Black Sox pitcher Liam Potts in action during the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Final against Venezuela.
Photo: WBSC
The mana of the Black Sox carries on, as the team returns home with a silver medal and a restored place on the world stage.
The New Zealand side finished runners-up to Venezuela in a 3-0 final in Prince Albert, Canada – a major comeback from their eighth-place finish in 2022.
Although it wasn’t the final result they would have wanted, the boys’ performance over the campaign was a massive improvement from their last international outing.
And the key to the team’s success this year? Whānau.
Black Sox team captain Cole Evans celebrates with head coach Thomas Makea after powering a ball over centre-field fence.
Photo: WBSC
A name well-known in global softball circles, Head coach Thomas Makea (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Marama, Ngāti Makea ki Rarotonga), said the team’s growth over the past two years had been huge.
“To go from eight to number two in the world in two years, that’s awesome.
“I believed in what we had when I took over the job a couple years ago now. So, I believe we had the talent,” he said.
“We had the talent, we had the players, we just had to grow them.”
Part of that growth had come from the strong sense of whānau within the team.
This year’s squad included four sets of brothers: Ben and Thomas Enoka, Cole and Rhys Evans, Reilly Makea and Dante Makea-Matakatea, and Otago natives Cameron and Ben Watts.
That legacy of whakapapa also extended to the coaching staff.
Former Black Sox and World Champion Bevan Matene (Te Ātiawa) toured with the team as a kaitiaki (leader).
He said despite the final loss, he was extremely proud of the team’s achievements.
“Kaore i haere ki te tihi o te maunga teitei, te tuarua, te hiriwa kaore te koura. We didn’t make it to the top of the mountain, we got silver rather than gold.
“He tino pai rawa atu te tīma o te Tōkena Pango i tēnei rā. But we played really well today.”
The New Zealand Black Sox 2004 World Title team – including Head Coach Thomas Makea and delegation leader Bevan Matene.
Photo: Kevin Clarke Photography / Supplied: Softball New Zealand
Matene paid tribute to Makea for his mahi and the captain Cole Evans.
“He tino pouri, he mamae taku manawa mō te tīma, apōpō ka whiti mai te rā. I’m feeling quite sad, my heart aches for the team, but tomorrow the sun will rise again.
“Te mana o te Tōkena Pango ka haere ki te tihi o te maunga teitei. The mana of the Black Sox will go on and we’ll reach the top one day.”
Alongside Matene was legendary Black Sox pitcher “Chubb” Tangaroa, who returned as the team’s pitching coach.
Tangaroa (Ngāti Kahungunu) helped pave the way for New Zealand pitchers on the international stage in the 1980s and 90s.
He earned Hall of Fame honours in both Aotearoa and the world game.
As a player, he was known for his sharp rise ball and helped lead the Black Sox to gold in 1996 and silver in 1988 and 1992.
With leadership and experience like this at the helm, the players had a wealth of mātauranga (knowledge) at their fingertips.
The New Zealand Black Sox came second at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup after taking the loss 3-0 against Venezuela in the Gold Medal match.
Photo: WBSC
Makea said the Black Sox truly felt the aroha from the supporters on the sideline and back home in Aotearoa.
”We really felt the love, felt the mana coming through. And I’m not gonna apologise for us not getting there, getting the job done today because I’ve seen massive growth in this team.”
He said the journey to the podium had been awesome.
“[It’s been an] awesome couple of weeks with these guys and they’ve made steps for the future of the programme.”
Cole Evans said the Black Sox put on a stellar performance all week, playing some quality ball against quality teams.
“The team really grew in confidence and I thought we [had] a real chance today,” the captain said. “Just came up a bit short.”
Evans said by moving up the world ranking ladder, their campaign performance put them back “where the programme belongs”.
“There’s a great programme back home, some quality young kids coming through, and obviously some guys that have been around a long time are really quality, so, future looks pretty bright.”
