Saturday, 18 December 2004: Watch this space. Falcons web-site relocating.

The falcons web-site is about to move to a new location: www.falconssoftball.org.au.

Thursday, 16 December 2004: Falcons head Ausport Classic!

After the first round of the Ausport Classic, held at Knox on Sunday 28 November 2004, Northwood Falcons head the ladder. The coach's match reports can be found on the A Grade Coach's Match Reports page. The second round is to be played at Keilor Park on Sunday.

Thursday, 16 December 2004: National U19 Girls' Championship 9-15 January 2005.

Softball Victoria is hosting the National U19 Girls' Championship during 9-15 January inclusive. Six states will showpiece the best players, in this age group, in Australia over 7 days of competition to be held at the State Softball Centre, Altona Meadows.

The Championship Organising committee on behalf of Softball Victoria extends an invitation to ALL members of the Victorian softball community to participate in this opportunity to see some great softball. Players under the age of 15 are offered FREE ADMITTANCE (conditions apply). We encourage everyone to COME CHEER ON THE VICS!!

As well as encouraging supporters to attend the VSA are in the need of person power to assist with the conduct of this event. Anyone who can spare some time to assist with merchandise, canteen, grounds, administration, gate type duties will be GREATLY appreciated. Any interested person should leave their name and day/time of availability at the VSA office.

Sunday, 5 December 2004: Knox wins Victorian Girls U16 Championship!

The Victorian U16 Championships were played at Glen Eira during 4-5 December. Knox won the Girls U16 (A Grade) Championship defeating Glen Eira 3-1. Waverley, which included 6 Falcons players, finished third, ahead of Keilor Park &anp; Geelong. Results.

Monday, 29 November 2004: Falcons win 3 rounds in Ausport Classic!

The Falcons A Grade team had a very successful first 3 rounds in the Ausport Classic yesterday. Round results were:

• Falcons 23 defeated Dandenong 0 (3 innings)
• Falcons  4 defeated Brandon Park 2
• Falcons 20 defeated Casey 0 (3 innings)

Players: Sharni Arthur, Amy Borbiro, Selima Camara, Sarah Cerchi, Chloe Fagan, Shelley Gwynne, Sarah Hutchinson, Alexandra Junor, Kellie Loughman, Keryn Ralph, Chantelle Rocks, Dale Stocker, Karlie Stocker, Sarah Tutchener, Ilsa Wakeling, Caroline Ziada. Read the match reports.

Coaches: Jesse Stocker & Kim DeBonde.

Monday, 22 November 2004: Waverley wins Victorian Open Championship!

The Waverley Open Women's team won the Victorian Open Championships held at Wellington (Sale) last weekend, 20-21 November. Waverley defeated Geelong 8 - 0 in the grand final. The team was undefeated in all matches during the Championships which was a great achievement. Congratulations to all those involved on a very successful weekend. Round results were:

• Waverley 4 defeated Geelong 0
• Waverley 5 defeated Melbourne 1
• Waverley 4 defeated Knox 0
• Waverley 5 defeated Casey 1

Players: Kirsten Barley, Amy Borbiro, Selima Camara, Erin Cugley, Shelley Gwynne, Danni Hanna, Natalie James, Sarah Logan, Jackie Ousalkas, Kelly Ousalkas, Hayley Punter, Justine Smethurst, Sarah Tutchener

Coaches: Kellie Loughman & Jo Paez;  Manager: Kellie Loughman;  Scorer: Gill Punter.

Saturday, 20 November 2004: 6 Falcons players to represent Waverley U16 Redsox.

Following their selection to the Waverley Girls U16 representative squad, the 6 Falcons players selected have all been named in the Redsox team: Emily Bann, Sarah Cerchi, Alexandra Junor, Anita Marchionna, Dale Stocker, & Caroline Ziada. The Waverley Girls U16 Redsox team will play at the Victorian Championships to be held at Glen Eira 4-5 December 2004.

Thursday, 18 November 2004: Coaches & Umpires wanted by Camp Australia.

Camp Australia, which has a successful history in running school sports programs and sports camps, currently provides school sports competitions with more than 500 coaches and umpires in all sports. The positions available within the Camp Australia school programs provide great casual employment opportunities during the week, for both beginner and experienced coaches/umpires. If you are interested in working as a softball coach or umpire you should read the following advertisements: Coaches & Umpires Wanted & Work in Sport Term 1, 2005.

Saturday, 20 November 2004: 26 Falcons players to represent Waverley.

Congratulations to the 26 Falcons players who have been selected to join the U12, U14, U16 & U19 Waverley Softball Association representative squads. U12: Emily Badirkhani, Madeline Campbell, Adele Curcio, Kate Hopkins, Katrina Johns, Emily Papadimitriou, Lucy Tusan; U14: Abby Burns, Christina Brasacchio, Emily Curcio, Madeline Ierfone, Stephanie Ierfone, Tatianna Johns, Melissa Lindsay, Ashleigh Otter, Elysia Poon, Emira Sadikay; U16: Emily Bann, Sarah Cerchi, Alexandra Junor, Anita Marchionna, Dale Stocker, & Caroline Ziada; U19: Ashley Cull, Chantelle Rocks, Karlie Stocker. The Under 12, 14 and 16 teams will play at Canberra in January and Waverley at Easter. The Under 19 team will play at Easter. Final teams to represent Waverley in the the U14, U16 & U19 Victorian championships are yet to be named.

Tuesday, 2 November 2004: Kellie Loughman enters Softball Australia Hall of Fame!

Congratulations to Kellie Loughman who was inducted into the Softball Australia Hall of Fame by the Board of Softball Australia at a meeting held on 23 October 2004. Kellie was one of 10 new inductees.

Monday, 1 November 2004: Team Australia 5th in WU Softball Championship!

The inaugural World University Softball Championships held at Plant City, Florida, have finished. Team Australia, which included Falcons A-Grade player Sarah Tutchener, finished 5th, behind USA, Chinese Taipei, Japan & Canada. After winning 4 of the 7 games in the round robin (losing the other 3, each by a single run), Australia d. Netherlands 4-3 to head the consolation pool. Reports of the games can be found at: Softball Australia Championships, 2004 WU Softball Championship, Spysoftball.com.

Monday, 18 October 2004: Falcons web-site scrubbed & polished!

The Northwood Falcons Softball Club web-site has been given a thorough scrub and a little polish. Every effort will be made to keep it current throughout the season. If you have any suggestions or contributions (announcements, news, nominations for "Play of the Day!", hot tips, even "good goss") please e-mail the club using the link under the club details.

Tuesday, 5 October 2004: Falcons players star in Adelaide.

Six Falcons players, Emily Bann, Sarah Cerchi, Alexandra Junor, Anita Marchionna, Dale Stocker & Caroline Ziada, starred in an excellent performance by the Waverley team playing in the SA Softball Labour Day Junior Tournament. The tournament was played at West Beach 2-4 October 2004. Tight pitching by Dazzling, supported by Anita & Sarah, and home runs by Calzone and Sarah, ensured exciting softball. Emily fielded enthusiastically in the outfield and at short stop. AJ was very tidy as catcher. When not pitching, Anita and Sarah worked effectively at second & first, respectively. The team was managed by Kerri Bann and coached by Yas Ziada & Sharon Stocker. Margaret Junor was scorer.

After a satisfying 5-3 win against Canberra Gold in the semi-final, the Waverley team succumbed to Torrens Valley Redsox 3-2 in the exciting final.

Friday, 1 October 2004: Falcons recruits new players.

Falcons has recruited a number of new players for the 2004/2005 season. Amongst the new arrivals is Sarah Cerchi who has transferred from Caulfield Grammarians where she played B Grade during the 2003/2004 season. Sarah also played Secondary Division 1 for Glen Heights on permit. Sarah will play Secondary Division 1 and A Reserve for Falcons.

Sarah has represented Waverley Softball Association playing in the U12 Bluesox (2001), U14 Bluesox (2002), U14 Redsox (2003), U16 Bluesox (2004). Sarah also represented Waverley in the U14 State Championships (Mill Park, March 2003) & U16 State Championships (Albury, December 2003). Sarah played for Dandenong in the U19 State Championships (Waverley, February 2004). Sarah recently represented Waverley in the SA Softball Labour Day Junior Tournament (October 2004).

Sarah has represented Victoria in the U15 Victorian Softball Association Development Squad, playing in tournaments at Albury, Horsham & Adelaide. Sarah has recently been selected to represent Victoria in the 2005 U16 National Championships to be held at Blacktown, Sydney, in January 2005.

September 2004: Falcons appoints new club coach.

Falcons Softball Club are extremely excited and proud to announce the appointment of former Australian player Kellie Loughman as the new club coach for season 2004/2005.

Kellie comes to the club with an extensive background in softball at an elite level, from when she first made the Australian U19 team when she was just 14 years old. During her junior career Kellie played in 2 Australian Junior World Series teams and represented Victoria throughout her U16 and U19 years.

Kellie's senior career saw her represent the Victorian Open State Team for eight years and the Australian Open Team for 10 years, gaining selection for 2 Open World Series Championships.

In her new role as Club Coach, Kellie will implement and manage the development program for all Falcons players. This new initiative includes a weekly practice session for all senior grade teams, with juniors on the same day. All players will gain exposure to top quality coaching under this program and a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best.

Kellie will also be coaching the A Reserve team (assisted by Sarah Hutchinson) and is excited and looking forward to the challenge of club coaching and meeting all of the Falcons players in the coming weeks.

September 2004: Tutchy takes off for Florida.

Five-time Victorian state representative and new recruit to the A-grade team, Sarah "Tutchy" Tutchener, has recently been selected to join a team of 15 athletes and 5 officials to compete in the inaugural World University Softball Championships as part of the Australian University Softball Team.

The team will leave on the 21st October to compete in Plant City, Florida, USA between 25th and 31st October 2004.

Sarah was selected as a result of her outstanding performances at various Grand Prix and National Championship tournaments.

Other Victorians also competing include Lauren Daykin (Eastern Raiders) and Kate Quigley (Eastern Raiders). The Aussie team officials include Coach Paula McGovern, Sharon Myhre-Davis (Manager) and Diane Waller (Umpire).

We wish Sarah and the team all the best for the Championship!

The inaugural World University Softball Championships will be held under the auspices of the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU - International University Sports Federation) which was founded in 1949. In the even years, FISU organizes numerous World University Championships in various sports. During 2004, 27 Championships are planned throughout the world! The 2004 WUC Softball Program.

August 2004: Falcons State Representatives 2005.

Congratulations to the following girls for their recent selection in the 2005 Victorian State Softball Teams.

Under 16: "Dazzling" Dale stocker & Caroline "Calzone" Ziada

Under 19: Chloe "The Dominator" Fagan

Open Women: Amy "Borbs" Borbiro, Ilsa "Wakes" Wakeling & Shelley "Gwynnie" Gwynne.

All teams will be competing in early January 2005.

August 2004: VIS SQUAD 2004/05

New VIS coach Fabian Barlow recently announced the 2004/05 VIS Training Squad and we are pleased to announce the following Falcons girls have been selected to join the intensive training squad for the next twelve months:

• Amy Borbiro
• Chloe Fagan
• Shelley Gwynne
• Ilsa Wakeling
• Stacey Ward

Based on their performance during tournaments and training, teams will be selected from the squad of 24 players for each of the three Grand Prix tournaments occurring throughout the season. Look out for the VIS Titans when Jells Park hosts the Grand Prix.

August 2004: Major Recruitment Initiative Underway.

Whilst the Falcons players and game day officials for the club have been eagerly waiting for the new season to commence, all people associated with the club should be happy to know your new committeee has initiated a major junior recruitment drive.

To head up this task the Falcons committee has commissioned the services of the VSA Junior Development Head Coach, Geoff "Joffa" Ritchie.

Geoff will be conducting VSA approved softball clinics at 10 to 12 primary schools which fall in the allotted Falcons players zone. Each person attending the clinics will receive a flyer inviting them to come along to the Falcons pre-season clinics/training sessions which will be conducted 3 weeks prior to the round 1 games.

Saturday, 27 March 2004: Falcons take two flags!.

Season 2003/04 was a huge year for the Northwood Falcons with both the A-grade and B-Reserve teams taking the premiership flag in two very exciting grand finals. This marks the first ever premiership won by a Falcons A-grade team - a long awaited success.

With no less than eight Australian representatives appearing in the A-Grade final versus the Eastern Raiders (4 each side), it was always going to be a nail-biting affair. Ilsa Wakeling pitched an awesome seven innings and was backed up by a solid defense, helping to keep the scores tied 1-1 for much of the game.

Finally, in the 7th inning, with the sounds of the Mexican wave cheering her on, Shelley Gwynne sent the bench and the crowd into a frenzy by launching a home run bomb over the left field fence to give Falcons the lead. The Raiders threatened to score in the bottom of the 7th with two runners on base, but the Falcons maintained their composure, managing to shut them out and take the premiership with a final score of 2-1. The final was a great advertisement for softball in general, showcasing great spirit and some fantastic skills.

The B-Reserve grand final was another neck and neck game, but excellent batting at crucial moments by Joanna Raine, Michelle Pittman and Jodie Davies eventually secured the championship over Monash.

It was an all-round team effort for this close-knit team who have been together for several years. Player/Coach Georgie Taylor was glad she'd made the decision to return for another season, "We have such a great bunch of girls, and although we love to win as much as the next team, our focus has always been on having a good time and enjoying our softball. Playing with such great friends really made the victory all the sweeter!"

Falcons were the deserving champions, having performed consistently well throughout the season. Elizabeth Caldwell was outstanding on the mound, Lara Freeman provided solid defence behind the plate, as did Jess Bishop at second base. And how can we forget the amazing acrobatics of Megan Holam who 'wowed' the crowd (as well as her team) from the outfield! [Falcons 8 d. Glen Waverley Red 5]. Congratulations girls, on two fantastic wins!