Queensland to Host First Major International Softball Selection Event

[Al Doran]

Subject: Queensland to Host First Major International Softball Selection Event
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:41:16 +1100
From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au>
Thread-Topic: Queensland to Host First Major International Softball 
Selection Event


MEDIA RELEASE

Queensland to Host First Major International Softball Selection Event
29 November 2005

The Queensland Softball Association in conjunction with Softball Australia 
and the support of the Australian Institute of Sport will host this year's 
first major World Championship selection event, the Grand Prix Series, in 
Brisbane from 2-4 December 2005.

The Softball Australia Grand Prix Series features five state institutes and 
academies of sport teams - the AIS, NSWIS Blues, QAS Heatwave, VIS Titans 
and Western Arrow.

Over 70 of Australia's current top softball players, including Olympians 
Natalie Ward (NSW), Natalie Titcume (VIC), Tanya Harding (Qld) and Stacey 
Porter (NSW), will be competing on the diamond to showcase their skills to 
selectors.

"This is one of the major events that athletes have to showcase their 
skills in front of the national selectors. For many of them, this 
opportunity will strengthen their claims after some solid performances on 
tour earlier this year. The selectors are hopeful that some young emerging 
players will put up their hands and show that they can handle the pressure 
of elite level softball, which will increase the player base that selectors 
have to choose from," said Fabian Barlow, Head Coach of the Australian Open 
Women's team.

This year is a world championship year for the Open Women's and Australia's 
best female softballers from around the country will be vying for a 
position in the 17 player squad who will represent Australia at the world 
championships in Beijing in August.

The Grand Prix Series combined with the Australian Open Women's Fastpitch 
Championship, which will be held from 1-7 January at Altona in Victoria, is 
the beginning of the domestic elite competition and is aimed at providing 
international selection and development opportunities for elite level 
female softball players.

"The Australian Open Women's team, Aussie Spirit, is currently ranked 
second in the world so players will need to perform at their best to secure 
a spot in the squad. It will be extremely competitive and will demonstrate 
softball at the highest skill level in Australia," concluded Mr Barlow.

The overall winning team of the series takes home the Audrey McLaughlin 
Cup, named after one of Softball Australia's greats, Audrey McLaughlin AM, 
who will be doing the honours of the 'first pitch' prior to the Grand Final 
on Sunday.

With the first event scheduled for Downey Park, Brisbane, the second and 
third rounds will be held at Waverley, Victoria (10-12 February) and the 
New South Wales Softball Centre at Blacktown Olympic Park (14-17 April).

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
* Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Women's team

____________________________________
DiAnne Lilburn
National Communications Coordinator
Softball Australia
Suite 4, Ground Floor
38-40 Prospect Street
Box Hill, Victoria 3128

T: +61 3 9890 8200
F: +61 3 9890 8295
M: +61 (0) 405 509 674

For more information visit <http://www.softball.org.au/>www.softball.org.au

_____________________________________________________________________________
Did you know that Australia is the world's number one softball nation?
World number two - Open Women's team (Aussie Spirit), Silver Medallist 
(Athens, 2004), Bronze Medallists (Sydney 2000 and Atlanta 1996).
World number one - Under 19 Men's team (Aussie Colts), three consecutive 
World Championship titles.
World number three - Open Men's team (Aussie Steelers) and Under 19 Women's 
team (Aussie Pride).


  Als Fastball List
*Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com
    fastball at pmihrm.com
http://www.AlsFastball.com/
NEWS: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball
    eScribe is down, but may be back soon escribe.com

Our New Condo: http://www.rpt.ca/hunt/ for Sale or Rent