Softball New Zealand U-18 Women’s National Team to play this weekend in Auckland

Softball New Zealand U-18 Women’s National Team to play this weekend in Auckland
22/01/2021
The Wayne Roper Tournament will help the Junior White Sox prepare for the next WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup.

The Softball New Zealand U-18 Women’s National Team will take the field this weekend to participate in the Wayne Roper Tournament at Sturges Park in the country’s biggest city of Auckland. The six-team senior tournament will help the Junior White Sox prepare for the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup, which is scheduled for 28 August to 5 September in Peru.

"It's always exciting to get another group of identified athletes together under the Junior White Sox banner and give them the opportunity to showcase their abilities, against more experienced opposition,” Head Coach Kiri Shaw said. “The battery team we have for this tournament are either very young and all, are very much developing pitchers. The goal for them is to work together, to contain opposition hitters. I’m really excited to see how all players go in this team for this weekend.”

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The New Zealand coaching staff have named the following players to form a selection team to attend the Wayne Roper tournament this weekend:    

  • Margaret Alatofa
  • Jade Calverley
  • Alycia Capes-Parr
  • Ashlee Hatzen
  • Maysen Kurene-Iwikau
  • Arene Landon-Lane
  • Hope Maka
  • Gabby Murare
  • Cheyleigh Natana-Wihongi
  • Ocean Mathews
  • Kuratangi Ronaki
  • Jahvana Temarama
  • Apryl Trego   
  • Shyann Wairau

New Zealand is one of 16 qualified teams for the maiden WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup, an event that replaces the U-19 Women’s Softball World Championship. The Junior White Sox will join No. 1 USA, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Canada, No. 4 Puerto Rico, No. 5 Mexico, No. 6 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 China, No. 8 Australia, No. 9 Netherlands, No. 10 Italy, No. 11 Philippines, No. 12 Czech Republic, No. 19 Peru, world No. 26 South Africa and No. 48 Colombia. 

WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup