Victoria to Host Major International Softball Selection Event - AU

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Received: 2/7/06 9:11:51 PM 
From:  "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> 
 
Subject:  Victoria to Host Major International Softball Selection
Event   
   

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Message

Media Release
8 February 2006

Victoria to Host Major International Softball Selection Event

 
The Waverley Softball Association in Victoria together with Softball
Australia will host one of the most prestigious selection events
for women’s softball in Australia, the Grand Prix Series.
 
>From 10-12 February 2006, the second round of the 2005/2006 Grand
Prix Series will see five state institutes and academies of sport
teams - the AIS, NSWIS Blues, QAS Heatwave, VIS Titans and Western
Arrow take to the diamond to demonstrate high-quality softball.
Also participating in this round will be the Australian Under
19 Women’s team and special guests, the Japan Under 19 Women’s
team. 
 
Players will be vying for selection in the Australian team which
will compete in the Olympic qualifying event, the International
Softball Federation’s Women’s World Championship in August this
year so their performances will be closely monitored by selectors.
Hallucinating 
 
The Australian Open Women’s team Head Coach, Fabian Barlow, said
that the selectors will be looking for consistency in performance
and players who have made improvements from their performances
in Grand Prix 1 which was held in Queensland in December. “It’s
important for senior players and emerging players to demonstrate
their fitness levels and how they react under the pressures of
the sport.”  
 
There will be over 70 of Australia’s current top softball players,
including Olympians Natalie Titcume (Vic), Natalie Ward (NSW)
and Stacey Porter (NSW) and Australian players Kate Quigley (Vic)
and Danni Hanna (Vic) competing on the diamond to show that they
have what it takes. 
 
“Every event leading up to the world championship is equally
important and the Grand Prix Series provides an avenue to expand
our identification of athletes and gives aspiring athletes a
chance to stake their claim on selection. It’s also a great opportunity
to see how the senior and more experienced players handle the
pressures,” said Mr Barlow.
 
The Japan Under 19 Women’s team will bring a different style
of play to the diamond. “Especially for the senior players, the
Japanese will bring a different level of game and will be very
beneficial for not only entering the World Championships, but
when Australia meet Japan in New South Wales in March. They are
very solid defensively and have quick contact runners and great
speed and it’s important that our players at this early stage
get a feel of the potential competition they will face.” Concluded
Mr Barlow.
 
The Audrey McLaughlin Cup is 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. 
 
The last round of the Grand Prix Series for this year will be
held at the New South Wales Softball Centre at Blacktown Olympic
Park from 14-17 April.
 
Following the Grand Prix Series, the Waverley Softball Association
will also host the Under 19 International Series which will feature
the Japan Under 19’s and the Australian Under 19’s in a three
match friendly from 13-14 February 2006 in preparation for the
2007 International Softball Federation Junior Women’s World Championship.

 
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
* Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Women’s team
* National Training Centre Head Coaches
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, TEAM LISTS, 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 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).
 
From:  "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)



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