Softball: Women's club champs give young players chance

With several leading players missing, the women's open club softball tournament will present some young players with an opportunity to impress the national selectors this week.

The White Sox will play a series of home internationals against China, Japan and Canada from late this month.

"For a lot of players this is the last opportunity before the team is announced," White Sox coach Mike Walsh said.

The four-day tournament will be played at Fraser Park, Lower Hutt, from tomorrow.

With defending champions Christchurch United not playing, several young players from other clubs will get a chance to press for a place in the White Sox squad.

Walsh will be coaching Te Aroha at the tournament.

They will have an exciting talent, teenage pitcher Jessica Hau, on the mound and she will be backed by experienced international players such as Cindy Potae, Zavana Aranga and Melisa Upu.

Poneke Kilbirnie will lead the charge from the Wellington area with power hitters like the Lote sisters, Togi and Upu, and Kiri Shaw in the line-up.

White Sox selector Nardi Leonard is player-coach for Papatoetoe. They'll have international pitcher Michelle Kingi.

Auckland Marist have White Sox pitcher Carina Hale, Fiona Timu, Jorja Bell and Kalala Faalogo in the team.

Draw

Section 1: Te Aroha, Papatoetoe, Hutt Valley Cardinals, Hawke's Bay Harvest, Waitakere Bears, Roosters, Porirua.

Section 2: PK, Auckland Marist, Papanui, Saints, Royals, Hutt City United.

TEAMS

Papanui: Liz Kelly, Casey Gilmore, Beverly Leathem, Nicole Baxter, Moira Annanadale, Lisa Kersten, Karen Andersen, Brooke Lockhart, Kirsten Long, Lori Galloway, Penny Rolleson, Te Awhina Hewer, Aimee Mahuta, Katie Cochrane. Coach: Tim Niven.

Papatoetoe: Michelle Kingi, Tania Misa, Helen Packer, Whitney Brown, Casey Roper, Angelina Baker, Anastasia Harris, Crystal Tourangi, Seanne Ten Wolde, Mereanna Tobenhouse, Heidi Leathart, Casey-Lee Misa, Amanda Preston. Player-coach: Nardi Leonard.

Hutt City United: Michelle Lowery, Azania Fusimalohi, Anna Holder, Lara Andrews, Lici Hina, Biancia Novelli, Andrea De Jmalora, Alayna Hendry, Kirisi Filipo, Larissa Pitov, Stephanie Roy, Saralee Imo, Kyra Kerehi, Cerise Costain, Bronwyn Walker, Tara Harris. Coach: Alan Saunders.

Poneke Kilbirnie: Api Stone, Ashley Johnson, Jan Neil, Kiri Shaw, Monique Solomon-Mills, Naomi Ioasa, Rebecca Brunton, Nicole Stevenson, Talilotu Tonu u, Togi Lote, Upu Lote, Tessa Tanoa, Katie Newman, Oriana Tui. Coach: Alex Carter.

Te Aroha: Jessica Hau, Cindy Potae, Maleme Williams, Shirley Povey, Parekura Rawiri-Paranihi, Angela Stubbs, Nardia Mauriohoohoo, Zavana Aranga, Marianne Cherrington, Anlea Olsen, Rawinia Kingi, Okawa Preist, Lisa Such, Melisa Upu. Coach: Mike Walsh.

Waitakere Bears: Megan Farrell, Jessica Wolferstan, Shannon Lockton, Cilla Waetford, Barb Westcott, Amber Irving, Jackie Eade, Paula Bold, Kayla Clark, Mereana Joseph, Michelle Venemore, Jaclyn Peace, Janell Caffell, Kylie Thomsen, Juanita Lockton, Carol Adamson. Coach: Alan Lockton.

Royals: Martina Lackner, Kate McArtney, Rachel Warren, Tami Lane, Chanel McArdle, Karin Hjelm, Davina Lamont, Kylie Smith, Megan Tasker, Charlotte Wood, Lisa Such, Mereana Stack. Player-Coach: Philippa Ward.

Auckland Marist: Kylie Peters, Jorja Bell, Fiona Timu, Lyle Norriss, Jade Wikaira, Georgeanna O'sRourke, Sina Haukin, Kalala Faalogo, Jacqui Graham, Lisa Arkell, Fotina Matatia, Lettie Van-der-Westhuazen, Edna Sundin, Stephanie Utanga, Carina Hale. Coach: Linda O'Cain.

Saints: Cassie Reccer, Teresa Noble, Amanda Wilson, Gina Ropiana, Tanya Weston, Courtney Shaw, Toni West, Rebecca Noble, Matalina Dominic, Lorraine Claydon. Coach: Naomi Shaw.

Hawke's Bay Harvest: Michal Tangaroa, Whitney Nohokau, Lisa Pohatu, Pare Tangaroa, Sapphire Paul, Louise Miratana, Zavier Rowe-Thompson, Liani Samuel, Elizabeth Corbett, Anya Moiseeva, Olessio Gavrilova, Ashley Harmer, Kylie Johnson. Coach: Sharon Chapman.

Cardinals: Lucie Petraskova, Sacha Paranihi, Donna Tawhai, Karina Campbell, Lorraine Tawhai, Aimee Gilbert, Atsu Tanaka, Tracey Tawhai, Macelia Paburia, Jenni Mumm, Helani Campbell, Ariana Walker. Player-coach: Kayo Mauri.

- NZPA