Received: 2/7/06 9:16:15 PM From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> Subject: Victoria to Host Major International Softball Selection Event
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 womens 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 Womens team and special guests, the Japan Under 19 Womens team. Players will be vying for selection in the Australian team which will compete in the Olympic qualifying event, the International Softball Federations Womens World Championship in August this year so their performances will be closely monitored by selectors. The Australian Open Womens 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. Its 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 Australias 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. Its also a great opportunity to see how the senior and more experienced players handle the pressures, said Mr Barlow. The Japan Under 19 Womens 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 its 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 Australias 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 19s and the Australian Under 19s in a three match friendly from 13-14 February 2006 in preparation for the 2007 International Softball Federation Junior Womens World Championship. AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW * Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Womens 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)softball.org.au> Als Fastball List * Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com Website: http://www.alsfastball.com/ http://www.ISCfastball.com/ NEWS:http://www.fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball http://www.pmihrm.com via: http://www.webbox.com
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