(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos courtesy of Softball Australia)
 Australian Softball Championship hampered by heavy rain
Nederlands
 BLACKTOWN, Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) -
The 69th edition of the Women's Softball Fastpitch Australian National Championship Tournament went underway on Sunday (January 3) at Blacktown International Sportspark in Blacktown.
But so far only three games have been played, as the event is hampered by heavy rain since Sunday-afternoon, resulting in numerous cancellations.
Besides the Open Women's Championship, the tournament for the U17 Women's Softball Australian Championship is also played at the complex.
Of course, the games in that tournament were also cancelled.
The tournament organization has even investigated relocation to another venue, but that was not possible.
The seven-day tournament went underway as scheduled on Sunday-morning.
Queensland Heat then registered a 5-0 shutout-win against Western Australia Flames.
In the next game of the day, Queensland won 4-1 vs. South Australia Starz.
But this game was halted after five complete innings due to rain.
As five innings were played, this game was valid.
As the same time, Victoria Titans came from behind to win 2-1 vs. Australian Capital Territory Diamonds.
This game was halted by rain with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, moments after Victoria had taken the lead, making it an official game and win for the Titans.
The remaining three games on Sunday all were cancelled.
As predicted, there was heavy rain on Monday and more rain on Tuesday.
A new schedule was created several times, but all games had to be scrubbed on both Monday and Tuesday.
It is now hoped that the event can resume again on Wednesday-morning.
In the original schedule, the final is scheduled for next Saturday.
Participating in the event are two Dutch players, Britt Vonk and Saskia Kosterink.
Britt Vonk had a good outing, playing for Queensland Heat.
In the two games she played on Sunday, she collected four basehits, including a triple and an inside-the-park-homerun, scored four runs and batted in two.
Saskia Kosterink played in one game so far for Western Australia Flames.
Recaps of first games on Sunday
Six teams participate in the National Championship Tournament, being the representing teams from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
The winner of the tournament wins the Gilley's Shield, the trophy for the Open Women's Australian National Championship.
The trophy is named after Mack Gilley, who was the President of the Queensland Softball Association, who organised the first interstate championship competition in 1947.
The annual event is organized in the holiday break (December/January) of the regular local seasons.
(January 5)
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...The fields at the Blacktown International Sportspark have become unplayable due to heavy rain...
(© Photos courtesy of Softball Australia) |
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