22/07/2023 - 26/07/2023

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XVII Women's Softball World Cup 2023 - Group C - Official Payoff

New Zealand first team to announce squad for WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup; name Donny Hale as head coach

New Zealand first team to announce squad for WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup; name Donny Hale as head coach
16/02/2023
Hale, a three-time world champion with the Black Sox in 2000, 2004 and 2013 has been appointed as Head Coach of the New Zealand White Sox.

Experienced campaigners Lara Andrews, Rebecca Bromhead, Katrina Nukunuku and Mikayla Werahiko lead New Zealand’s 16-player roster for the upcoming WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup, to be played in July this year in Ireland, Spain and Italy. New Zealand will play in Group C to be hosted in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy, from 22 to 26 July.

Sky Sport New Zealand White Sox:

  1. Lara Andrews
  2. Amy Begg 
  3. Erin Blackmore 
  4. Rebecca Bromhead 
  5. Meeki Cooper Nicola
  6. Emma Francis
  7. Shyah Hale
  8. Tyneesha Houkamau 
  9. Nerissa McDowell 
  10. Tyla Morrison
  11. Katrina Nukunuku
  12. Loran Parker 
  13. Pallas Potter
  14. Otila Tavite
  15. Mikayla Werahiko
  16. Brooke Whiteman 

The team includes exciting youngsters in Shyah Hale - the niece of New Zealand men's softball legend and new White Sox coach Donny Hale - and Meeki Cooper-Nicola. The two Auckland teenagers will be attending their first WBSC sanctioned event at senior level, and join world cup debutants Brooke Whiteman, Amy Begg, Nerissa McDowell, Otila Tavite, Tyla Morrison, Loran Parker, Emma Francis, and Erin Blackmore in an exciting new look White Sox side.

New Zealand will compete in Group C, alongside No. 4 Canada, No. 8 Italy (host), No. 22 Venezuela, Asia 1 and a wild card to be named at a later stage. 

The top two teams from each group of the Group Stage, plus two wild cards, will advance to the eight-team World Cup Finals, to be hosted in Italy in 2024. 

Donny Hale appointed as Sky Sport New Zealand White Sox coach

Hale, a three-time world champion with the Black Sox in 2000, 2004 and 2013 has been appointed as Head Coach of the Sky Sport New Zealand White Sox.

Following the resignation of Roman Gabriel due to personal reasons, Hale assumes the helm after joining the group in early 2020 as an assistant coach.

Hale said: “It is an honour to have this opportunity to lead the White Sox programme. I look forward to working with our talented athletes, and management group as we focus towards the 2023 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup."