Thomas Makea announces first roster as New Zealand Black Sox head coach
Softball New Zealand published their men’s national softball team roster for the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Oceania Qualifier from 9 to 11 November. Under new head coach Thomas Makea, the Black Sox named a renovated squad to face Australia, and hosts American Samoa in the continental event in Pago Pago.
“This team marks the first step in rebuilding the New Zealand Black Sox foundation, strengthening our future team's depth, and igniting a renewed sense of pride in our softball legacy,” said Makea. “I am proud of the strides the squad made over the weekend, and it gives me reassurance that we are all aligned and heading in the right direction”.
New Zealand roster
- Callum Bishop (Canterbury)
- Te Wera Bishop (Wellington)
- Zac Boyd (Wellington)
- Te Kirika Cooper-Nicola (Wellington)
- Eru Drage (North Harbour)
- Cole Evans (Auckland)
- Joel Evans (Hutt Valley)
- Wayne Laulu (Wellington)
- Reilly Makea (Wellington)
- Hohepa Monk (North Harbour)
- Tane Mumu (Hutt Valley)
- Liam Potts (Canterbury)
- Pita Rona (North Harbour)
- Jayden Stratford (Wellington)
- Jackson Watt (Canterbury)
- Cameron Watts (Canterbury)
- Adam Woon (Auckland)
“We have a nice balance of youth and experience amongst the team. Liam Potts and Te Kirika Cooper-Nicola make the step up from the U-23 program and Adam Woon, Jayden Stratford, Callum Bishop, and Zac Boyd will all make their international debuts,” added Makea.
Seven of the 17 players that represented New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup on home soil return for this season, including Te Wera Bishop, Cole Evans, Joel Evans, Reilly Makea, Tane Mumu, Pita Rona and Cameron Watts. The Kiwis finished in a disappointing eighth place last year, the country’s lowest position ever in a World Cup. It also marked the first time in history that New Zealand finished off the podium in consecutive World Cups, after finishing fourth in 2019.
Thomas Makea's staff is completed by Stevie Deans (assistant coach), Wayne Small (manager) and Tracee Topia (scorer).