Amy Vickers, Kate Russell, Eliza Russell, Carly Jensen, Cathy Carroll and Claire Stephens have all been invited to try out for the NSW Country team

The first ever ACT Womens Baseball side has returned home from a rain soaked weekend in the Illawarra region with their heads held high after an encouraging effort in their first ever competitive tournament.

The weekend only served to prove the potential the region has in its womens ranks with six girls chosen for the NSW Country training squad as they prepare for the Australian National Championships, due to take place early in the new year.

In a field of four sides including Illawarra, Central Coast and Newcastle, the ACT Womens team were never disgraced against some of the strongest opposition the state of NSW has to offer.

The weekend started off with a 6-5 win against Newcastle on Saturday afternoon in what was an encouraging beginning to the campaign.

Game 2 was against the Central Coast side, a side that was clearly the strongest in the field. After a tough battle, Central Coast ran out eventual 9-8 winners with the girls unlucky on the day not to have their noses in front.

A defeat to eventual winners, Illawarra put the ACT side up against a rampaging Central Coast team who had been relegated to the 3v4 final due to a rule violation with the result going to the Central Coast team.

ACT Womens team Manager, Louise Russell, says that the teams overall results don’t show how encouraging the weekend really was.

“The rain washed out a few games which was a shame because the team certainly improved as the weekend progressed,” Russell said.

“I think we can go home with our heads held high as we competed at the same level as the other teams.

“Having six girls chosen to train for the NSW Country team is testament to how strong we are and how much stronger we can get.”

The six players chosen as part of the NSW Country Training Squad are:

Eliza Russell (Ainslie)
Kate Russell (Ainslie)
Amy Vickers (Ainslie)
Claire Stephens (Ainslie)
Carly Jenson (Rebels)
Cath Carroll (Indians)