Plan to put White Sox back on top

NICHOLAS BOYACK

Naomi Shaw wants softball fans to be patient.

The White Sox coach last week returned to her job at Softball New Zealand headquarters in Lower Hutt after watching her team take a hammering in Australia.

In three games, New Zealand lost 11-4, 8-0 and 9-1. The White Sox have also recently played Aussie state sides and overall have lost 16 of their last 18 games across the ditch, under her command.

Such results do not inspire confidence that she will be able to put together a competitive team for the World Series in July in Canada.

But Shaw, who was appointed to the job in September 2010, is confident the White Sox are on the right track. Prior to Christmas, she went to South Africa to watch the Junior White Sox play in the World Series. New Zealand improved its ranking from 12th to a creditable sixth and she says there were a number of aspects that gave her confidence.

Pitcher Rita Hokianga, who played in the Hutt Valley in 2010/11, was outstanding and appears to have a big future in the senior team.

Te Aroha's Kuraroa Ratu-James also had a strong tournament and Shaw believes she can become a star for the White Sox.

"She was probably one of the youngest in the team and was in the starting nine, and made some really big plays. She is a biggie for our future."

However, coaches always judged by results and even Shaw admits the recent scores in Australia have been disappointing.

She can justifiably point to mitigating factors. The three tests were played in very hot conditions and, as players had to contribute towards the cost of getting there, New Zealand only had two pitchers - Hokianga and Te Aroha's Sheree Cartwright.

Cartwright has had a chequered career in the White Sox with questions over her fitness and commitment.

Shaw says Cartwright went to Australia under- prepared after major kidney surgery, but showed she wants to be in the team and is willing to put in the work to get fit.

The White Sox have played regularly in Australia and Shaw has called on 40 players. That has enabled her to identify which players have the goods to compete at the World Series.

Her focus has always been on selecting a team that will be competitive in Canada and she says that will be her test.

"To me the big picture is the World Series and we are building really accurate information about players as we build to our pinnacle event."

When she took over, there were major question marks about the future of women's softball here.

In the 2010 World Series, under coach Dean Rice, New Zealand finished a woeful 12th. It appeared that many of the players were unfit and under-prepared.

Shaw's aim is a top eight spot this year and the top six in the 2014 World Series. She believes she is on track to achieve that and says manager Anaru Pewhairangi has played a key role in turning things around.

All the players have met fitness and skills targets and Shaw says the change in attitude will bring better results.

zLocal players in line for selection in the World Series are Zavana Aranga, Yvonne Burgess, Sheree Cartwright, Dinah Luke, Ashleigh Johnston, Kiri Shaw, Kuraroa Ratu-James and Danica Ferriso.

- Hutt News