Army Softballers Amongst Black Sox South Pacific Series Win

The World Champion NZ Black Sox recently won the 2006 South Pacific Series contested in Japan, beating the host nation Japan 5 – 2 in the final. The significance for the NZ Army was the representation of Warrant Officer’s Small and McCarroll with the team.

The tour for WO1 Small was his first as Manager of the Black Sox after recently being appointed as WO1 McCarroll’s successor. The tour to Japan completed the Manager handover process, with WO1 Small now firmly in place as Manager, ready to lead the team through to the next World Champs in Canada, 2009.

Throughout the series the Black Sox competed against; Japan, Australia and Samoa. The Black Sox were unbeaten throughout, dominating their opposition accumulating 59 runs for and 10 against. The win at the South Pacific Series completed another successful year for the Black Sox with 18 wins and no losses.

The highlight for WO1 McCarroll on his last trip with the Black Sox was the opportunity to take the diamond against the Japan U23 side, in a warm up game prior to the Championship. The playing appearance for McCarroll was something very special and for the record he had one at bat, for one safe hit and can now retire a happy man having batted 1000 for the Black Sox.

WO1’s Small and McCarroll are grateful to the NZ Army for the support, in particular Trentham Camp, the venue once again used by the Black Sox for their build up training camp.

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