Softball: Butterflies still for Sorenson

By JULIE ASH in Christchurch

With his wife and daughter away and four-year-old son a little too young to understand what the fuss was about, Black Sox legend Mark Sorenson was left to celebrate his return to the national side on his own last night.

The 35-year-old Sorenson was yesterday named in the 17-strong Black Sox side looking to make history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive world championships.

"My wife and daughter are in Hawaii at the moment and my four-year-old doesn't know any different so I am enjoying it on my own at the moment," Sorenson said.

"It almost feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"I must say over the past few days there have been a few butterflies."

The infielder led the Black Sox to gold medals in the United States in 1996 and again in 2000 but opted to retire from internationals in 2001.

Though he hasn't played in New Zealand for three years, Sorenson has continued to turn out regularly in the United States.

He said the decision to make himself available for the Black Sox again was not an easy one.

"It was something I have been mulling over for some time. It was an idea that [Black Sox coach] Don Tricker put in my head ... not to discount that I could participate and contribute.

"That is going back about 18 months when he planted that seed, I guess.

"Since I have been back from the States the emotions have run rampant. I had a lot of people to consider, the dynamics and the structure of the team was important.

"After not being home for a couple of years I had to think about coming back into it and how I could make an impact.

"But after playing in five tournaments all over the globe, having the opportunity to play here in New Zealand is something as a player you always dream of," he said.

The New Zealand team, named in Christchurch yesterday, will be captained by Wellington's Jarrad Martin and includes 11 of the squad who won the world title in South Africa in 2000.

The only newcomer is American-based Aucklander Karl Gollan.

"Karl provides that versatility we are looking for. He can play in a number of positions. Primarily we selected him as an outfielder who is an outstanding hitter but he can also pitch," Tricker said.

And it was in the pitching department where Tricker said some of his hardest decisions lay.

Those unlucky to miss out were North Harbour's Derrek Coleman, American-based Paul Algar and Canterbury's Greg Newton.

"We were looking for pitchers who provided variety.

"We had to ensure that they were not one-dimensional and had more than one power pitch ... that they could throw the ball down, throw the ball up and pitch slower deliveries." Sixteen teams will contest the world title in Christchurch from January 29 to February 8.

* Softball New Zealand also announced the New Zealand Community Trust as the tournament naming sponsors. The trust will also fund the Black Sox preparations.

The team

PITCHERS: Marty Grant (Nelson), Michael Gaiger (Hutt Valley), Jim Wana (Wellington).

CATCHERS: Bevan Martin (Wellington), Patrick Shannon (North Harbour).

INFIELD: Jarrad Martin (Wellington, Captain), Brad Rona (North Harbour), Nathan Nukunuku (Auckland), Dion Nukunuku (Auckland), Roman Gabriel (Auckland), Clayton Willocks (North Harbour), Mark 0Sorenson (Hutt Valley).

OUTFIELD: Thomas Makea (Wellington), Donny Hale (Auckland), Stacy McLean (Wellington), Taifau Matai (Auckland), Karl Gollan (US-based).