New Zealand performs traditional Haka dance before World Baseball Classic Qualifier game

Baseball players have a bit of a reputation for being a superstitious bunch: Some eat the same pregame meal every day, some go through the same motions every time they step into the batter's box and some won't change their socks during a hit streak. Gross? Sure, but not as gross as jeopardizing that streak by inviting bad juju into the clubhouse by rocking some fresh socks.
But the pregame rituals the players typically act out are individual performances: It's not too often you see a baseball team have a Drew Brees yelling in the tunnel moment or do a "we just made March Madness" dance. Then again, most baseball teams aren't from New Zealand.

On Thursday, Team New Zealand performed the "Haka," a traditional war dance, before taking on South Africa in a 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifier game. Unfortunately for New Zealand, though, the dance must not have done what it was supposed to do, because it fell to South Africa, 7-1.