Queensland’s pitcher fires down another fast ball to his NSW opponent in the ADF national softball titles. Photo by Bill Cunneen

Queenslanders rule

By Michael Weaver
The Queensland men’s and women’s softball sides all but walked away with the combined service national titles from November 18-22 at RAAF Richmond.

Men’s and women’s teams from NSW, plus an ACT men’s team joined the Queenslanders in competition that finished with ADF men’s and women’s sides taking on a visiting Royal New Zealand Air Force team to round off the event.

However, during the combined service action the QLD men won a fairly one-sided grand final against NSW, 17-7.

NSW started well but the greater experience of the QLD side shone through, especially with superior pitching and batting.

The women’s final also saw a comprehensive 21-7 win to QLD, with ADF women’s team pitcher Vicki Scott dominating for QLD.

In the trans-Tasman challenge between the ADF and New Zealand Air Force, the results went each way, with the ADF women winning 13-5 and the New Zealand men winning 11-1.

Assistant coach of the ADF men’s and women’s sides, Sub-Leut John Mitchell said the challenge against New Zealand will become a bi-annual fixture, with the ADF returning the favour and travelling to New Zealand in 2004.

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