Mark Sorenson is a legendary figure in international softball and one of New Zealand’s most celebrated sports leaders.
Best known for his extraordinary career with the Black Sox, Mark captained the national men’s team from 1989 to 2001, guiding them to World Championship victories in 1996 and 2000. He returned in 2004 to help secure an unprecedented third consecutive title, cementing the Black Sox’s reputation as one of the most successful teams in global sport.
Across an 18-year playing career, Mark represented New Zealand in over 300 games, achieving a lifetime ISF batting average of .405 and hitting 15 home runs in World Championship play. His dominance on the diamond earned him 12 selections to the International Softball Congress ‘All World Team’—a world record—and six consecutive appearances in the ‘All American Team’ at the USA Nationals, where he was twice named Most Valuable Player.
Mark’s accolades include being named Wellington Sportsman of the Year three times, New Zealand Softball Player of the Year three times, and receiving a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He was inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame in 2009, and the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame—making him only the second Kiwi to achieve both global honours. In recognition of his impact, he was ranked No. 51 in NZ’s 100 Top History Makers in Sport.
Transitioning from elite sport to leadership, Mark coached the Black Sox for a decade, leading them to World Championship gold in 2017 and silver in 2015. His coaching success earned him the title of World Coach of the Year from the World Baseball Softball Council.
Beyond the diamond, Mark has held senior roles in sales, human resources, and project management, and owned and operated Kelly Sports and Kelly Club for over eight years. Today, he works as a leadership consultant, supporting organisations with culture, capability, and people-focused strategies. He also serves as a National Ambassador for Special Olympics NZ, championing inclusive sport and community engagement.
Mark’s journey—spanning elite performance, business ownership, and leadership consulting—offers powerful insights into resilience, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence.
Mark had obviously studied the brief and tuned his presentation to our theme accordingly. Because of his down to earth presence and presentation, it made the audience more comfortable with a ... keep reading Foodstuffs (South Island) Ltd
[We] needed to provide inspiration on how much more effective we can be as a team - he did this well. A perfect balance between friendly, professional, personal and inspirational.
Without a doubt Mark was one of the most interesting and entertaining speakers we have ever had at our Club. To hear first hand how the New Zealand team planned and executed the defence of their World Title had the audience enthralled. In short, they did it the hard way and their discipline and dedication is an example that all our national teams should follow.
