The Counties Colts baseball team have confirmed their roster for the United Airlines National Championships to be held at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland starting tomorrow.

Headlining the roster is Auckland Tuatara utility Kris Richards, who was selected in the recent player draft, and former Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer Randy Yard.

Yard has been instrumental in setting the club up and turning it into the force it is today over the past eight or nine years since moving out to New Zealand while Richards has been a solid achiever for the Tuatara in their first two seasons competing in the Australian Baseball League.

Both men are two-way players, meaning they can pitch as well as contribute offensively.

New Zealand age group representative Taylor Irwin looms as another key player for the Counties side. The young right-hander is tipped to have a professional career in front of him.

The experienced Mark Irwin will manage the side.

The Counties side opens their campaign at 9am on Thursday with a match against Central City.

Counties Colts: Randy Yard, Taylor Irwin, Dominic Elliott, Tairea Thompson, Matthew Gavin, Connor Burns, Ethan Copeland, Jamie Box, Dylan Stark, Sharysse Kjestrup-Caudwell, Jackson Taurarii, Kris Richards, Nathan Ireton, Rikihana Love, Hunter Barlow, Aaron Sklenars.