Aussies off to cement place in 2008 Olympics

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 8/15/06 8:33:22 PM 
From:  "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> 

   
Subject:  Aussies off to cement place in 2008 Olympics  
    

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Media Release

16 August 2006

 

Aussies off to cement place in 2008 Olympics

 

The Australian Women’s softball team, Aussie Spirit,will set
off at the end of August to take on the world in the InternationalSoftball
Federation’s (ISF) IX Women’s World Championship in Beijing,
China. 

 

Australia is one ofsixteen countries that have qualified for
the ISF Women’s WorldChampionship which will take place from
27 August to 5 September 2006 with allteams looking to qualify
for the 2008 Olympic Games.

 

“Australia has the talent and experience to do well atthe Worlds,
but have to front up at the ballpark everyday with a tough mentalattitude
of winning at all costs amongst some strong competition,” said
Fabian Barlow, Head Coach. 

 

The top four finishers, or top five if 2008 host China comesin
anywhere from first to fourth place, will secure a berth in the
OlympicGames that will take place two years from now.  

 

The sixteen teams will be divided into two groups with Australia
in Pool Btaking on Japan, ChineseTaipei, Greece, Venezuela, Netherlands,
Botswana and Colombia. 

 

”You can’t make the top four unless you qualifyfor the play-offs
and that’s our first goal. We open the event with Greece andthat’s
all we are concerned about right now, getting the two points
offthem and then advancing,” said Barlow.  

 

The event will be the debut of the venue that has been builtfor
the 2008 Olympic Softball competition and will also be serving
as thesport’s Olympic Test Event.

 

The team goes into a four day training camp in Brisbane on 20August,
their final camp before they depart for Beijing on 24August.


 

The world championship team includes Sandra Allen (Qld), Marissa
Carpadios (Qld), Kylie Cronk (Qld), Amanda Doman (Qld), Kelly
Gentle (NSW), Kelly Hardie (Qld), Tanya Harding (co-captain)
(Qld), Danica Howlett (NSW), Simmone Morrow (NSW), Tracey Mosley
(Qld), Stacey Porter (NSW), Kate Quigley (Vic), Melanie Roche
(NSW), Danielle Stewart (Qld), Natalie Titcume (Vic), Natalie
Ward (co-captain) (NSW) and Belinda Wright.  

 

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

 

Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Women’s softball team.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

____________________________________

DiAnne Lilburn

National Communications Coordinator

SoftballAustralia

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

 

Formore information visit www.softball.org.au

 

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