Playing Softball In Australia – Part #1: Recruited to Play

I’m not sure if you all are aware of it or not, but I played softball in Australia for 1 year on 2 different teams in Western Australia.

Now, this may not sound so exciting to you, but I’m from Canada, and basically, you can’t get any further away than Australia! It’s on the other side of the Earth to me!

How?
To make a long story short: Softball Australia contacted Softball Canada and told them they needed a pitcher to play on a local team and hopefully, play for the Western Australian State Team.

Well, to make another long story short: One of the heads saw me at our Provincial Tournament, when I had just turned 18, and we actually lost the game and missed the finals.

Packing my things up at the bench, I was approached by the lady and she asked me if I would like to go to Australia to play softball for 1 year completely paid for. She told me she knew I had what it takes and she chose me!

I had just graduated high school and hadn’t committed to any university in the USA yet, so I jumped at the chance! Then, I told my parents I was leaving in 1 week! LOL…

What’s Different About Softball in Australia?
Apart from the very different people you’re playing against, who happen to be completely fearless, tough people, only a little bit.

Photo left: The Kalamunda Knights based out of Perth, Western Australia. Left to Right: Sharon, Kimberly (Me), Barb, Erin, Chelsea, Shorty & Tracy

The fields often don’t have a Read more

Congratulations Lesley Pipher – Southern Wesleyan University’s Softball Ace

Championship Circle Newsflash:

I am so pleased to Congratulate my personal friend, Lesley Pipher, for attaining a joint athletic-academic scholarship to Southern Wesleyan University’s Softball Team in South Carolina!

What a well-deserved scholarship, and let me tell you, how lucky Southern Wesleyan University is to have her as their Ace Pitcher!!!

Lesley was one of my opponents in softball for many years, and boy oh boy, was she an awesome pitcher! She always gave our teams a run for our money!!!

One year, Lesley, her catcher, her soon-to-be husband, and one of her old coaches put together a fabulous collection of players for a Junior team in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. This “1st year” team won the Bronze medal in the Canadian Nationals! Probably some of thee best coaches I have ever had…This was back in 1996!

Lesley was always so very supportive of us girls that were away or going away on scholarship to the United States for softball! So, I feel so privileged to be able to cheer her on in this new dream of hers to play University Softball and work on a Teaching Degree, which she will, no doubt, be amazingly successful in doing! I am positive that she misses her husband and 2 children terribly…I know she will overcome because Lesley is such a strong individual and a firm goal setter!

Lesley, from me, my family and no doubt all of our old team members:

We are so Proud of You and are Cheering You on the Entire Way!!!

You are an Inspiration, as always…You Rock!

Watch out Southern States Athletic Conference!

Check out the entire story @:

Pickering couple live out their dream to play ball

To check out Southern Wesleyan Univeristy’s Softball Team information, go to:

Southern Wesleyan University Softball

I hope you enjoyed this story today on Championship Circle! Until next time…

Play Like A Champion!

Kimberly Edwards

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Softball Base Running Basics: Guidelines & Tips To Make It Easier

Base running in softball can, at times, be confusing especially to the beginner or novice. Sometimes, we just need a reminder!

When I was first learning how to run the bases, my father and I devised a simple chart with rules that I could study and memorize that would make base running less stressful and confusing to me. Actually, I came across it the other day in a box in my basement, and immediately remembered how this little chart changed my base running life!

Here it is:

Base Running Basics for Softball

* Please feel free to print this out, and use it for easy review.

Now, these are the basics that apply to most situations.

* Note: Please, always pay attention to what your coach wants you to do when you are on the bases. That is the entire reason they are out there on 1st & 3rd bases. They are there to direct you as a runner. Make sure you pay attention to the coach’s signals and zero in on their voice.

Some Other Miscellaneous Rules:

* Foul Fly or Line Drive: When there are less than 2 out, you must tag up on your base. You never know when you will be able to grab another base just because you tagged up. Again, listen to your coach.

* Tagging on 3rd Base: When you are tagging up on 3rd base when there are 0 or 1 out, you should not be trying to watch when the player catches the fly ball…Your coach does that. When you see that it is a fly ball, immediately go back to 3rd base and get yourself set up and zeroed in to run to home plate. You should be listening intently for your coach’s voice because they will tell you the precise moment to run like the wind, if they want you to take home.

* Know Your Outs!: When you are on base, with every pitch, you should have a game plan if it is a grounder or a fly ball, and have this etched in your mind, so that you won’t have to make a tougher split decision. Every situation is different depending upon which base you are on, and how many outs there are.

* Stuck on 1st Base: When you are on 1st base, many times, you are forced to run to 2nd, even if you don’t want to. If there is a grounder anywhere, you must go to 2nd base because you need to open up 1st base for the batter. If the play is at 2nd base on this hit, and you even remotely suspect that a double play to 1st will be attempted, be absolutely sure that you slide into 2nd base so that you don’t get hit in the face, or anywhere else. I’ve seen this happen too many times, and often they wind up a terrible injury. Protect your body!

* The 2 Out Absolute: Run Like Heck no matter which base you are on, and no matter where the ball goes. As soon as you hear the contact of the ball on the bat, just run as fast as you can to the next base, and listen to your coach for direction! This is the simplest rule. You never know when someone will drop a ball in the field, so never give up!

* You, The Batter: I am positive that you have heard this before, but it must be said over and over again…When you are batting and have hit the ball, no matter where the ball went, even if it is a foul ball, RUN RUN RUN to 1st base. Your coach will tell you if it was a foul if you don’t hear the umpire. DO NOT WATCH WHERE YOU HIT THE BALL!…Just RUN!

* Also, even if you think that a player will catch your line drive or fly ball, RUN RUN RUN! You never know when someone is going to drop a ball. There were many times I could make it almost to 2nd base before the player caught the ball (or Dropped It! That’s even better. Now you just got yourself at least a Double!) When doing this, just don’t overrun a runner ahead of you on base. You must stay behind them! You can greatly increase your chances if you keep running!

I have seen batters give up on a fly ball, and the fielder dropped the ball, and still threw them out on 1st base, simply because the batter gave up! Recruiters don’t take kindly to this type of error.

Without getting way too in depth, these basics should send you well on your way to home plate!

* Last Piece of Advice: Never Ever Give Up! Run As Fast As You Can!

Kimberly Edwards
Director

P.S. If you are looking for some more information on improving your softball skills, check out this helpful book chocked full of great drills and fundamentals which are essential to your success:

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