Softball: Black Sox players feature in club tournament

Black Sox pitcher Thomas Cameron and fellow internationals Nathan Nukunuku and Donny Hale will lead the way for Mt Albert Ramblers in their quest to win back-to-back men's open softball titles in Invercargill this week.

They were unbeaten in the tournament last year.

Poneke Kilbirnie will also feature a number of Black Sox players, pitchers Marty Grant and Jim Wana, Jarrad Martin, Stacy McLean and Thomas Makea among them.

However, seeded second to the Ramblers for the four-day tournament starting tomorrow are Hutt Valley Cardinals.

Beaten finalists last season, Hutt Valley will be led by Black Sox legend Mark Sorenson.

Southland champions Demons are also playing in the tournament, with former Black pitcher Greg Newton leading another home side -- the Dodgers.

Teams

Ramblers: Thomas Cameron, Lyndon Andrew, Paul Rice, Michael Cameron, Lawrence Naera, Nathan Nukunuku, Donny Hale, Michael Gibbs, Scott O'Neale, Aaron Thompson, Daniel Lamb Hunt, Steve Jackson, Tony Earley, Brad Earley. Player-coach: Ricky Earley.

Hutt Valley Cardinals: Tane Richardson, Mark Sorenson, Malcolm Namana, Chris Steffenson, Charlie Poutaka-Reid, Karl Symons, Todd Wilson, Hone-Mark Sinnot, Rakai Hokianga, Mark Quinn, Shane Milligan. Player-coach: Craig Symons.

Miramar: David Gollan, Aaron Neemia, Damian Lord, Gene Lutton, Stephen Ratu, Johnny Stratford, Paul Luka, Stephen England, Wayne Laulu, Craig Gibson, Steven Manson, Wera Stafford, Corrone Conroy, George Ironside. Coach: Les Flint.

Poneke Kilbirnie: Jim Wana, Jarrad Martin, Craig Wallace, Bobby Makris, Wayne Walker, Thomas Makea, Stacy McLean, Les Poutama, Brett Tibbets, Clayton Pepere, Ricky Thornton, Mark Elson, Fabian Barlow, Marty Grant, Bevan Martin. Player-coach: Wayne Saunders.

Hutt City United: Brad Baker, Steve Deans, Aaron Gaskin, Rhys Casley, Mike Telfer, Thomas Denyer, Scott Higgins, Darren McVey, Trevor Evans, Troy Laurent, Shane Doherty. Player-coach: Brent Dalton.

Northcote: Steven Tau, Patrick Shannon, Duane Jerard, Leon Lambert, Takaki Sato, Brad Rona, Neil Morrison, Dean Wallace, Casey Eden, Derrek Coleman, Aaron Collier. Coach: Brent Freeman.

Papanui: Shaun Foster, Sam Woodcock, Boyd Chamberlain, Nick Keen, Phil Bayne, Eddie Thomsen, Jason Cory, Chris Eden Huria, Brendon Belleski, Bowan Annanadale, Jerome Smith, Steve McFarlane, Ritchie Taylor. Player-coach: Steve Cate.

Hutt Valley Marist: Shaun Marino, Brandon Fulong, Terrence Davidson, Michael Foote, Nathan Taylor, Tea Lomax, Shaun Taylor, Aaron Byrne, Joel Pulleson, Scott Easthope, Luke MacLennan, Tyson Byrne, Johnny Lomax, Jerol Lajpold. Coach: Robbie Easthope.

Waitakere Bears: Jeff Farion, Martyn Svoboda, Duncan Clark, Karl Doolan, Richard Topia, Kamil Koukolik, Gordy Hooper, Travis Miller, Kevin Ung, Petr Vacha, Brad Randall, Paul Doolan, Steve Huggins. Coach: Wayne Reeves

Christchurch United: Daniel Milne, Clayton Ellis, Jayden Moore, Paul Delatour, Murray Lanini, Jamie Frisby, Gareth Cook, Mike McDowell, Bradley Annandale, Shane Nalepa, Brett Taylor, Todd Grego. Player-coach: Darren Davies.

Invercargill Dodgers: Paul Karsten, Aiden Cocker, Brendon Paisley, Dion Tetai, Corey Reynolds, Michael Tiplady, Shay Tipu, Corey Nepe, Jeremy Robinson, Ben Boyle, Layton Hiaga, Tim Robinson, Adrian Malcolmson, Shaun Karsten, Kieren Griffin, Hemi McIntosh. Player-coach: Neil Robinson.

Metro: John Hireme, Mathew Utatao, Luke Allen, Brennan Findlay, Roman Gabriel, Michael Niu, Kurt Allen, Bernard Hale, Karl Gollan, Kyle Kouka, Lee Cameron, Nathan Gallagher, Max De Brett, Des Pemerika. Player-coach: Dion Nukunuku.

Alhambra A Sportz: Daniel Tarapi, Mark Edmunds, Sam Lucas, Michael O'Neill, Jun Niimi, Michael Crowley, Scott Brown, Kieren Crowley, Greg Egerton, Justin Price, Simon Wallace, Daniel Teau, Mark Ludlow. Player-coach: John Scholten.

Royals: Jared Welsh, Marty Warren, Kyle Beaudoin, Scott Bowley, Mike Sands, Anaru Chalmers, Josh Thompson, Nathan Taikato, James Gapper, Bernie Blackmun, Scott Ward, Ihaka Davis, Mike Beaudoin. Player-coach: Ted Forrester.

Demons: Jason Gerbes, Trevor Pryde, Chris Telfer, Mat Telfer, Jason Milne, Simon Frisby, Danny Shayler, Bradley Patton, Phil Ngawaka, William Campbell, Jonathon Campbell, Max Moyles, Wade Griffin, Isaac Thurlow. Player-coach: Greg Newton.

Porirua: Terrence Shedlock, Jacob Foote, Hazley Martin, Rick Manson, Mike Smalley, Dave Bishop, Heeney Reid, Fabian Makea, Esben Stokholm, Simon Rogers, Rick Tibbit, Tristram Samoa, Alexander Brewerton, Tiariki Pokoati. Coach: Les Bishop.

- NZPA