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| NICE GLOVE WORK: AB
Lousia Seyde readies herself for action during the national
team’s tour of New Zealand. |
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CPOPT Donna Edge had a ball with the bat and played a key role in the
ADSA’s recent (December 1-11) successful women’s tour of New
Zealand.
You might even say that the physical trainer from HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin
provided the “winning Edge” as the ADSA women retained the Trans
Tasman Trophy and won six of their seven tour matches.
“I was in pretty good form and had a blinder,” CPOPT Edge admitted
of her tour.
“I batted in 10 runners and hit four home runs.
“They awarded me a trophy, a certificate and several practical mementos
of the achievement.”
Normally a leftfield or centrefield player, CPOPT Edge is originally from
Kalgoorlie and Wagga Wagga and played softball there, continuing a family
association with the sport.
“I’ve played all my life and I’m now with Souths in the
Darwin competition,” she said.
“I’ve played Defence softball since 1995, having been to New
Zealand before and played at several Arafura Games.”
It was pleasing to see an influx of new players on the most recent New
Zealand tour and this would stand the ADSA in good stead for the future,”
CPOPT Edge said.
The women made it through to their grand final only to lose 5-3 to the
more fancied NZ Army team.
“The game was fought right to the end but overall the Army team was
too strong for the ADF women’s side,” ADSA’s women’s
coach SGT Virginia Morris (Robertson Barracks) said.
The story was a little different when it came to the Trans Tasman Trophy
match, won by the ADF 5-4.
“The competition between the two is always competitive and this year
was no different,” SGT Morris said.
“The game was close throughout and the ADF women had an advantage
over their rivals because they had played well together all week.”
The ADSA women retained the trophy which they have lost only once to the
NZDF women since its inception.
The ADSA men’s team found it tough going and failed to win a match
but Navy’s PO Adrian Trevis, an outfielder still developing his skills,
had learnt a great deal on tour, according to coach SQNLDR Trevor Murphy
(RAAF Williams).
The men and women played at RNZAF Base Ohakea in a five-team round-robin
series which included the New Zealand Fire Service for the first time,
with the New Zealand Air Force men winning their section.
The ADSA men showed great spirit in the poor weather in the Test match
against NZDF but lost 13-0.
SQNLDR Murphy said that the experience gained from the New Zealand tour
would help build a foundation for the future, with the NZ Army team expected
here in November.
“We are now in a development phase again, so the tour gave the guys
exposure at a higher level and helped them understand what is required
to be more competitive at that higher level,” SQNLDR Murphy said.
“NZ Air Force has a couple of guys who have represented NZ, so that
gives them a bit of an edge.
“They always are strong in pitching and that’s one area where
we rely on one or two and don’t quite have the depth. We need to
develop that further.
“Until recently, we competed in the Arafura Games but unfortunately
softball has been withdrawn from those games and is under review leading
up to 2009.
“So the opportunities are now fewer for developing players within
Defence. We are relying on individuals to engage in external competitions
to improve their skills.”
Apart from PO Trevis, SQNLDR Murphy said that pitcher and infield utility
player SGT Aaron Dries (Army) had displayed great leadership qualities
and Air Force’s SGT Josh Page had proved the team’s quiet achiever
by being one of its most consistent.
The Australian Defence Softball Association’s
annual championships will be held in Sydney in November. Anyone interested
in playing softball should contact SGT Virginia Morris, secretary ADSA,
at: Virginia.Morris@defence.gov.au.
Scoreboard
Results from the Australian Defence Softball Association tour of New Zealand:
Women: ADF b NZ Army 5-4, ADF b RNZAF 8-5, ADF b RNZN 9-0, ADF
b NZFIRE 10-5; semi-final, ADF b NZFIRE 9-5, grand final, NZ Army b ADF
5-3. Trans Tasman Trophy, ADF 5 b NZDF 4.
Men: RNZAF b ADF 14-3, NZ Army b ADF 10-1, RNZN b ADF 15-2, NZFIRE
b ADF 7-2. Trans Tasman Trophy, NDF 13 b ADF 0.
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