Softball: Work ahead for White Sox

By JULIE ASH

A miserable weekend proved the New Zealand women's softball team need to get on a huge learning curve if they are to succeed at the next world championships.

The White Sox failed to pick up a win in their tri-series against Canada and China, who will host the next world event in 2006.

The young New Zealand side were comfortably beaten by Canada 9-2 and China 4-1 on Saturday.

Canada, the eventual tournament winners, yesterday dealt the White Sox their third consecutive loss of the weekend, winning 4-2.

And last night the New Zealanders put up a brave fight against China but ended the tournament with a 3-2 loss.

Several key players were unavailable for the series, and the White Sox side featured six new caps, including pitchers Jessica Hau, 15, Amanda Preston, 16, Lisa Such, 22, catcher Jorja Bell, 18, infielder Talilotu Tonu'u, 21, and outfielder Brooke Lockhart, 19.

Although disappointed not to have secured a win, White Sox assistant coach Dean Rice said the series did show some promise for the future.

"There is no doubt we have got the talent in New Zealand, we just have to start applying ourselves better," he said.

"Just training, doing the hard work and playing in series such as these."

The White Sox let themselves down badly when fielding, making a number of errors.

"The ball is probably getting hit a little harder and it is getting hit a little more often than they are used to," said Rice.

Canada and China had depth in their batting, which was why New Zealand needed games like these.

For Hau, who made her debut for New Zealand in the previous weekend's tri-series against Japan and China, the international competition has been an eye-opener.

"I was over the moon when I was named in the team but there is a difference between really wanting to be here and being happy to be here ... I am one of those people that really wants to achieve," she said.

She pitched two full games for New Zealand. Against China on Saturday she gave up just three hits while against Canada yesterday she surrendered just five.

"It has been a challenge but I have been able to step up to the challenge and take it with both hands."

In their match against Canada, a series of fielding errors by the New Zealanders allowed their opponents out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

The home side got one back in the fourth when Cindy Potae scored off a Togi Lote hit.

The Canadians bagged another in the sixth through yet another New Zealand misfield.

The New Zealanders replied in the top of the seventh when Lote adding to her side's tally, scoring off a Tonu'u hit which ended the scoring.

The New Zealanders put up a much better fight in their match against China, whom New Zealand had beaten in the previous weekend's tri-series in Wellington.

Kiri Shaw, who was one of the standout White Sox over the weekend, secured New Zealand's first run of the match in the first, coming home off a Upu Lote hit.

The Chinese equalled the score in the bottom of the second but the New Zealanders edged ahead in the top of the third when a Potae hit got Api Stone Okane in. China equalised again in the bottom of the third and the score stayed 2-all until the seventh where China hit the winner.