Otago will experience a radically different mindset when it heads to Christchurch for the Jefferies Cup tournament this weekend.
Normally, the recently christened Otago Whatukura heads to the diamond with the (often futile) aim of dethroning powerhouse home side Canterbury.
This year, Otago is the king.
The Whatukura won the Jefferies Cup last summer for the first time since 1993 after a memorable 8-3 win over Canterbury in the final.
That provided the highlight of a lifetime for a bunch of Otago players, and player-coach Matt Watts would welcome a repeat this weekend.
‘‘I think our chances are pretty good, as long as we
show up and play well,’’ Watts said.
‘‘We’ve actually got a new-ish team with quite a few young guys, so it will be good for them to compete at a tournament like this.’’
New faces there may be, but Otago will again be able to call on the core of homegrown talent that served it so well last summer.
Canterbury has again released a couple of handy players with the same name as the coach.
Watts’ brothers, new Black Sox representative Cam and outstanding pitcher Ben, will line up for Otago alongside the talented Mitchell Finnie.
Otago opens the defence of its title with a couple of southern derbies tomorrow.
It plays Southland at 9am and backs up against Central Otago at 11am.
Central is in the Jefferies Cup for the first time since ... well, it has not been able to be determined, but it is an awfully long time.
Experienced Otago softballer Jake Burtenshaw headlines a team that has the Cameron brothers, Scott and Tyler, and will be bolstered by some pick-up players from Canterbury.
Jefferies Cup
The squads
Otago Whatukura: Ash Watson, Brendan Taylor, Corbin Tuwairua, Jacob Wedlock, Josh Forrester, Kenji Suzuki, Matt Watts, Cam Watts, Ben Watts, Mitchell Finnie, Nathan Hill, Nelson Yorston, Reuben O’Neill, Jack Nehoff-Bates.
Central Otago: Tyron Adams, Brendan Benjamin, Jake Burtenshaw, Scott Cameron,
Tyler Cameron, Danny McElhinney, Ryan O’Neill, Ryley Park.
