The Canada Cup Softball Tournament concluded at the four diamond facility in White Rock with 91 teams taking part from around the world marking year number 24th at Softball City.
Out of the 91 teams New Zealand brought three teams all of which were competitive at various levels of development in the sport considering the size of the country and the fact that they receive no government funding such as other teams.

In a manner of speaking they came, they saw, but came up short of conquering the championship trophy and are now on route to the Women’s World Championship in Chiba, Japan.

The previous trip to the Canada Cup was in 2016 where they placed a respectable 8th, but this time it could see them “score a home run” as the team edges closer to the XVI Women’s World Championship as well as an opportunity to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The two national age grade teams who departed for Canada 24 hours earlier are looking to gain valuable experience ahead of the Under 19 World Championship next August in Irvine, California.

White Sox Head Coach Kevin Gettins mentions “I happy with where the team is at saying they have prepared well reaching good fitness levels along the way.  “Although the team is young many have junior and senior world championship experience that we will benefit from.”

Gettins continues “We are looking to take leanings from the last world championships and focus on competing at the higher level, playing with more intensity for longer periods and not let our guard down.”

This Emerging White Sox Girls under on the National Future Development team are drawn from across the country and this year go up against world class players that represent New Zealand in tournaments world wide.

Softball NZ CEO, Tony Giles mentioned “Three national teams at the Canada Cup is unprecedented, a move designed to enhance the quality of our women’s national team program.”

He continued “It really is an exciting time for softball with the Temperzone Junior Black Sox currently competing at the WBSC World Championship, our Emerging Sox Boys team in Australia at the International Friendship Games and Golden Homes Black Sox heading to Prague next month for the Intercontinental Cup.”

Alison Boys Assistant GM and according to her some of the players in their development are getting getting a look from NCAA schools that are scouting these events allowing them to get a chance for education and playing the game and developing their kills in the sport.”

The black and white uniforms worn by the teams signify the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team and all teams in their country have adapted these colors when traveling to any tournament.

Alison mentions “Government funding back home for the sport is virtually non existent and they do not get support for the sport and in order to attend the Canada Cup they have to pay their own way called the user fee cost all the members of the squad which totals around $2500.00, thus funding plays a huge role for any team.”

As we all know funding by any Government is hard as everyone wants a “piece of the pie” but other areas it’s given freely.

Regardless of the outcome, they came close to advancing to the final, but in reality this was and is clearly a learning event for the entire team.

Sportswave wishes them all the best moving forward and thank Alison for her candid interview.

New Zealand White Sox Team will be competing at the XVI Women’s World Championship, Chiba Japan from 2 – 12 August.

Thanks to Bruce Nolte for the article.