Softball NSW hosted its biggest state championship to date last weekend with thirteen teams from across the state featuring in this year's Over 35 Women's State Championship. The championship was action-packed with camaraderie and fun across the diamonds from our players bringing plenty of spectators out in full force to Blacktown International Sportspark to witness some fantastic softball across the weekend. 

The championship featured the following teams and was split across two pools: 

Pool A - Central Coast, Cumberland Nepean, Georges River, Southern Districts, Sutherland & Tamworth 

Pool B - Campbelltown, Far North Coast, Manly Warringah, Newcastle, North Shore, Orange & Penrith City 

Grand Final 

The 2024 Over 35 Women's Grand Final featured both North Shore and Georges River with both teams producing standout performances across the pool stages and semi-finals to be buoyed with confidence leading into the Grand Final. The early innings of the Grand Final indicated the game was going to be a tight contest with North Shore and Georges River seeking to gain the early momentum to lay the foundations towards championship victory with Georges River taking an early 1-0 at the top of the third inning. North Shore attempted to draw the game level on numerous occasions through some great batting and pitching but a masterful pitching display from Georges River's Suzanne Fairhurst and excellent defensive fielding from Georges River restricted the opportunities for North Shore to get runs on the board. In the end, Georges River proved to be a formidable opponent for North Shore taking the game 4-0 in a quality game of softball to defend their Over 35 Women's title. 

Catch all the Grand Final action here: 2024 Over 35 Women's State Championship Grand Final North Shore vs Georges River

Grand Final Umpires and Statisticians 

Plate - Andrew Birks 

First Base - Nicholas Beashel 

Second Base - Gregory Rusack 

Third Base - Kylie Diaz 

Official Statistician - Rowena Whittle 

Final Placings 

Champions - Georges River 

Runners Up - North Shore District 

= 3rd Place - Cumberland Nepean & Manly Warringah 

5th Place - Sutherland Shire 

6th Place - Penrith City 

7th Place - Southern Districts 

8th Place - Newcastle & District 

9th Place - Orange & District 

10th Place - Tamworth 

= 11th Place - Softball Campbelltown & Central Coast 

13th Place - Far North Coast 

Best Batter Award

Suzanne Fairhurst (Georges River) 

Batting Average - 0.900

Slugging Average - 2.100 

2 home runs; 4 RBIs 

Best Pitcher Award

Elizabeth Gosby (North Shore District) 

16 innings pitched; 65 batters faced; 9 hits; 21 strikeouts 

Most Valuable Player Awards 

Campbelltown - Erin Rose 

Central Coast - Amanda Dwight 

Cumberland Nepean - Lisa Mikkelsen 

Far North Coast - Katherine Mcanelly 

Georges River - Rebecca Casaclang & Suzanne Fairhurst 

Manly Warringah - Leanne Scott

Newcastle - Itsumi Yonezawa 

North Shore -  Elizabeth Gosby 

Orange - Rachel Moxon 

Penrith City - Sara Kelly 

Southern Districts - Belinda Severin 

Sutherland Shire - Zara Masters 

Tamworth - Amanda McNulty 

Softball NSW would like to thank Blacktown City Council and all of the volunteers, athletes, team management and attendees who made the 2024 Over 35 Women's 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.