Will the rebels be missed at N.Z. softball tourney?

Press, 23 December 1988, Page 23

Will the rebels be missed at N.Z. softball tourney?

By

TIM DUNBAR

Auckland’s rebel softball players have been a big talking point in the weeks leading up to the Winfield men’s national inter-provincial tournament which begins at Surrey Park, Invercargill, on Tuesday night. Those who quit in protest at having to pay towards the cost of going to the tournament included the world series players, Eddie Kohlhase, Steve Jackson, Chubb Tangaroa, Dave Wall and Dean Rice. The move, and comments by Kohlhase, in particular, in his Sunday newspaper column, caused a stir in Auckland and New Zealand softball, but it remains to be seen what the positive effects, if any, will be. “I think that’s great,” said the Canterbury representative coach, Roger Keith, about the absence of the Auckland stars. "Leave them out of it. People will only remember the team that wins the nationals.” Auckland will be missing the pitching firepower of Jackson and Tangaroa, but should the side retain its national title and win the Winfield Cup (replacing the Rothmans Cup) Keith believes only the players that were in Invercargill will be remembered. The amount that the Auckland players had been asked to contribute was trifling — $lOO — but Kohlhase, one of the genuine “nice guys” of New Zealand sport, obviously felt very strongly about it. Enough to jeopardise his international career.

If consistency is maintained the New Zealand selectors might rule the rebel players out of consideration for the world series final “replay” — a five-match test series against the United States in Christchurch on April 1 and 2.

If there are some big name players missing from the tournament, and Wellington’s Peter Meredith who pitched the United States to victory over New Zealand in Saskatoon is another, then at least all the main teams are there. All six teams which fought out the Rothmans Cup (top) section last summer will be in Invercargill, including North Harbour whose trip south had been in doubt for financial reasons. And the 16 teams there will now include Waikato which withdrew and then reentered.

As Canterbury prepares for the week-long tournament, the coach, Keith, is concentrating on positive thoughts.

“The aim is to win the national tournament,” Keith said. “I guess we need plenty of commitment from the players and a little bit of luck — and we can do well.” At the first of two training runs this week Keith was very impressed with the way things were shaping. Another session is scheduled for Boxing Day with a light workout when the players get to Invercargill on Tuesday. Unfortunately his equilibrium was unsettled this week by the shock withdrawal of the captain, Jimmy Hall, because of a recurring ankle injury. Hall has been replaced by the Royals pitcher, Matt Sheehan.

Canterbury’s first, and only confirmed opponent, is Combined Services on Wednesday morning and the double elimination format means it will want to remain in the winners’ bracket as long as possible. The top six teams to contest the Winfield Cup will be found by the end of the Thursday. Should Canterbury beat Combined Services, a team which includes the sometime Otago pitcher, John Scholten, and the United home-run blaster, Darren Rea, it will play the winner of the Otago v. Hutt Valley game. “At this stage I’m only thinking about Combined

Services. Then we’ll take each game as it comes,” Keith said. The two most favoured sides look to be Wellington and Hutt Valley, and Keith acknowledges their strength, though adding “nobody is invincible. If you’ve got the right spirit you can beat anybody.”

"I really want to get through to that top section. It’s not going to be easy. I’m just blocking out any negative thoughts,” he said.

Wellington has two top pitchers in Mike White and Marty Grant as well as such dangerous batters as Don Tricker, Fred Wyatt and Mike Nichols. With Jimmy Seaman and Steve Leitch on its pitching staff and batters of the calibre of Mark Sorenson, Bob Jones, lan Stringer and the rabbit cum bunter and slap hitter, Simon Kerr, Hutt Valley looks almost as formidable.

The Canterbury team will be relying on Keith himself and Sheehan to do most of the pitching, with the youngster, Steve Cate, backing them up. Keith’s experience will to a large extent compensate for lack of sheer pace in his return to his old stamping (quite literally in his pitching role) grounds as a former Southlander.

Keith is happy with the fielding unit that Canterbury is developing with players in the positions they feel most comfortable with. He referred especially to the United infielder, Murray Lanini’s need to settle into second base where he was best suited. “He’s been shifting all over the place.”

There are plenty of power batters there with an inclination to go for the fence as well as those who are adept with the slap hit and bunt.

Canterbury’s failure to make the recent Jefferies Cup South Island interprovincial tournament final should have little bearing on its performance next week. Last season its Jefferies Cup campaign was no more successful and the side still made the top six — fifth equal with Southland at the nationals.

The full Canterbury squad is: Matt Sheehan, Roger Keith, Steve Cate; Simon Heath, Errol Byrne; Paul Shannon, Dean Taikato, Murray Lanini, Brett Seaward, Aaron Flynn, Chris Gray; Wayne Durey, Dennis Wiersma, Neil Stuart, Dion Kerr.