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0 In an almost faultless game, Manly Warringah Softball Association U/10s won the NSW State Championship Grand Final 25-2 defeating Cumberland Nepean at Blacktown International Sportspark and retaining the title that MWSA won last year.
MWSA were undefeated all tournament with an unprecedented for and against of 168 runs to 40.
“It was made possible only by the contribution of each and every player both with the bat and the glove,” team spokesperson Janine Rolfe said. “It was a true team effort!”
U10s Head Coach Sue Brandenburg agreed: “I could not have been more proud of the girls. Their standard of play, skill level, tactics and game sense was far above their age level. All girls contributed to a great championship win.”
The Championship game was delayed by an hour due to a series of tiebreakers in the preliminary final. During the extended wait, the U/10s spent time in their dugout with Aussie Spirit Player and Olympian, Jade Wall who is soon leaving to play for Australia in the Canada Cup in British Columbia and then the World Games in Alabama.
“Jade spoke to the girls about her journey in softball, which started at the age of nine, her passion for the game and the friends she has made across the globe playing the game she loves most and encouraged the girls to go out and enjoy every moment of the match,” Rolfe said.
For the closing ceremony and presentation, teams were led out by a NSW State Player from their Association. Hannah Barlow proudly led the MWSA Teeballers and Officials out onto the arena. Selected in the NSW U/18 team that played in April, Barlow’s first representative team was MWSA’s Teeball team. Hannah also played U/23s for MWSA earlier in the year and will be competing in the U/18 State Championships this weekend.
After the U/10s were selected in February, finding a dry training ground was problematic with all the rain – MWSA’s Abbott Road Diamonds remain very soggy today.
When undercover training venues were found the coaching staff focussed on core ball skills, game awareness and important team bonding. “The young players easily adapted to off-diamond training and embraced every opportunity to come together as a team,” Rolfe observed.
MWSA President Doug Freeman said: “Manly is so proud of its representative and development programs and it all starts with out teeball teams. Our kids get fantastic coaching and have so much fun. It creates a wonderful base to build from and we congratulate all involved.”
MWSA’s Representative program continues throughout the year with U/18s playing this weekend, U/16s in July, Opens in August, U/14s in September, Over 45s in October and U/12s in November.
MWSA has also started preparations for its popular ‘Come & Try Day’ ahead of the ’22/23 summer season. Come & Try will be held on Sunday 28 August and Monday 5 September when “MWSA hopes to welcome many new Teeballers who too will vie for a place in next year’s U10 teams!” according to Rolfe.
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