After an agonising 13 year wait, the Australian Softball team, the Aussie Spirit, make a highly anticipated return to the Olympics when they officially open the Tokyo 2020 Games against the host nation Japan.
Overview
They’ll have the honour of beginning competition against the host nation at 9am local time (10am AEST), Wednesday 21 July.
Softball will see a total of 14 Australian Olympic debuts with captain Stacey Porter the only member with experience on sport’s biggest stage having achieved silver at Athens 2004 and bronze at Beijing 2008.
An exciting balance of youth and experience makes up the Aussie Spirit, highlighted in the team’s pitching stock.
Softball Team
Ones To Watch
Kaia Parnaby and Ellen Roberts who compete professionally in Japan have been selected, while Tarni Stepto and Gabbie Plain, both currently signed to Division 1 Colleges in the United States bring balance to the side.
Plain makes her Olympic debut fresh off being named one of the top-three players in the 2021 NCAA season, breaking numerous records for the Washington Huskies this season.
The Format - 6 Nations
- Japan
- Australia
- USA
- Italy
- Mexico
- Canada
All six nations will compete in a single round robin format, at the completion of the round, the top two ranked teams in the final standings will qualify for the Gold Medal game, third and fourth will compete in the Bronze Medal game.
In the event of a tie in win-loss records, positions will be finalised by the result of their last fixture with the winner placed ahead of the loser.
Quick Facts
- Australia have medalled in every Games the sport has been included in Bronze in ’96, ’00, ’08 and Bronze in ’04.
- Stacey Porter is the most capped Australian with over 440 appearances for the Aussie Spirit
- Stacey Porter, Kaia Parnaby and Ellen Roberts compete full-time in the Japan Professional League, one of the toughest softball competitions in the world
- Japan star Yukiko Ueno was the first pitcher ever to produce a perfect game (no batters reaching first base) at the Olympics, against China in 2004. With a fastball which topping out at 128 kilometres per hour (80 mph), she is widely recognized as the fastest pitcher in women's softball
Softball vs Baseball
Softball and baseball share similarities in the way runs are scored by batters advancing runners around a diamond shaped field. Teams take turns at bat, with the batting team afforded three ‘outs’ per inning.
Unlike baseball, softball games last only seven innings, except in the event of a tie, where innings will continue until a winner is determined.
The key difference comes from the pitching position with softball throwing high-velocity and shaped deliveries via an underarm action.
Given the sport’s hiatus from the Olympic cycle, there are only a sprinkling of Olympians featuring in the tournament.
Across Australia, Japan, USA, Mexico, Canada and Italy, just 10 out of 90 athletes have Olympic experience, Canada fielding the most with four in their roster of 15.
Amongst them are two of the world’s best pitchers who will pose a serious threat to the Aussies, American Monica Abbott and the evergreen Yukiko Ueno of Japan.
Both women possess incredible speed and presence in the pitcher’s circle and make their team’s red hot Medal chances in the tournament.
Aussie Spirit Competition Schedule
- Vs Japan, Wednesday 21 July – Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium
- Vs Italy, Thursday 22 July – Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium
- Vs Canada, Saturday 24 July – Yokohama Stadium
- Vs USA, Sunday 25 July – Yokohama Stadium
- Vs Mexico, Monday 26 July – Yokohama Stadium
- Bronze Medal Game, Tuesday 27 July – Yokohama Stadium
- Gold Medal Game, Tuesday 27 July – Yokohama Stadium
#HaveAGo at Softball
Softball
IS SOFTBALL JUST FOR GIRLS?
No, Softball is for both boys and girls.
WHAT AGE CAN I START?
Softball Batter Up is for 4-8 year olds.
DO I NEED MY OWN BAT / EQUIPMENT?
No, all equipment is provided for beginners in a Softball Batter Up program
Softball Snapshot
