Australian Open Women's team selected for World Championship

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Received: 4/26/06 2:03:40 AM 
From:  "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> 
Subject:  Australian Open Women's team selected for World Championship
 
   

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Message

Media Release
Wednesday 26 April 2006
 
 
 
Australian Open Women's team selected for World Championship
 
The Australian Open Women's team has been selected for the XI
ISF Women's World Championship to be held later this year at
the Fengtai Sports Centre in Beijing, China, from 27 August to
5 September.
The championship will also act as an Olympic qualifying event,
with softball to be played at the same venue in 2008.

Head Coach Fabian Barlow said the 17-member team is a mixture
of experience and youth and is confident that it is the right
mix for success.

"We are confident with the dynamics of the squad we have chosen
and feel it is the right mix to do Australia proud at the Worlds,"
said Mr Barlow.

12 of the 17 players selected in the team have previous experience
at World Championships and Olympic Games, boasting 22 World Championship
campaigns and 20 Olympic Games campaigns between them, with three
players - Tanya Harding, Melanie Roche and Natalie Ward - having
played at three World Championships and three Olympic Games.

For five players - Kylie Cronk, Kelly Gentle, Kate Quigley, Danielle
Stewart and Belinda Wright - it will be their first opportunity
to play at a major championship.

"There wasn't a set criteria, which allowed the younger players
to rise to the challenge for selection. Australia has many quality
players and, although selection was tough, a lot of the girls
excelled themselves to prove they have what it takes to play
at the elite level," said Barlow.

The team will now go into an induction camp at the AIS Unit in
Brisbane from 6-9 May to begin their preparations for the Worlds.
Following this their preparations will include competing at the
Canada Cup (1-9 July, Vancouver) and US Cup (13-17 July, Oklahoma)
along with a further four training camps.

"The team will be preparing for the mental challenge of what
lies ahead over the next few months before we head to the Worlds.
We have the right combination and skills to win the gold, but
it depends on how we perform on the day," concluded Barlow.

The team is as follows:

Sandra Allen               (QLD)     2 World Championships, 2
Olympic Games
Marissa Carpadios       (QLD)     1 World Championship, 1 Olympic
Games
Kylie Cronk                 (QLD)     1st Major International
Championship
Amanda Doman           (QLD)     1 Olympic Games
Kelly Gentle                (NSW)    1st Major International
Championship
Kelly Hardie                (QLD)      2 World Championships,
1 Olympic Games
Tanya Harding             (QLD)      3 World Championships, 3
Olympic Games
Danica Howlett            (NSW)     1 World Championship
Simmone Morrow         (NSW)    2 World Championships, 2 Olympic
Games
Tracey Mosley             (QLD)     2 World Championships, 1
Olympic Games
Stacey Porter              (NSW)    1 Olympic Games
Kate Quigley               (VIC)       1st Major International
Championship
Melanie Roche            (NSW)     3 World Championships, 3 Olympic
Games
Danielle Stewart          (QLD)      1st Major International
Championship
Natalie Titcume           (VIC)        1 World Championship,
2 Olympic Games
Natalie Ward               (NSW)     3 World Championships, 3
Olympic Games
Belinda Wright            (NSW)      1st Major International
Championship

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Women's team.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

____________________________________
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).
 

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