Retired Hawke's Bay Black Sox softball legend Thomas Makea has been appointed Junior Black Sox coach for next year's Junior World Series in Whitehorse, Canada.
He's hoping to enlist the aid of some world champion mates to help groom the next generation for their challenge.
Makea, 38, has won four world titles with the New Zealand men's team, the most recent of those last month in Auckland, and has since retired from international play. But as his playing career wound down, he was already planning his next step - guiding the under-19 team to their world tournament. He was subsequently interviewed for the role and confirmed this week.
"My motivation is to help these young guys coming through to win the world junior title and get them ready for the next level," Makea said. "I've been there for the past 20 years, so I know the ins and outs."
Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase has described Makea as one of New Zealand's greatest players and Makea is confident of securing the services of several of his former New Zealand teammates to assist him with the youngsters.