China wins first game of the Sydney Series - AU women

Fri Apr 20 11:07:52 EDT 2007

Received: 4/20/07 8:32:03 AM 
From:  "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> 

Subject:  China wins first game of the Sydney Series  

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Media Release

20 April 2007

China wins first game of the Sydney Series

The Chinese National Team got off to a strong start defeating
Australia 6-4 in the first game of the China Australia Challenge
at Blacktown Olympic Park tonight.

China scored two of their top batters in the first innings with
Australia closing the gap with Sandra Allen (Qld) hitting a double
scoring team mate Kerry Wyborn (NSW). 

Zara Mee (NSW) started on the mound and with Australia’s defence,
China were unable to score their runners in the second innings.

Jodie Bowering (Qld) got on base and was soon followed by youngster
Chelsea Forkin (WA), who both made their debuts for Australia
in the Brisbane series. 

Experienced Australian player, Wyborn hit a double off of a 102km
p/h pitch by China’s Wang Lan and scored both Bowering and Forkin
to take the lead 3-2 for the first time in the game. 

In the top of the third innings, China replied strongly with
the bat with Xin Min Hong scoring Yu Yan Hong to level the scores.

Australia’s catcher, Tracey Mosley put her body on the line and
stopped Xin Min Hong who tried to pinch home, but that wasn’t
enough to stop China who scored another runner to regain the
lead, 4-3. 

Head Coach, Fabian Barlow relieved Mee and brought Queenslander,
Jocelyn McCallum to the mound. McCallum held the Chinese batters
to end the dig. 

Australia had their chances in the bottom of the third innings,
with runners on base, but was unable to bring them home. 

China hit away again in the top of the fourth with the help of
their top of the order batter, Guo Jia and Yu Yan Hong who moved
their team mates around the bases, scoring two runs and increased
their lead to three runs, 6-3. 

Belinda Wright (NSW) started Australia off in the bottom of the
sixth innings finding the gap between China’s infield to make
it safe to first base. 

Wyborn stepped up to the plate for the fourth time tonight and
hit a ground ball to end her game with a .750 batting average.

A wild pitch to Kate Quigley (Vic) helped Wright and Wyborn move
around the bases. Quigley was caught at third base which saw
Allen to the batters box. 

The Chinese pitcher, Li Qi walked Allen and then Mosley, which
saw Wright score Australia fourth run. 

With runners still on base, Australia was unable to bring their
team mates home to end the dig 6-4.  

Although Australia lost the game, Barlow was confident and praised
his team saying that “it was a good overall performance getting
12 hits away, however we lacked a little timing to score players
when we had the opportunity.” 

Bowering ended the game with an on base average of 1.000 followed
by Allen who had a batting average of ..667. 

Australia will play China in a double-header tomorrow night at
5.00 and 7.30pm at Blacktown Olympic Park. 

MORE 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 three - 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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