Softball: Black Sox's sponsor departs

The world champion Bartercard Black Sox will be a thing of the past from the end of the month.

Officials yesterday announced that Bartercard New Zealand will not be renewing its two-year naming rights deal with Softball New Zealand.

It had been the naming rights sponsor for the national men's and women's national teams, the world champion Black Sox and the White Sox.

Softball New Zealand chief executive Hadyn Smith said he was disappointed at the withdrawal.

But he remained positive about the future of the Black Sox, particularly with good levels of television coverage expected for the men's world championships in January in Christchurch.