Dion Nukunuku
Encyclopedia
Dion Nukunuku is a former member of the New Zealand national softball team
, called "The Black Sox". He was in the teams that won the world championship in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He has continued as a coach in the sport.
and was educated at St Peter's College
, which has traditionally been very prominent in the Auckland school boy Softball competitions. Dion Nukunuku is the brother of Softball international, Nathan Nukunuku
.
In 1990 , Nukunuku was selected to be a member of the New Zealand Black Sox. The highlights of Nukunuku's senior International Career were:
Black Socks
The Black Socks are the New Zealand national men's softball team. They won the World Championships in 1976 , 1984, 1996, 2000 and 2004...
, called "The Black Sox". He was in the teams that won the world championship in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He has continued as a coach in the sport.
Early life
Nukunuku spent his childhood in Hawkes Bay and AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and was educated at St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
, which has traditionally been very prominent in the Auckland school boy Softball competitions. Dion Nukunuku is the brother of Softball international, Nathan Nukunuku
Nathan Nukunuku
Nathan Nukunuku is a member of the New Zealand national softball team, called "The Black Sox" since 2000.-Early life and school:...
.
Playing career
Nukunuku commenced paying senior level softball in 1985. From then until 1987 he was in Hawkes Bay and played for the Flaxmere and Taradale club. In 1987 he started playing for the Marist and Metro clubs in Auckland and also for the Mt Albert Ramblers. He also represented Auckland in national provincial championship winning teams. In 1989 Nukunuku was a member of New Zealand team which won the Under 19 championship Prince Edward Island, Canada. He played in the position of Second Base in the final against Canada.In 1990 , Nukunuku was selected to be a member of the New Zealand Black Sox. The highlights of Nukunuku's senior International Career were:
- 1990 - he was a member of the Black Sox team debut on the Canada Cup tour;
- 1992 - he was a member of the silver medal winning world series Black Sox team in Manila, Philippines where he played Second Base in the final against Canada;
- 1992 - he was a member of the silver medal winning world series Black Sox team in Manila, Philippines where he played Second Base in the final against Canada;
- 1996 - he was a member of the world champion Black Sox in Michigan, USA where he played Shortstop in the final against Canada;
- 2000 - he was a member of the world champion Black Sox in East London, South Africa where he played Second Base in the final against Japan;
- 2004 - he was a member of the world champion Black Sox in ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, where he played Second Base in final against Canada;
- 2005 - he was a member of the gold medal winning Black Sox team at the Pacific Cup Series in RotoruaRotoruaRotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, playing Second Base in the final against Japan.