Anzac squad a force to reckon with in softball

For the second year in a row, a combined ADF and New Zealand Defence Force team competed in the softball over-35 national championships.

Though they didn’t win any games in last month’s competition, the Anzac team pushed two of the top teams to a seven-inning game and a nine-inning tie-breaker.

The over-35s format, held at Blacktown International Sports Park, NSW, was introduced to the national program in 2022 to provide athletes the opportunity to continue their representative careers.

Outfielder and shortstop player Leading Aircraftman Christopher Ryan said the team’s goal was to score a run in every game.

“There was one game we didn't do that, but the rest of them we were pretty chuffed to get some runs on the board,” Leading Aircraftman Ryan said.

The squad trained together a couple of days before the tournament, but worked well together as a team.

Leading Aircraftman Ryan said a personal highlight was getting one of his friends out during a game against a Victorian team.

'They were able to work through some challenging games. They constantly just picked themselves up and kept going.'

“There is always banter between us. We just got back from a tournament, so I knew he was coming to this,” he said.

The New Zealand contingent provided key pitching talent, which helped the team remain competitive.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Michael Nutt said the inclusion of players from New Zealand was a great experience.

“It improved the team's competitiveness by adding more players and pitchers, and it also helped foster engagement between the two countries on and off the field,” WO2 Nutt said.

He said the teams they competed against had a number of players who had been on national teams.

Assistant coach Petty Officer Brooke Callaghan said the highlight was seeing the team work well together.

“From where we started to where we are now, it's been quite rewarding to see,” Petty Officer Callaghan said.

“They were able to work through some challenging games. They constantly just picked themselves up and kept going.”