Monk to play for Junior Black Sox

BRUCE MERCER/Fairfax NZ

EYEING WORLD SERIES: Hohepa Monk will debut for the Junior Black Sox.

It may not have been his first sport of choice, but softball eventually proved a more attractive proposition for Hohepa Monk, who this weekend makes his debut in national colours.

The 18-year-old outfielder will turn out for the Junior Black Sox (under-19) at a national club tournament in Nelson as the players strive to impress ahead of next year's Junior Men's World Series in Argentina.

Monk was back at Hamilton Boys' High School this year, repeating year 13, before finishing in July. And it was softball, and the lure of making the Junior Black Sox, which drew him back to the classroom.

"Half the reason I came back [to school] this year was to make that squad, to go to the secondary schools tournament and make that team [the Junior Black Sox]," Monk said.

It is the first time he has made a national team, having previously featured in the Waikato under-17s and under-19s at national tournaments.

Monk played cricket until two years ago when he followed his older sister Melissa, 20, into softball.

"There's a lot of difference, but same actions, you know, the batting and throwing," he said of the comparison of the sports.

Monk's callup to the Junior Black Sox came earlier in the year as there was originally meant to be a tournament in April in Christchurch.

The coach of the Junior Black Sox, John Love, will meet Monk for the first time today when the team gets together, but has been impressed after having watched him from a distance.

"He stood out in a regional tournament last season so we kept an eye on him at national under-19s and he showed there that he's got genuine ability as an outfielder," Love said. "He's very fast, has a rocket of an arm and he's a fairly consistent hitter."

Monk was excited about his selection, though it wasn't a real surprise, more so something he was looking to achieve, always aiming high.

He plays for the Fairfield-Otorohanga United club in the Waikato men's competition and also plays in the wider Kotahitanga fastpitch competition which involves teams from Tauranga and Counties-Manukau.

His idol is his club coach, Robbie Neha, who's been around Waikato softball for a while and still plays too.

This weekend is a three-day tournament against men's club sides mostly from the South Island, and Monk believed the Junior Black Sox would relish the chance to test themselves against quality older players.

"It wouldn't faze us but it's more of a challenge, us being a bit younger. A lot of young guys like playing older people just to see where their level's at."

His goal from this tournament is to get picked when the side is re-selected in the lead-up to next November's world series. "I've just got to keep performing and making the team. I don't want to get ahead of myself."

Although Monk would love to stick with softball, he is keen to "have a crack" at baseball in Auckland, if he is to pursue his ambition of going overseas and becoming a professional.

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