Received: 4/12/06 7:54:40 PM From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au> Subject: Last Chance for Aussie Softballers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Message Media Release Thursday 13 April 2006 Last Chance for Aussie Softballers Blacktown Olympic Park in New South Wales will be a buzz next week with the high speeds of pitches, the slogging of balls and the sliding for home bases as Australias best take to the diamond. The last round, round three of the 2005/2006 Grand Prix Series, will take place from 14-17 April and will showcase Australias best softballers from the five state institutes and academies of sport (NSWIS, AIS, WAIS, VIS and QAS). Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Womens team said that so far, we have been really pleased with the quality shown at the first two rounds of the Grand Prix Series and we are looking forward to players showing consistency and strong performances in round three. The last two series has seen tough competition between teams as they vie for a spot in the Australian team. NSWIS Blue took out the first round defeating Western Arrow 13-9 and round two saw QAS Heatwave beat the VIS Titans 11-4. So the challenge is on to see who can take home the Audrey McLaughlin Cup! Following the Grand Prix Series, an Aussie Spirit team has been selected to take on Chinese Taipei from 18-20 April 2006. The International Series will display top level softball as both teams begin to prepare for the International Softball Federations Womens World Championship which will be held in Beijing in August 2006. One of our major focuses for this international series is to see where we are sitting in terms of the international competition and what further developments are needed as we approach the Worlds, said Barlow. The World Championship will be Australias chance to qualify for participation at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. There is a strong history between the two sides with Chinese Taipei forcing Australia to go through a second qualifying series after they defeated Australia during the 2002 play-offs. Chinese Taipei has a strong team and the series will give us an opportunity to see what level they are playing at and what improvements we need to make in time for the Worlds, said Barlow. The International Series and Grand Prix Series will feature Australias top players and will be the last chance for players to make an impression on the selectors for possible inclusion in the Australian team for the ISF Womens World Championship. AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW Fabian Barlow, Head Coach, Australian Open Womens team. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, TEAM LISTS, DRAWS ___________________________________ 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). Als Fastball List *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball Visit our New Web Site! http://www.pmihrm.com VIA http://www.webbox.com
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