DIAMONDBLACKS - MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM
2022 Diamondblacks Coaching Staff - World Baseball Classic Qualifier Tournament
Head Coach / Manager - Scott Campbell
Bench Coach - TBA
Pitching Coach - TBA
Hitting Coach - TBA
3rd Base / Defence Coach - TBA
Bullpen Coach - TBA
2016 Diamondblacks Coaching Staff
Head Coach - Chris Woodward (Los Angeles Dodgers, now Texas Rangers)
Bench Coach - Josh Bard (Los Angeles Dodgers, now New York Yankees)
1st Base/Fielding Coach - Brant Brown (Seattle Mariners, now Los Angeles Dodgers))
3rd Base - Ron Roenicke (Los Angeles Angels, now Boston Red Sox)
Pitching Coach - Naoyuki Shimizu (Chiba Lotte Marines, Japan)
Bullpen Coach - D J Carrasco (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The New Zealand Diamondblacks have played in two World Baseball Classic Qualifying tournaments in recent years, 2012 in Taiwan and 2016 in Sydney.
2012 World Baseball Classic Qualifier, Taiwan
After a comprehensive camp and warm up games in Australia against ABL sides, Sydney Blue Sox and Canberra Cavalry, the Diamondblacks landed in Taiwan for the tournament. An early reality check from hosts Chinese-Taipei followed, before the team re-grouped and came out firing against former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon and his Thailand team, gaining an early lead and not giving it up. Next up was the Philippines and again the Diamondblacks scored early and often, winning with a four run margin. The tournament final followed and once again the Diamondblacks were up against hosts Chinese-Taipei and after holding the hosts to a slim lead late in the game, couldn't hold on were beaten by nine runs.
Following this tournament, the New Zealand baseball programme went from being unranked to 28th in the world.
2012 Results
New Zealand 0 v Chinese-Taipei 10
New Zealand 12 v Thailand 2
New Zealand 10 v Philippines 6
New Zealand 0 v Chinese-Taipei 9
Click here to view photos of the 2012 World Baseball Classic Qualifying Tournament in Taiwan.
2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifier, Sydney
After a reduced build up, the Diamondblacks travelled to Sydney and after a win and a loss in warm up games, met a fired up South Africa in game one and with Seattle Mariners minor league pitcher Dylan Unsworth keeping the Diamdblacks bats quiet, the africans came out winners, forcing New Zealand into a win at all costs game against 2012 opponents, the Philippines. After going behind early, the Diamondblacks bats awoke and led by a monster home run to first base Boss Moanaroa, the kiwis ended up with a 10-run mercy win in the 8th inning. The following day, it was South Africa again for the right to play Australia in the next days final and again the africans led early and holding on for a 7-run victory.
2016 Results
New Zealand 1 v South Africa 7
New Zealand 17 v Philippines 7
New Zealand 2 v South Africa 9
Click here to view photos of the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifying Tournament in Sydney.
2020 and Beyond
The next World Baseball Classic Qualifiers are next on the Diamondblacks agenda and preparations have already begun with many of our young adults heading to college in the United States as the programme builds towards these two important qualifying tournaments.
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