<html><div style='background-color:'><SPAN class=EUDORAHEADER>Subject: Aussie Steelers set for Commonwealth Championship <BR></SPAN><SPAN class=EUDORAHEADER>Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:56:40 +1100 </SPAN><SPAN class=EUDORAHEADER><BR></SPAN><SPAN class=EUDORAHEADER>From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> <BR></SPAN><SPAN class=EUDORAHEADER><BR></SPAN><BR>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=665202200-25012006><STRONG>Media Release</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=665202200-25012006>25 January 2006</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=665202200-25012006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=665202200-25012006><STRONG>Aussie Steelers set for Commonwealth Championship</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><A name=OLE_LINK1><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The Australian Open Men’s softball team, Aussie Steelers, will face some of their toughest challenges during the Men’s Commonwealth Championship which takes place today. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Coming off a bronze medal win at the last World Series, the Aussie Steelers are taking a strong side with a mixture of experience and youth to compete against </SPAN></SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">New Zealand</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, </SPAN></SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Samoa</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> and </SPAN></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark:
OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">South Africa</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>“One of our major strengths is the diversity in our team. We have athletes that have been in the team for 12 or so years and juniors who are coming through the ranks after demonstrating their capabilities winning gold at last year’s Junior Men’s World Softball Championship,” said Mike Titheradge, Australian Open Men’s Team Manager. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Over the last five years, Softball </SPAN></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Australia</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> has redeveloped the men’s program which has seen a significant increase in </SPAN></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Australia</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">’s performance in the international arena. With the success of our junior program and the influx of younger players coming into the program, athletes such as Andrew
Kirkpatrick (ACT), Jeff Goolagong (ACT) and Kris Kiefel (VIC) have been achieving great results on the world stage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The squad of 20 who were selected during a national training camp in December 2005, have been undertaking an intense strength and conditioning program which will given them a significant advantage from previous competitions. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The championship, which runs from 25-29 January at Altona in Victoria, will see the world<SPAN class=665202200-25012006>'</SPAN>s best, the New Zealand Black Sox, Samoa, South Africa and Australia ranked third<SPAN class=665202200-25012006>. Spectators can look forward to seeing some of the </SPAN>hardest hitting<SPAN class=665202200-25012006> and the </SPAN>fastest pitching <SPAN class=665202200-25012006>(</SPAN><SPAN class=665202200-25012006>over 120kms) </SPAN>Australia has seen for years<SPAN class=665202200-25012006>. </SPAN> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“Although </SPAN></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">New Zealand</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> have been the ranked one in the world for many years, we are very mindful of the strengths of </SPAN></SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Samoa</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> and also </SPAN></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">South Africa</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark:
OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> going into the championship.” concluded Mr Titheradge.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"></SPAN><FONT size=2><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Australia</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> is set to take on </SPAN></SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Samoa</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> tonight at </SPAN></SPAN><st1:time Hour="20" Minute="0"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">8pm</SPAN></SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> (AEST). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Results and play-by-play reports will be emailed out after each Australian match and will also be available on the Softball Australia website </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><A href="http://www.softball.org.au/"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">www.softball.org.au</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"></SPAN></FONT></A><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Mike Titheradge – Australian Open Men’s Team Manager<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Susan Crow – Chief Executive Officer, Softball </SPAN></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Australia</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>____________________________________</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>DiAnne Lilburn</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>National Communications Coordinator</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT color=#008000><STRONG><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>Softball <FONT color=#dec429>Australia</FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Suite 4, Ground Floor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>38-40 Prospect Street</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Box Hill, Victoria 3128</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>T: +61 3 9890 8200</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>F: +61 3 9890 8295</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>M: +61 (0) 405 509 674</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#008000 size=2><STRONG>For more information visit </STRONG></FONT><A href="http://www.softball.org.au/"><FONT face=Arial color=#d6af3a size=2><STRONG>www.softball.org.au</STRONG></FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">_____________________________________________________________________________<BR></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4>Did you know that </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4>Australia is the world's number one softball nation?</FONT> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <BR></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">World number two</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> - Open Women's team (Aussie Spirit), Silver Medallist (Athens, 2004), Bronze Medallists (Sydney 2000 and Atlanta 1996). <BR></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">World number one</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> - Under 19 Men's team (Aussie Colts), three consecutive World Championship titles. <BR></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">World number three</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> - Open Men's team (Aussie Steelers) and Under 19 Women's team (Aussie Pride).</SPAN></SPAN></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV><SPAN class=EUDORAHEADER>From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> </SPAN><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV>Al Doran <BR>PLEASE REPLY TO: Fastball(at)<BR><ALDORAN@PMIHRM.COM>pmihrm.com<BR><A href="http://www.alsfastball.com">http://www.alsfastball.com</A></DIV>
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