16/02/2026
Huge congratulations to our Wellington boys who’ve been selected for the Junior Black Sox!
What an incredible achievement and a true testament to your hard work, dedication, and passion for the game.
👏 Lijah Makea
👏 Kiharoa Landon-Lane
👏 Hawea Sullivan
👏 Isoldur Heatley
To be named in the Junior Black Sox is a massive honour, and you’ve made your whānau, teammates, coaches, and the entire Wellington community incredibly proud.
Junior Black Sox Squad Named 🇳🇿🌿
Softball New Zealand is pleased to announce the Junior Black Sox squad as preparations continue towards the WBSC U18 Men’s Softball World Cup Oceania Qualifier, to be held in Manawatū over ANZAC weekend this April 2026.
Selection into the Junior Black Sox programme is a significant achievement and recognises the commitment and performance shown by each athlete. The squad will now enter the next phase of preparation as they work towards representing Aotearoa on the international stage.
Hosting the Oceania Qualifier on home soil provides an exciting opportunity for the team as they compete against the region’s best in pursuit of qualification for the WBSC World Cup.
Congratulations to all selected athletes. Further updates will be shared as preparations progress.
**Anthony Baker is affiliated with South Canterbury Softball Association.
**Shia Hodgetts, Kallan Baldwin and Te Kahika Maladina are affiliated with Hutt Valley Softball Association.
We apologise for the earlier error and have updated our records to reflect this.