ISF Women's World Championship Site
CARACAS, Venezuela—Current University of Hawai`i softball pitcher,
Kaia Parnaby and three UH alums—Stacey Porter,
Justine Smethurst, and
Clare Warwick, lead the Australian national team into the 12th International Softball Federation's World Championship, June 24-July 2, 2010. Former UH player and assistant coach, Kristi Yoshizawa, will be also be playing in the tournament for Great Britain.
The Aussie Spirit team has been in California the past week, where they prepared for the World Championship by winning all 10 of its games, outscoring their opponents 95-6. Australia played the majority of their games in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. with a doubleheader at San Diego State in the middle. Two-time Olympian, Porter leads the Aussies into the World Championships as one of the most feared hitters in the world. During their California-tour, she hit .500 (10-for-20) with nine runs scored, two home runs and four walks. Making a strong statement was four-year Hawai`i starting third baseman,
Clare Warwick, who hit .667 (10-for15) in six games played. Warwick scored eight runs, drove in seven runs, walked twice with two stolen bases. She also smacked three home runs—including a grand slam in their final game against the San Diego Elite team.
In the circle, Parnaby has proved to be solid, striking out 22 batters in 13 innings of work in four games with just one walk and giving up five hits. Smehurst made five appearances with 26 strike outs and a walk, while giving up just five hits.
Australia opens against host Venezuela on the first full day of competition, Thursday, June 24 in the feature game at 7:00 p.m. Yoshizawa's Great Britain opens with the first game of the day at 11:00 am against South Africa and returns for a 5:00 pm game versus the Netherlands. In all there are 16 nations broken into two goups competing in the World Championship. Group A includes Japan, Canada, Chinese Taipei, the Netherlands, South Africa, Argentina, Cuba and Great Britain. Group B includes the United States, Australia, China, Venezuela, New Zealand, Botswana, the Dominican Republic, and the Czech Republic.
Game Schedules for Australia and Great Britain
Date
|
Time
|
Visitor
|
|
Home
|
Field
|
Thursday
|
11:00 AM
|
South Africa
|
vs
|
Great Britain
|
I
|
24-Jun-10
|
5:00 PM
|
Great Britain
|
vs.
|
Netherlands
|
I
|
|
7:00 PM
|
Australia
|
vs.
|
Venezuela
|
II
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday
|
5:00 PM
|
Great Britain
|
vs.
|
Chinese Taipei
|
II
|
25-Jun-10
|
5:00 PM
|
Australia
|
vs.
|
China
|
I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday
|
11:00 AM
|
Australia
|
vs.
|
Czech Republic
|
II
|
26-Jun-10
|
3:00 PM
|
Canada
|
vs.
|
Great Britain
|
I
|
|
3:00 PM
|
Australia
|
vs.
|
Dominican Republic
|
II
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday
|
1:00 PM
|
Australia
|
vs.
|
United States
|
I
|
27-Jun-10
|
7:00 PM
|
Cuba
|
vs.
|
Great Britain
|
II
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday
|
1:00 PM
|
New Zealand
|
vs.
|
Australia
|
II
|
28-Jun-10
|
7:00 PM
|
Japan
|
vs.
|
Great Britain
|
I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday
|
1:00 PM
|
Botswana
|
vs.
|
Australia
|
I
|
29-Jun-10
|
3:00 PM
|
Argentina
|
vs.
|
Great Britain
|
II
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, June 30 - Friday, July 2, 2010 - Playoffs
|
|