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National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
MLBPA union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
Baseball players' union head Tony Clark says plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and discussions have taken place this week during the All-Star break. Article content 'There's a lot of work that still needs to be done,' he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. 'We do know players are interested in playing, whether it's for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world. … There's just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see how viable this is, but we're hopeful that we can figure our way through it for the benefit of the game.' Article content Article content The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. Major League Baseball is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts. Article content MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game. Article content 'In the event that major league players are going to play, what does that mean and what does that look like?' Clark said. 'And perhaps just as importantly, what does it mean for those players who aren't participating? What type of scheduling adjustments need to be made? What type travel considerations and support need to considered? What does that means in regards to insurance?' Article content
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Baseball players' union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
Baseball players' union head Tony Clark says plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 'There's a lot of work that need to be done,' he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. 'We're hopeful that we can figure our way through it.' The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts. Clark said among the issues are insurance and 'what does it mean for those players that aren't participating?' ___
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Baseball players' union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
ATLANTA (AP) — Baseball players' union head Tony Clark says plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 'There's a lot of work that need to be done,' he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. 'We're hopeful that we can figure our way through it.' The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts. Clark said among the issues are insurance and 'what does it mean for those players that aren't participating?' ___ AP MLB:
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
'Mana of Black Sox will go on': NZ men's softball climbs back to podium at World Cup
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."
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Black Sox: Kiwis grab silver in Softball World Cup final
The New Zealand men's softball team found redemption at the 2025 WBSC World Cup Finals, which took place in Prince Albert, Canada. Photo / WBSC This year's final was also Aotearoa, NZ's 10th appearance in a World Championship final, finishing runners-up in four competitions (1988, 1992, 2009, and 2015). In 1976, they shared the gold medal with Canada and USA, as the play-offs couldn't be completed because of poor weather. Head coach Thomas Makea (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Marama, Ngāti Makea ki Rarotonga), who took over in 2023, said the team set out to rebuild after a challenging few years. He said their haerenga (journey) to the final was fuelled by the team's connection and a sense of whanaungatanga. The Black Sox reached the final after an 8-3 victory over Japan in the Super Round, where they needed a five-run win to qualify on Team Quality Balance. The only side in the competition to beat NZ was Venezuela, who earlier defeated the Black Sox 7-2 in group play. The New Zealand Black Sox at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2025. Photo / WBSC Game replay The Black Sox opened the gold medal match with a chilling haka, laying down a wero (challenge) to Venezuela in a rematch of the 2013 World Cup final. They threatened early, putting runners on base in the first inning but couldn't convert runs. Lead-off hitter Ben Enoka picked a walk, and Cole Evans pushed him to third with a line drive, but the side couldn't capitalise. Young Canterbury pitcher Liam Potts, 21, started strong on the mound for NZ, retiring the first three Venezuelan batters, including a strikeout to close the first. Black Sox pitcher Liam Potts pitched the side to its second win of the WBSC World Cup, holding the world's number one ranked side, Argentina, to only one run. Photo / WBSC The scoreboard remained scoreless until the bottom of the third, when Pedro Flores broke the deadlock, smashing a solo homer over centrefield to put Venezuela on the board. Despite solid contact and disciplined at-bats, the Black Sox couldn't find a breakthrough through the next two innings, with both sides allowing no runs to concede. Venezuela's starting pitcher Maiker Pimentel battled through an ankle injury, but had to leave the game in the top of the fifth after re-aggravating it. Luis Miguel Colombo Perez came on but didn't last long, leaving the mound after Rhys Evans drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Ben Enoka was then hit by a pitch, putting two on with two outs. But despite the opportunity, Jerome Raemaki struck out on a drop ball by new pitcher Eudomar Toyo, leaving the two runners stranded on base. Pita Rona took over on the mound for the Black Sox in the bottom of the fifth, replacing Potts after a solid start. He walked his first batter, putting runners on first and second with no outs. But the Black Sox defence stepped up to the plate, Rhys Evans fielded a grounder and made the force out at third, followed by a diving catch in foul territory by Te Kirika Cooper-Nicola in left field to end the inning and keep Venezuela from extending their lead. In the top of the sixth, top batters, Cole Evans and Reilly Makea both struck out swinging on drop balls from Toyo, who continued to cause problems for the Black Sox. Black Sox first-basemen and power-hitter Seth Gibson clutched two impressive home-runs against Japan to help secure their spot in the final. Photo / WBSC But Thomas Enoka broke the silence with a sharp line drive up the middle, followed by Seth Gibson who kept his hot bat alive with a stand-up double that pushed Enoka to third. With two on and two out, Venezuela made a tactical move, bringing injured starter Maiker Pimentel back on to the mound – disrupting NZ's momentum. This worked for the South-Americans, as second baseman Tane Mumu popped up for the third out retiring the inning and leaving NZ scoreless. In the bottom of the sixth with a runner on one after picking a walk, Venezuelans Jesus Kleiver Barreto Rodriguez hit a two-run shot – his third home run of the tournament – bringing the score to 3-0. Venezuela's starting pitcher Maiker Pimentel battled through an ankle injury, pitching his team to a 3-0 victory over New Zealand. Photo / WBSC In the final inning, the Black Sox were unable to close the gap. Te Wera Bishop connected with a hard line drive, but Venezuela's third baseman leapt high to make a crucial catch, robbing what could've been a double. Hohepa Monk, pinch-hitting for Rhys Evans, struck out swinging, and Ben Enoka, the veteran lead-off, went down on a final swing and a miss. Venezuela sealed a 3-0 win, denying NZ their eighth world title. In the bronze medal match, team USA had the upper hand over Japan, taking the win 10-1. – RNZ
