Squad seeks titles

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 24

Squad seeks titles

PA Auckland New Zealand, world champions in men’s and women’s softball, will seek a hat-trick of titles when the national under-19 boys’ team competes in the United States next month. The squad of 15 left Auckland at the week-end for a five-week tour of the United States and the Youth Series at Fargo, North Dakota, from July 5 to 13.

The New Zealand Softball Association had gone into debt for the first time to finance the tour, said Bob Leveloff, a council member and team manager. The players had raised $15,000, but the association had come up with the balance of $65,000, Mr Leveloff said.

“We’ve mortgaged ourselves to make the tour, but we should be reaping big dividends. “It is our first venture in the youth series. Four years ago, when the event was last held, four of our players who. were eligible didn’t go, but have since made it to the men’s World Series-win-ning team,” he said.

Mr Leveloff said none of the players on tour had been included to gain experience. .

The third and youngest of the pitchers, Jimmy Seaman, aged 16, is a senior Hutt City United player and won the “most valuable player” award at the national under-16 tournament.

It is expected pitching will be New Zealand’s strong point. Michael Roberts, the Marist pitcher, has played for the New Zealand under-21 side and was top pitcher at the under-19 tournament. His deputy, Johnny Lomax, of the Wainui Club, is also a strong batter who can play as an outfielder.

The batting is not as strong, according to selec-tor-coach, Dale Eagar. “Chris Hall is a strong hitter, but if the others come right we should be a real force,” he said. “Our main problem is that we will be going to the tournament blind. We don’t really know what to expect. Of course, we have to be treating Canada and the United States with respect, but we can’t ignore Japan, the defending champions,” he said. Other teams in the tourney are from Argentina, Bahamas, Mexico and Taiwan.