Softball: A whole new ball game

Orlando Rodriguez (left) and Luis Joglar are learning a lot from competing here. Picture / Brett Phibbs

They grew up in New York and played professional baseball but now Orlando Rodriguez and Luis Joglar are in New Zealand to learn all they can from the world champion Black Sox.
When the national league starts this weekend Rodriguez, who has just been made a member of the US national side, will be on the field for North Harbour, with Joglar appearing for the Southern Pride.

"New Zealand is number one in the world so if you want to learn how to play softball you might as well be here," Rodriguez says.

They moved into softball after their release from professional baseball clubs - Rodriguez, 37, from the California Angels and Joglar, 29, from the Seattle Mariners.

"In the States you grow up playing baseball. When you get released people who still love the game play softball," says Rodriguez.

"It is still bunting and stealing, the pitch is still thrown fast. The outfield of baseball is a little smaller but as far as the fundamentals are concerned, they are the same."

The pair were enticed to New Zealand by Black Sox infielder Brad Rona, who, like a number of New Zealanders, regularly competes in the US.

They have been in Auckland for just over a month and already Rodriguez reckons they are 10 times wiser.

He finds the sport here far more competitive. Everyone pays attention to the little details that could mean the difference between winning and losing.

"What amazes me is how good your players are yet they don't even get recognised in their home country, which to me is kind of a shame.

"We find it weird people grow up to play rugby. They don't even play softball, which they are the best at." 

The national league comprises three weekends of round robin before a finals series on the weekend of December 17-18.

There is a one-week break in the first weekend of December to allow for the Black Sox series against Samoa and other scheduled events.

The league is being held earlier in the season after Softball New Zealand decided, following a review of the competition, that November/December is less congested on the sporting calendar than March/April when the tournament was originally held.

Canterbury's absence is a disappointment. They chose not to enter teams following a disagreement with Softball NZ about the cost of competing.

Since the start of the league in 2002/03, Softball NZ has charged a participation fee that has varied from franchise to franchise depending on factors such as travel costs and accommodation.

Canterbury wanted a flat fee for each franchise, but Softball NZ said this was not feasible yet.

As a result, the Canterbury players went into the draft and the competition was reduced to six teams in the men's competition and five in the women's.

In the men's competition, defending champions Wellington look the strongest. Thirteen of their 14 Black Sox players are available, including pitchers Marty Grant, Tane Richardson and Vaero Hagai.

Auckland were second last year and, like Wellington, have a host of Black Sox squad-members.

Southern Pride could be the team to watch. They have picked up former Black Sox pitcher Michael Gaiger and his Canterbury team-mate Lewis Acker.

North Harbour, who have picked up Black Sox captain Jarrad Martin, are also in with a chance.

The women's competition is more difficult to predict.

Hutt Valley are the defending champions but have run into difficulties already with star pitcher Jessica Hau likely to miss most, if not all, of the season because of a shoulder injury.

Auckland will be keen to make up for their disappointing season last year, when they finished outside the top four.

Led by the capable and experienced Fiona Timu, notables in the Auckland side include White Sox squad-members Carina Hale, Tania Misa, Casey Roper and Talilotu Tonu'u.

The women's competition is of extra significance this year as it is the players' last chance to impress national coach Mike Walsh before he selects his team to compete in next year's world series in China.