Softball Achievements
Since 1993 the AIS/Australian Women’s Softball team has had an impressive record. The team won the Bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games going down to Japan in a thrilling game of 12 innings. The team won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
2008 Olympic Year
- Australia took out the Bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics
- 2nd at the Canada Cup Competition
2007
- 3rd at the Japan Cup
2006
- Bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships held in Beijing. This result automatically qualified Australia for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
- Winner of the 2006 Canada Cup Competition held in Vancouver
2005
- Winner of the 2005 Canada Cup Competition defeating USA Elite 3 – 0 in the final
- 2nd at the Pacific Rim Tour
2004 Olympic Year
- Silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. This is Australia best ever result at an Olympic games.
- 2nd at the 2004 Canada Cup Competition
2003
- Qualified for the 2004 Olympics through the 2003 Oceania Olympic Qualifying tournament
- Silver at the 2003 Canada Cup Competition
2002
- Fifth at the 2002 World Championships
2001
- Silver at the 2001 Canada Cup Competition
2000 Olympic Year
- The Australian Softball Team added another bronze medal to their Olympic Medal Tally at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The entire Softball Team were AIS Scholarship holders in 2000. One of the highlights of the Olympics was once again scoring a win against the USA Team, however the win didn’t come at the right time for the Australian team.
- The Australian Team defeated the USA in Game 18, with an inspirational performance from Peta Edebone who hit a 2 run home run to win the game 2-1. However, Australia faced Japan in the Major Semi Final and the team was unable to score a run, which put them into the Preliminary final against the USA. The winner of this game would advance into the Gold Medal Game with the loser winning the Bronze Medal. Unfortunately, Australia could not score off the USA’s power pitchers and finished the Olympic Games tournament with the Bronze Medal.
- Australia won the Canada Cup defeating Atlanta Olympic Silver Medalists-China in the Final 7-0. The Australian players were rewarded for their fantastic performances as follows:
- Peta Edebone was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP);
- Sandra Allen, Joanne Brown and Sally McCreedy were named in the All Star Team.
- Natalie Ward was named Best Defensive Player
- Kerry Dienelt was named the Most Inspirational Player of the Tournament
1999
- Australia were runners-up to the USA in both the Canada Cup in Vancouver and the Olympic Cup in San Diego.
- Australia placed 2nd in the final of the Haarlem Softball Week.
- In the Dutch Challenge, Australia went through the tournament undefeated.
1998
- Silver Medal at the 1998 World Championships in Japan. Defeated by USA in a rain interrupted final 1-0. This placing increased Australia’s world ranking from 3rd to 2nd.
- Winner of the Canada Cup, defeating China in the final 6-1.
- Two Australian teams competed in the South Pacific Classic – Australia ‘Gold’ placed 2nd and Australia ‘Green’ placed 4th.
1997
- Australia won two major tournament in this year
- Haarlem Softball Week in Holland
- Superball’97 – defeated the USA in the final – the USA’s first tournament loss in 13 years.
1996 – Olympic Year
- Competing in the Olympic Games for the first time – the Australian team won a BRONZE MEDAL in Atlanta. All players were AIS Scholarship Holders.
Leading up to the Olympic Games, Australia won the China International Softball Challenge, defeating World number 2 ranked team China in the final 4-2.
1995
- Bronze Medal at the 1995 Superball Series
1994
- Bronze Medal at the 1994 World Championships held in Canada, this result automatically qualified the Australian team for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
1993
- The AIS Softball Program was established in July as a decentralised scholarship program, and administration was set up in the AIS Office in Chandler, Brisbane.
