Softball: Black Sox trial call up shocks Hanley

Jovaan Hanley

HAWKE'S BAY softballer Jovaan Hanley's decision to play for Poneke Kilbirnie in Wellington this summer has paid off big time.

Hanley, 24, has been named in one of the teams for the Black Sox trials in Hamilton on February 28 and March 1.

"I didn't think it would happen this quick. To be honest I'm still a little bit shocked," Hanley said yesterday during a rest on the job as an extruder operator at Alto Packaging in Hastings.

Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson contacted Hanley the previous night and congratulated him on his selection in the trial. The 2008 Junior Black Sox World Series player has been named as an outfielder.

"I don't mind where I play as long as I'm on the diamond."

The former Dodgers, Saints and Tamatea player made national headlines a fortnight ago when he was named top pitcher, top batter and most valuable player after pitching Poneke Kilbirnie to the title at the club's Classic in the capital. Before Christmas he shared the top pitcher award when Poneke Kilbirnie finished second to Fast Pitch Giants at the North Island Classic in Hastings.

"I'm rapt to be in the same trial team as Campbell too. We've grown up and come through the grades together," he said referring to his Poneke Kilbirnie teammate Campbell Makea.

The pair were teammates in the 2008 Hawke's Bay Under-19 team which won their national tournament in Hastings. Makea's father Tom Makea Snr, a 10-time national champion coach, coached that side and has followed Hanley's progress closely since.

"I have no doubt Jovaan is ready for a senior World Series. He has done the hard work and I'm very happy for him," Makea said.

One of his grandsons and another Poneke Kilbirnie player, Dante Matakatea, a son of retired four-time world champion Thomas Makea will also play in the trial. Completing the Hawke's Bay flavour is former Maraenui Pumas, Tamatea and Fast Pitch pitcher Regan Manley who is playing for Canterbury.

After the four trial games the Black Sox team for the June-July World Series in Canada will be named. Two Waikato legends will be honoured during the trials.

One of the teams will be named Team Herlihy after the late Kevin Herlihy, who is widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest pitcher. The other will be named Team Mossman after former New Zealand and Waikato shortstop Carl Mossman.

Meanwhile, Hawke's Bay's top premier men's players will have four games this weekend. They play first round games in the province's post-Christmas competition at Akina Park, Hastings and tomorrow will play three for the Bay's senior rep side, the Central Vikings, in Wellington's intercity competition.

The Vikings will take on Miramar before playing a doubleheader against Porirua. Today's Hawke's Bay fixtures see champions Saints take on Fast Pitch Giants and Fast Pitch Rockets play Maraenui Pumas.