Tangaroa eyeing World Series | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

Auckland-based former Hawke's Bay softball pitcher Michal Tangaroa is eyeing one more World Series.

"I don't want to finish with that 12th placing," said Tangaroa, referring to the White Sox last World Series in Venezuela last year.

Tangaroa was playing in the Bay for the first time in four seasons at the weekend when members of the White Sox training squad took on members of the Junior White Sox training squad in five games at Akina Park, Hastings, during training camps for both sides.

The Junior White Sox, who will travel to their Junior World Series in Cape Town in December, were undefeated. They won Saturday's first game 3-1, drew the second 6-all and won the third 5-4, and yesterday recorded 6-3 and 7-6 victories.

"I'll be surprised if they don't podium in Cape Town," said Tangaroa.

She was first selected in the White Sox in 2004 and is back in the squad again after having last season off. The daughter of three-time world champion Black Sox pitching legend Chubb Tangaroa pointed out there was no need to panic after the weekend's losses.

"We had lots of players unavailable because of work commitments," said Tangaroa, who is aiming to be selected for the July World Series in Whitehorse Yukon, Canada.

"We've got new coaches now and there is a positive vibe there," said Tangaroa, who will again play for the Waitakere Bears club in Auckland this season.

She was impressed with promising Hawke's Bay pitcher Courtney Gettins who played as an invitation player for the White Sox.

"Courtney was clocked in the mid 90s km/h during what was a good experience for her and as Naomi [White Sox head coach Naomi Shaw] pointed out she could have opted to spend the weekend with her mates celebrating her 15th birthday," added Tangaroa, who took 11 strikeouts in the second game, eight in the fourth and three in the fifth when she shared the mound.

"Courtney pitched five innings during the weekend and wasn't out of place. An outsider coming in wouldn't have known she was 14 on day one, 15 on day two and wasn't a White Sox regular," said Hawke's Bay's Junior White Sox scorer Keith Dare.

Gettins' sister Melanie played catcher and first base for the White Sox and hit two singles and a double during the weekend. Hutt Valley infielder Kuraroa Ratu-James was the Junior White Sox top batter with two three-baggers and two singles.

Hawke's Bay's Junior White Sox assistant coach Kevin Gettins refused to accept Tangaroa's prediction of a top-three finish for his team in Cape Town.

"Top six is still our target."