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Post by wearnie52 on Jul 19, 2012 22:03:45 GMT 10
We are now only 22 days away from the first game of this year's Women's World Cup Tournament, being held in Edmonton, Canada from August 10th - August 19th. The team will depart Sydney on Friday 3rd August for a week of preparation before the Tournament begins. During the trip to Canada, i will be updating the forum with how the team is going, including a run down of our pre-tourney games that will be played against Venezuela and USA. For those of you who are interested in keeping informed with stats, game results, etc, you can go to the following link. www.teamaustralia.baseball.com.au/Any questions regarding the team or the tournament, feel free to post here. The girls have been training really hard in the lead up to this tournament. In fact, most of the girls in the team have been in preparations for 2 years. It's a huge committment, especially when they pay for their right to play for Australia. I know they will all do their clubs, states and country proud. |
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dRoy
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Post by dRoy on Jul 19, 2012 22:29:21 GMT 10
You have to pay your own airfares and expenses yeah? not govt funded I hear. Pretty poor from the govt. should find some money somewhere. Seeing they spent a gazzillion dollars on Myki. Haha. Anyway. I am waiting with great interest! Hope you guys can dominate again at a WC. I'll follow closely on twitter also.
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Post by larry42 on Jul 20, 2012 10:25:31 GMT 10
Wig - great to see such good young arms in the rotation. On paper the pitching looks strong with plenty of girls in the position to be the ace. How is young Lenard coming along, she's what 15?
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Post by farnt on Jul 20, 2012 13:11:17 GMT 10
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Post by wearnie52 on Jul 20, 2012 13:54:59 GMT 10
Larry, this is by far the best pitching rotation that the Australian team has taken away. Some strong, fit, hard throwing pitchers who have some great off-speed weapons too. And even better, they're a really young group.
Maddi Lennard has come a long way over the past 12 months. She changed her whole action, and now throws from the side. She has been impressive, especially as she is young. This World Cup will be really great for her development.
Must say farnt that a huge thanks has to go to the clubs from Berwick, Essendon and Watsonia. All three clubs have helped organise fundraising functions for some of the girls down here in Victoria.
Also a special mention to John from Valhalla who has given us a really good rate down there for our midweek trainings.
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Post by larry42 on Jul 25, 2012 13:36:06 GMT 10
The 2012 staff certaintly has a youthfullness about them, plus a lot more hard throwing girls than the National Team has ever had. Tad different to the craftiness of the original 2001 group.
How many warm up games do you guys have once you get to Canada? Should be interesting to see how the USA fire back after their 3rd place finish at the last WC and whether they will get much stronger than they were both in 2008 and 2010.
Good luck to all the players/staff away but a big shout out to the Vic contingent of Samantha Hamilton, Amy McCann, Shae Lillywhite, Erin Collins and Bronwyn Gell, plus the staff of Dom Ruggiero and Simone Wearne. These players work their butts off and pay their own way to both Nationals and the World Cup. Hopefully they can finish off their hard work with the shiniest of medals this year.
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Post by wearnie52 on Jul 31, 2012 17:29:21 GMT 10
Thanks Larry, will keep you posted with our results on the forum while we're in Canada.
Lots of good (and bad) memories from Edmonton in 2004 at the first World Cup. Grant Weir getting tossed and Ella yelling at him, and then my first drug test. Good times.
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mandi
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Post by mandi on Aug 1, 2012 18:33:34 GMT 10
Good luck to all players and coaching staff, you girls deserve everything after all the hard work you have all put in. Look forward to all the updates.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2012 19:06:18 GMT 10
Is that at Telus Field Wearnie52 ?
Its a pretty slick stadium isnt it - we played the Medal games of the World Masters there in 05.
Good luck to you girls - keep us updated :-)
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 1, 2012 20:05:53 GMT 10
Yes Authentic, Telus Field. It's a great place to play. We played there back in 2004 at the first Women's World Cup. I have a feeling that my dad, my brother and I still hold the title of the only father, son and daughter to have all played at the stadium  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2012 20:22:09 GMT 10
Yes Authentic, Telus Field. It's a great place to play. We played there back in 2004 at the first Women's World Cup. I have a feeling that my dad, my brother and I still hold the title of the only father, son and daughter to have all played at the stadium I thought the 3 of you may have graced that field :-) |
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Post by larry42 on Aug 8, 2012 11:14:30 GMT 10
Only 3 days away until the team start their World Cup tourney and their push for Gold. Girls have got 2 warm up games unde rtheir belts and play Team USA today.
Terrific team and the best chance we have ever had to go all the way. The core of this team have worked their proverbials off pretty much for the past two years getting ready to go from silver to gold. Every member of australian baseball should be proud of the way they prepare and conduct themselves on and off the field.
Go girls!
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Post by johne on Aug 8, 2012 12:42:57 GMT 10
Good luck to the girls especially the Victorian contingent. The work and effort they put in to getting themselves to the tournament is extremely admirable.
They have been training together a couple of times a week for past 10 weeks and have given themselves the best opportunity to be successful.
Good luck and enjoy.
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Post by larry42 on Aug 8, 2012 13:29:36 GMT 10
Good luck to the girls especially the Victorian contingent. The work and effort they put in to getting themselves to the tournament is extremely admirable. They have been training together a couple of times a week for past 10 weeks and have given themselves the best opportunity to be successful. Good luck and enjoy. What do you call a female Viking Johne? |
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Post by johne on Aug 8, 2012 19:47:25 GMT 10
Good luck to the girls especially the Victorian contingent. The work and effort they put in to getting themselves to the tournament is extremely admirable. They have been training together a couple of times a week for past 10 weeks and have given themselves the best opportunity to be successful. Good luck and enjoy. What do you call a female Viking Johne? Might go with Valkyrie |
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 8, 2012 23:51:59 GMT 10
Thanks boys!
We are playing the USA in a warm-up game at lunch time today (it's Wednesday morning over here), should be good to see how we go against them.
Girls are looking good on the park, the weather is great, and the team are gelling really well together. Everyone is pumped to get things started Friday!
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 9, 2012 8:34:49 GMT 10
Team had a good game today, defeating USA in the final warm-up game before the Tournament begins Friday.
Final score was 10-5.
Hepburn, Collins and Steph Gaynor all throwing well in their first Aussie appearances. Some good hitting all round, Bronwyn Gell with 2 solid singles, Tahnee Lovering a big double, and Kimmy McMillan a bases clearing double aswell.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2012 10:19:28 GMT 10
Nice way to kick off the campaign girls !
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Post by Marshy on Aug 9, 2012 13:05:26 GMT 10
Wearnie,
I have been hearing a fair bit of "athlete bashing" around the office in relation to our performances at the Olympics. Apparently anything less than gold is a failure???
So, with all that in mind, I wanted to assure you that there are people who support you, even if not vocally, and that no matter what the outcome of your campaign, there are people who acknowledge and admire the dedication, effort and sacrifices you all have to make in order to represent our country.
I was going to say "do us proud" but that's a ridiculous request as, in my opinion, merely donning the green and gold uniform, you have already done us proud.
Play your hardest, play the Australian way and irrespective of your final standing in the competition, you'll come home as champions.
Best of Luck, and please keep us informed of how things are going, over and above the scoreline.
Marshy.
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Post by perfeckt on Aug 9, 2012 21:29:02 GMT 10
Well said Marshy. Go Girls!
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 10, 2012 15:02:27 GMT 10
Thanks guys. Tournament begins tomorrow with a 3pm game versus Cuba.
Britney Hepburn with the start, and four of our Vics in the starting line-up. Should be a cracker of a game! Will let you know the results tomorrow night :-)
In some other news, great to confirm Venezuela are coming to the tournament. An issue with visas looked set to keep them out of Canada. But things are sorted and they will be here a day late.
Also, all of Japan's games will be live on YouTube if anyone is keen for a look. See below:
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2012 16:20:44 GMT 10
Thanks Simone (well said Marshy).
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Post by pirate22 on Aug 10, 2012 20:58:21 GMT 10
Best of luck to Simone and the Aussie girls... fantastic effort in having the guts and determination to prepare over such an extended time period and lets hope you reap the rewards of such a thorough preparation..... Go Aussies!!!!
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 11, 2012 11:58:35 GMT 10
Happy to report that we had a good win in game one of the tournament against Cuba. Final score 12 - 4.
Was a real team victory, with all four pitchers used working hard to get the job done. Kimmy McMillan from NSW the star throwing 4 innings of middle relief for only 1 run. Loz McGrath and 15 year old Maddie Lenard throwing 1 inning each to close out the game for no extra runs.
With the bats, Christina Kreppold had a day out, 4 hits - including 1 single, 2 doubles and a triple. Katie Gaynor with 2 hits and all other players with one apiece.
The Vics contributed, all four with one hit, Sam Hamilton and Amy mcCann with big 2 run singles, and Shae Lillywhite and Bronwyn Gell both hard hit singles.
The girls are pumped for game two V USA tomorrow afternoon.
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 13, 2012 1:20:43 GMT 10
Day Two saw a tough loss for the Aussies. Up 8-4 in the 5th, but couldn't hold on, going down 11-8 against USA.
Tahnee Lovering and Shae Lillywhite both with two hits, singles to pretty much the whole team.
Had a big 3rd inning, putting up a 7 spot. But couldn't produce the runs late in the game when it counted.
Pitchers did a good job, Barclay holding them to 5 runs over 5 innings, and relievers throwing lots of strikes. 5 errors in the field cost us though.
Looking to get back on the winners list today against Canada.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 10:08:27 GMT 10
Autumn getting the start for Canada?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 10:27:18 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 10:42:29 GMT 10
Yeah it looked like a tough loss for the girls.
Interesting to see that they are getting a few hundred plus to minor pool games but the Canadians are really supporting their own team with 2k+ attending games. My guess is there was some real atmosphere in that tough loss today Simone. Did the crowd help the Canadian get up ?
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Post by larry42 on Aug 13, 2012 11:26:28 GMT 10
Wig - i guess 8 errors in two games doesn't help the situation either.
How did Latimer throw? 6 bb's although didn't give up many hits.
Who gets the start against Venez?
Is Kreppold the best female position player in the game? How do you think she ranks with the best of Japan and i note that the USA have a few new names on their roster this year as well, any standouts?
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Post by wearnie52 on Aug 13, 2012 12:11:57 GMT 10
Tough, tough loss today against Canada. Mindy Latimer threw a great game - the 6 bb's on game tracker don't do her justice. Canada have a good hitting team. The field has really let us down these first three games. 11 errors in three games isn't helping our pitchers.
And we are only scoring in one or two inning. Just not getting it done early in this tournament. Need to have a big win against Netherlands tomorrow to get some confidence back.
Authentic, crowd was reasonable today, but yes, have had good size crowds at the Canadian night games. Crowd was behind them today, but I don't think it was the difference between us.
Defense was the key, and a few wasted AB's throughout.
Kreppold is definitely up there Larry, will see over the next week where she sits in comparison.
We also lost a key player today midway through the game, our right fielder Laura Neads who had two hits. Down injured sliding into second base - a knee injury of some kind. Fingers crossed its not serious.
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