New Zealand Softball has announced a preliminary list of 23 athletes for the U-23 men’s softball national team, which will hold a training camp in Palmerston North from 24-26 October. The camp will start the selection process for the first-ever WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, to be played in Argentina at the end of 2021.
While a major focus is in preparation for the World Cup there will also be a big emphasis on personal development both physically and mentally.
The list of players, selected by coaches Steven Deans and Fergus McAlpine, can be found on the Softball New Zealand official website.
The list includes 15 players with experience in WBSC World Championships. Five athletes were part of the New Zealand team that finished fourth at the 2016 Junior Men’s World Championship. Nine players come from the second-placed squad at the 2018 World Championship in Prince Albert, while one of the players participated in the 2020 U-18 World Cup on home soil.
The inaugural edition of the U-23 Men's Softball World Cup, created to bridge the gap between the U-18 Men's Softball World Cup and the senior national teams, will feature 12 countries.
