Teams do battle for finals draw - Women - AU

[Al Doran]

Subject: Teams do battle for finals draw
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 12:03:49 +1100
From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au>



Media Release
6 January 2006

Teams do battle for finals draw

The pressure heats up on the diamond today with the top four teams doing 
battle for tomorrow's finals draw. Queensland goes into today's final as 
favourites, defeating reigning champions, New South Wales throughout the 
tournament (5-4 and 3-0). The winner of today's match secures an automatic 
place in tomorrow's grand final. Both teams have dominated the tournament 
with Queensland losing one match to South Australia and New South Wales 
with two losses, both against Queensland.

Queensland has a stronger pitching depth with Olympians Tanya Harding 
(1996, 2000 & 2004), Kellie Hardie (2000) and Brooke Wilkins (1996, 2000 & 
2004) leading the charge, although with Kelly Gentle and Tatiana Holodnow, 
New South Wales will provide strong competition for Queensland's batting 
line-up. Both teams boast strong batting line-ups, each with players who 
have represented Australia.

The game is scheduled for 12.00pm today.

ACT finished third on the ladder, by beating Victoria 2-1 in the first 
match of the double round robin tournament. Both teams finished with 4 wins 
and 6 losses. Victoria avenged their earlier defeat by beating ACT 6-5 on 
the second last day of round robin play.

ACT have a good mix of youth and experience in their batting line-up with 
former Australian representative Sally McCreedy, complimenting young 
up-coming players, but lack depth in pitching. Victoria have struggled with 
the bat throughout the tournament against the top teams, but have the 
ability to hold teams to a low score with Australian representative Justine 
Smethurst leading the charge on the pitching plate with Ilsa Wakeling, 
Hayley Punter and Megan Farrell providing support.

They go head-to-head at 5.00pm today in the elimination final with the 
winner to play the loser of the Queensland v New South Wales match.

At 2.30pm, Western Australia and South Australia meet for the positional 
match of fifth spot.

All of today's games will be played on Diamond 1 at the State 
Baseball/Softball Centre, Altona, Victoria.

For results and play-by-play match reports, log onto http://www.softball.org.au



FOR INFORMATION/INTERVIEWS
____________________________________
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

  From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)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).


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