our first game we produced good defence after scoring in the first inning. We were competitive for periods in the other games against the Aussies who are ranked third in the world ... we have to be competitive for seven innings," Gettins explained.

He pointed out it was pleasing to hear the Aussies say the Kiwis were more athletic and competitive than in recent times. A highlight of the victory was Kiwi pitcher Jennifer Feret striking out Aussie captain Stacey Porter who is regarded as the best batter in women's softball.

"We have to find ways of winning those tight games. Once we do that we will improve our world ranking ... that's why the All Blacks won their last World Cup, they found ways to win tight encounters," Gettins said.

While Hokianga and catcher Gettins were a little under done because they hadn't played any matches in the Hutt Valley club competition for five weeks coach Gettins said the pair, like their teammates, put their hand up for World Series selection later this month.

"This team consisted of all New Zealand-based players. It was great to see them playing at this level and we're going to have plenty of depth going forward."

Gettins will take in the Wayne Roper Memorial tournament in Auckland this weekend and the Christchurch-hosted National Fastpitch Championship from February 18-21 before naming his team for the July World Series in Vancouver on February 24.

"There will be some tough calls but it's better to have that dilemma than the other kind," Gettins added.

Japan beat Australia Green 2-0 in the final of the Sydney tournament.

Meanwhile Hawke's Bay's Central Vikings men's team recorded one win and two losses in their Wellington intercity competition fixtures at the weekend. The Luke Herrick-coached side beat Hutt City United 3-1, lost 2-1 to Hutt Valley Dodgers and 10-2 to Poneke Kilbirnie.

"Fingers crossed we will be in the semifinals on March 5," Herrick said.