NZ Temperzone Junior Black Sox: World Championship Selection

Head coach Thomas Makea says hitting and fielding should be the Temperzone Junior Black Sox team's strengths as they bid for a gold medal at the 2018 world under-19 men's softball championships in Canada.

Makea and his co-selectors have named their 17-strong squad for the tournament in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan from July 7 to 15.

It will be the third consecutive under-19 world championships for Makea and his assistant-coach Jarrad Martin - two former Black Sox greats with four senior world championships gold medals.

Three players are backing up from the 2016 silver medal winning Junior Black Sox squad in Midland, Michigan - Canterbury pitcher-outfielder Reilly Makea, Auckland catcher-outfielder Harrison Valk and North Harbour infielder Kaleb Rona.

"Those three guys have got the experience of playing in a world championships and all of them play major roles in their club sides as well,'' Thomas Makea said. "We are really looking for those guys to step up and show the way.''

Two-Queensland-based Kiwis, outfielder-first baseman Ryschaan Thompson and outfielder Sheldon Waller have been selected.

Makea said the pair had only been in Australia a few years and were keen to pledge their allegiance to New Zealand. "We took them to the under-23s tournament in Aussie last winter and they really stood out.''

The Junior Black Sox selectors agonised over the final selections because of the depth of talent available.

"It's always a tough job,'' Makea said. "You pick 13 or 14, but 15, 16 and 17 are the hard positions to fill. You're looking for team guys who can fill a role, here and there.''

He is happy with the balance of the squad and said it "looks better every time I look at the names there''.

"We've got very good defence, both in the infield and outfield and very strong hitting with a lot of guys who can put the ball in play and hustle it out and put a lot of pressure on the opposition. "We're targeting that battery area as one of the things for us to iron out.

"We're probably a little bit behind the eight-ball in the pitching compared to 2016, but they'll be doing a lot of work in the next few months.''

Makea was hopeful some of the 2018 pitching group could "step up and fill the role'' that Daniel Chapman performed in 2016.

Reilly Makea, Nelson's Josh Kelly, Wellington's Brad Carson and Auckland duo Taine Slaughter and Seth Gibson have been named on the pitching roster with Valk and Wellington's Tobias Makisi as the specialist catchers.

Battery coach Bevan Matene, a former Black Sox catcher, will oversee their development.

Thomas Makea expects defending champions Japan, who have "always been a pretty top-notch side with good pitching'', Canada, Argentina and Australia to be among the Junior Black Sox's main rivals at Prince Albert.

The Junior Black Sox will play together at the National Fastpitch Championships senior representative tournament at Albany from February

Softball NZ CEO Tony Giles is proud to formally announce the New Zealand Temperzone Junior Black Sox Team to compete in the WBSC XII Jr. Mens Softball World Championship, 7-15 July, Prince Albert, Canada

TEMPERZONE JUNIOR BLACK SOX 2018 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SQUAD

Brad Carson (Wellington) Pitcher/Infielder

Kody Clueard (Wellington) Infielder

Huw Davies (Auckland) Infielder

Seth Gibson (Auckland) Pitcher/Infielder

Jared Gillard (Hutt Valley) Outfielder

Andre Hart (Wellington)  Outfielder

Josh Kelly (Nelson) Pitcher/Infielder

Reilly Makea (Canterbury) Pitcher/Outfielder

Tobias Makisi (Wellington) Catcher/Infielder

Floyd Nola (Auckland) Outfielder

Tyrell Packer (Hutt Valley) Outfielder

Kaleb Rona (North Harbour) Infielder

Taine Slaughter (Auckland) Pitcher

Ryschaan Thompson (Queensland) Outfielder/First Base

Harrison Valk (Auckland) Catcher/Outfielder

Sheldon Waller (Queensland) Outfielder

Kereama Watene-Te Hau (Hutt Valley) Infielder

NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES

Brock Attewell (North Harbour)

Max Earley (Auckland)

Dimitri Perez (Hutt Valley)

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Head coach:  Thomas Makea (Canterbury)

Assistant-coach: Jarrad Martin (Taranaki)

Battery coach:  Bevan Matene (Taranaki)

Manager: Wayne Small (Hutt Valley)