Eleven teams from across the state competed last weekend at the 2023 Open Women's State Championship, featuring perfect weather as the backdrop for competitive and high-quality softball. Held at Blacktown International Sportspark, the Open Women's State Championship featured an outstanding mix of junior and senior softballers. These included players returning from both the Aussie Spirit Team and Canada Cup respectively. 

The championship featured eleven teams across two pools: 

Pool A - Cumberland Nepean, Georges River, Macarthur, North Shore, Penrith City and Southern Districts. 

Pool B - Central Coast, Hornsby, Manly Warringah, Newcastle and Sutherland. 

Grand Final 

Heading into the Open Women's Grand Final between North Shore and Sutherland, both teams were brimming with confidence after producing some excellent softball throughout the pool stage and the semi-finals. The Grand Final was a tightly contested game in the early innings with the score 0-0 before North Shore laid the foundation towards victory with two unanswered runs at the bottom of the third inning. Sutherland attempted a spirited comeback with excellent hitting and fielding, but North Shore proved too strong triumphing 4-0. 

Watch the full highlights of the Grand Final here: 2023 Open Women's State Championship Grand Final - North Shore vs Sutherland - YouTube

Grand Final Umpires and Statisticians 

Plate - Robert McIntosh

First Base - Leanne Gearside

Second Base - Paul Bourke

Third Base - Shane McIntosh

Official Statistician - Sylvia Kohut

Level 4 Accreditation Umpires 

Softball NSW congratulates the following umpires who received their National Level 4 Umpire Accreditation at the Championship:

Kylie Diaz - Manly Warringah 

Lachlan Smith - Softball Macarthur 

Final Placings 

Champions - North Shore District 

Runners Up -  Sutherland Shire

3rd Place - Hornsby District

4th Place - Cumberland Nepean

5th Place - Penrith City

6th Place - Manly Warringah

7th Place - Softball Macarthur

8th Place - Georges River

9th Place - Newcastle & District

10th Place - Southern Districts

11th Place - Central Coast

Best Batter Award 

Milla Durnell (North Shore District) 

Batting Average - 0.625

Slugging Average - 1.375

8 AB; 5 Hits (2 Singles, 3 triples)

2 Runs; 6 RBIs

2 Walks

Best Pitcher Award 

Teoni Lamb (Hornsby District)

Earned Run Average = 0.000

Strike Outs Per Inning Average: 0.636

44 batters faced; 28 strike outs; 3 walks; 4 hits; 72% strike rate

Players Player Awards 

Central Coast - Amanda Dwight

Cumberland Nepean - Molly Wilde & Bianca Worth

Georges River - Sophie Burnett & Cassandra Williams

Hornsby - Teoni Lamb

Macarthur - Riley Cherry

Manly Warringah - Kendal Henderson

Newcastle - Emily Gordon

North Shore - Isabelle Hanna & Erin Partridge

Penrith City - Shaylan Whatman

Southern Districts - Kasey Thornton

Sutherland -  Sasha Willems

Softball NSW would like to thank Blacktown City Council and all of the volunteers, athletes, team management and attendees who made the 2023 Open Women's State Championship a great success. 

For any further information relating to the event, please contact Softball NSW Events & Facilities Coordinator Aimee Sutton at events@softballnsw.org.au or Softball NSW Media Marketing and Content Officer Angus Hewitt at media@softballnsw.org.au.