On the eve of their first game at the ISF IX Junior Women’s World Championships, the Aussie Pride team is ready to start their campaign to win the first gold medal for Australia. Their goal is to be playing on the last day of competition, needing to beat seven nations along the way to achieve this outcome.
Australia has medalled at two previous Junior Women’s World Championships: a bronze medal in 2007 (Netherlands) and 2003 (China). Australia first medalled in this competition in 1995 in Normal, Illinois. However, the Aussie Pride want to make their own history and with the character and determination within this team, Head Coach Paula McGovern believes this is possible.
Paula is excited about the challenge ahead and is full of confidence. “The key was the team believing that they are going to do well, have a lot of talent they just need to be in the right frame of mind”.
Aussie Pride has five players in the team who have international experience and McGovern believes this is critical to the team performing well on the international stage. Captain, Georgia Casey (University of Oklahoma), Megan Horne (Florida International University), Ellen Roberts (University of Memphis), Stacey Webber (Tallahassee Community College) all play in the strong US college system and Lana Tye (BSC Legnano) has played in the tough Italian Softball League for the past two years. McGovern will be looking to these players to lead the way for their teammates to control their emotions and play the game regardless of the situation.
The Pride arrived in Capetown after a travel time of over 20 hours from Australia. The team got straight into familiarising themselves with Capetown which will be their home for more than two weeks. Team officials believe it is as much about the cultural experience as it is about the softball by taking in the local attractions. However the Pride girls have never taken their attention off softball, training and playing with intensity. In the lead up to tonight’s match against Russia, the Pride girls have played three practice matches against USA (7-1 loss), South Africa (12-3 win) and Canada (2-1 win). All players have made good contributions in the practice matches, in particular Jessie Meyer, Georgia Casey and Aimee Palmer. Commenting on the match against South Africa, McGovern said “It was great to play the host nation. They challenged us early but we were pleased with how the Pride reacted, kept their heads and executed the plays we needed”. Aimee Palmer only made her debut for New South Wales at an Australian Championship in January 2011 and is now playing for the Aussie Pride after being added to the team in October. She is an example of what McGovern and her coaching staff are looking for in all 17 players during the tournament.
There are so many sacrifices that have been made by the staff and players to be ready for the first pitch tonight. Stories of success and strength have been present and have made this group a strong unit. McGovern is one person who has had to have the strength to get through challenges to take her position in the coach’s box tonight. She leads by example for her young Aussie players and shows them that no matter what is presented before them, you have to keep your head up and look forward. Six months ago she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery and a long rehabilitation process to ensure she was in full health to be able to prepare the team for the World Championships. There was never a moment that McGovern didn’t think that it would be possible to take her spot at the helm of the team, however she could not have done it without the support of the team management around her. Only a few hours away from the first pitch of their campaign, McGovern and the
Aussie Pride team are focussed and ready to put aside the challenges of the past and play together as a team who pride themselves on teamwork, fun and passion.
The Turfhall Softball Stadium, in Belthorn Estate, Athlone, was originally planned as part of Cape Town’s 2004 Olympic bid programme. The 2400- seater stadium has contributed to the upliftment and benefit of the community at large. A part of the Table Mountain chain provides a backdrop to the stadium, housed within the Turfhall Sports Complex. The project was completed in 1999 and became the new home of the Western Province Softball Federation.
Sportz Of All Sortz.com wishes the Aussie Pride all the very best of luck in their quest to become World Champions!!!!!!
We are especially proud of Jess Bahn & Marina Walker from the Glen Eira Moorabbin Softball Association in Melbourne who we have a great connection with. Go Girls!!
See our previous article on Jess & Marina here
Check out all our softball goodies on our softball page
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