Manley hungry for international play | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

Hawke's Bay softball pitcher Regan Manley is hungry for more international play after his first taste with the Black Sox at the weekend.

"I'm definitely keen for more," Manley said as he reflected on the Black Sox campaign at the Canberra Skins tournament.

The Maraenui Pumas club player started in most of the Black Sox matches as they went unbeaten in seven outings.

Manley was thrilled with the batting the Black Sox produced particularly in matches against Australian pitchers Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Folkard who played major roles in Australia's world championship victory in 2009.

Kirkpatrick conceded nine hits when the Black Sox beat his club side 11-0 and Folkard gave up five hits when the Black Sox beat his side 5-0.

"It's big to get runs off them," Manley said.

Manley, 27, will be back in the Bay playing for Pumas in a top-of-the-table clash against Fast Pitch on Saturday. The winning side in this encounter will secure one of the final berths in the following Saturday's pre-Christmas final while the loser will take on the winner of Saturday's other match between Harris Scrap Saints and Napier Vikings to decide the other finalists.

Wellington-based Hawke's Bay brothers Thomas Makea and Campbell Makea were also in the Black Sox team. Three-time world champion Thomas had mentoring and first base coaching roles and outfielder Campbell was again impressive with the bat.

Another Hawke's Bay pitcher, Rita Hokianga, will captain the Junior White Sox during their Junior World Series campaign which begins in Cape Town tomorrow with a 1am (NZT) match against China. The ninth seeded Junior White Sox have played four warm-up games in the buildup to the 16-team World Series which ends on December 17.

They recorded 6-1 and 8-4 wins against South African Super League teams and an 11-5 win against South Africa who are the 12th seeds. Second seeds Japan beat the Junior White Sox. A highlight of the win against South Africa was an automatic home run over the centre outfield fence from California-based pitcher infielder Taylor Paige Stewart.