MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Orange pitcher Maddie Lisle. Photo: Sandy Smith
SOFTBALL
SYDNEY North and Sydney South-West have been rewarded for their domination in the NSW Combined High Schools girls softball carnival, with 12 of their players chosen in the NSW CHS Blue and Red teams.
The tournament concluded in Mudgee on Thursday, with the Sydney teams taking up the three podium positions.
Sydney North were crowned champions for the second time in three years - the fourth in 10 years - after they recorded seven wins and a draw from their eight games to finish undefeated on 23 points.
Sydney South-West finished one point behind after losing 5-4 to Sydney North on Wednesday afternoon.
Sydney West were third on 18 points while host region Western finished seventh on 13 points.
Western recorded two wins and a draw from their eight games.
The wins were over Hunter (4-2) and North West (14-5), and the draw was against Sydney East 8-all.
The team featured Orange’s Georgia Watson, Maddie Lisle, Alex Barry, Maddie Gogala, Chloe Smith and Louise Kempson.
Unfortunately no Western player was chosen in the two NSW CHS teams but Orange’s Maddie Lisle was named the side’s most valuable player.
Western coach, Mudgee’s Robyn Burke, said her team performed admirably.
“They probably exceeded my expectations,” Burke said.
“Our last game against Sydney East with the draw was just fabulous.
“The girls were all fantastic. As I said to them they are a credit to their parents, their schools and to Western region. They have been a very good bunch of girls to work with.”
Burke said all the players put in an effort.
“One of the highlights for me was in the game against Hunter [on Wednesday],” she said.
“I had the girls on the bench and we were winning. They put the team first because I was changing the team halfway through and they said leave it as is.
“That showed me so much sportsmanship by putting the team first and for those others to have a go.
“Maddie Lisle pitched so well. Bria [Toohey] was one of our other pitchers and she was injured and couldn’t pitch. We relied a bit on Maddie but Erika [MacPherson] and Tash [Doherty] did well when we needed to rest Maddie.”
The two NSW CHS teams will play in a round robin tournament against NSW Combined Catholic Colleges and NSW Combined Independent Schools at Blacktown later this month.
A NSW All Schools team will be announced to contest the national titles in Perth.