While the White Sox descend on Christchurch for this weekend's softball tri-series, their thoughts will also be on Beijing for the 2006 world championships.
New Zealand host an All Stars team and the Japan under-23 side with competition starting on Friday and White Sox coach Mike Walsh will use the series
as an extended training camp for the world championships in China.
"We want to expose as many of our players as we can to international softball so that when we come to the world champs our players won't be intimidated by the top teams and will have the attitude that they can take on the best and win," Walsh said.
"The world champs are only 18 months away and they will come around quickly.
"We have selected a few more players than we normally would for a five game series but we want them all involved in the programme and planning for Beijing.
Leading the World All Stars line up will be Australian pitchers Zara Mee and Megan Farrell and American hurler Katie Newman.
Walsh believed the speed of all three pitchers will be greater than what the New Zealand batters have faced so far in the domestic season and will be a good test of his hitters.
Draw: Jan 14: 1pm Japan v All Stars, 3.30pm New Zealand v All Stars, 6pm New Zealand v Japan.
Jan 15: 11am Japan v All Stars, 1.30pm New Zealand v Japan, 4pm New Zealand v All Stars.
Jan 16: Final
New Zealand: Jessica Hau (pitcher) Hutt Valley, Amanda Preston (pitcher) Auckland, Lisa Such (pitcher) Wellington, Sheree Cartwright (pitcher) Southland, Michal Tangaroa (pitcher) Hawke's Bay, Kiri Shaw (catcher) Hutt Valley, Cindy Potae (catcher) Hutt Valley, Nic Pouaka-Grego (catcher) Canterbury, Fiona Timu ( infield) Auckland, Char Pouaka (infield) Canterbury, Talilotu Tonu'u (infield) Wellington, Jackie Smith (infield) North Harbour, Upu Lote (infield) Wellington, Api Stone-o'Kane (outfield) Wellington, Kalala Faalogo (outfield) Auckland, Togi Lote (outfield) Wellington, Zavana Aranga (outfield) Hutt Valley, Maleme Williams (utility) Hutt Valley.
All Stars: Zara Mee (pitcher) Australia, Megan Farrell (pitcher) Australia, Katie Newman (pitcher) United States, Dannica White (catcher) Australia, Jaimie Wohlbach (catcher) United States, Bianca Novelli (catcher) South Africa, Kate Quigley (infield) Australia, Danni Hanna (infield) Australia, Melissa Gomez (infield) United States, Lisa Kersten (infield) New Zealand, Angela Stubbs (infield) New Zealand, Atsuko Tanaka (outfield) Japan, Melanie Hulme (outfield) New Zealand, Brooke Lockhart (outfield) New Zealand, Katie Hetherington (outfield) New Zealand.
Japan under-23:Kurokawa Haruka ( pitcher), Ito Miyuki (pitcher), Someya Mika ( pitcher), Akimoto Risa ( pitcher), Yamaguchi Ayako ( pitcher), Yoshida Mayumi ( catcher), Masumoto Aki ( catcher), Uenishi Aki ( infield), Tanaka Ayumi ( infield), Furuta Maki ( infield), Harada Miki ( infield), Yano Terumi (infield), Morishita Sonomi (outfield), Kowatar Mina ( outfield), Fujino Haruka ( outfield), Shirai Saori (outfield), Kawano Mayu ( outfield).-NZPA
While the White Sox descend on Christchurch for this weekend's softball tri-series, their thoughts will also be on Beijing for the 2006 world championships.
New Zealand host an All Stars team and the Japan under-23 side with competition starting on Friday and White Sox coach Mike Walsh will use the series
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