Young softball star represents state | Sport

2nd December 2008

SOFTBALL: Rockhampton youngster Melinda West has a huge smile on her face when she shows off the silver medal she won at the National Titles recently, but so she should, as she earned the honour.

Melinda was a member of the Queensland under-12 girl's team that competed in the National Titles at Blacktown, Sydney recently.

It was a tournament that the Queensland team was expected to do well but in which the New South Wales combination would start as the favourite.

That is the way the competition went.

The 12-year-old Frenchville State School student said she was happy with her own performance but once again the old foe proved to be a little too strong.

“I went pretty good,” she said.

“We played New South Wales twice and they beat us 2-0 in the first and 8-6 the second game.”

Unfortunately that second match was also the final.

Nevertheless it was a strong display from the Queenslanders and none more than the versatile Melinda.

During the tournament Melinda was called upon to play catcher, centre field, short stop and third base.

The young Outlaws player also proved she could do a job when it was her turn at bat.

“I hit two home runs, one against South Australia and the other against Victoria,” she said with a big grin spreading across her face.

While scoring a home run is a memorable feat, the two she scored couldn't match her favourite moment of the titles series.

“Against Victoria I took a diving catch in centre field,” she beamed.

Now she is back in Rockhampton Melinda will continue working with local coaches, like Sheryl Preston who helped her this year, as she aims to progress in the sport.

“There's an under-14 tournament in April,” she said.

Melinda has been picked for the Rockhampton team with opposition coming from throughout the state.

However, her main objective is to one day play for Australia.

- Alan Kennedy

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