Annie Fidge is part of a family softball dynasty. Her mother, Julie Dale, is a legendary SA figure, her sister Karyn Dale, was a senior SA player and U18 coach, while her daughters Millie and Ruby earned softball scholarships to...

Barbara Moffatt’s height gave her additional reach, which together with her flexibility were significant assets at first base fo4r the 12 years she represented SA.

A 1950 media report said: “Barbara Phillips (pitcher) proved … that she can not only throw but hit the ball to great effect. Her three home runs were all scored from lean, powerful strikes, and she should be a valuable...

In her international retirement speech, “after 13 years - 4 world championships, 2 qualifiers, 1 Olympics and many, many more tours”, Belinda White expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to play the game she loved.

Dot Hosking was selected for SA for eight consecutive years, including SA’s first official team in 1948. It was in 1956 she stepped forward to receive the Gilleys Shield as captain of SA’s first national champion team.

Such was Janne Stevens’ impact with bat and in the outfield that she was selected to the 1974, 1982 and 1986 World Softball Cup teams for Australia. This elite period included two world cup bronze medals.

At age 16 Jenny Cheesman helped Australia win the 1974 Softball World Cup bronze medal. Over the next 4-5 years, she also won the Kath Correll Medal for the SA Premier League’s Most Brilliant Player - twice.

In 1960, Julie Dale’s calm demeanour and technical expertise allowed her to face the onslaught of the pitchers’ new ‘windmill’ action and make base twice.

Kath Maloney was a five-time State player, a teammate that brought great spark to the group, took chances when running bases and was a powerful hitter. She was also a big game performer.

Kath O’Connell (nee Sims) was an accomplished player and umpire. The Best and Fairest Award in ‘C’ Grade has been named the Kath Sims Medal in honour of her accomplished and enduring contributions.

Linda Martin is widely considered the GOAT of softball in South Australia.

By the age of 19, Lindy Rattigan was umpiring at A-grade level. For a catcher the move to umpiring seemed a natural progression. She umpired for more than 45 years.

Lorraine Brown was the No. 1 pitcher for Australia for eight years, including two world championships. She pitched the game in which Australia won the bronze medal at the 1974 World Softball Championships in the USA.

While Lyn White was a player, committee member, coach and umpire at her beloved West Torrens Club, she also held State association administrative positions.

In 1953, along with two other South Australians, Margaret passed the first Australian softball theory exam, later becoming the first South Australian to gain her AA (All-Australian) Umpire’s Classification.

As manageress of the Australian team in the 1970s, Margaret Pollard understood the pressure on the players because she was a regular State player through the mid and late 1950s. 

Melissa McGie’s choice of university major was Physical Education, achieved from the University of Hawaii on a four-year softball scholarship. The study unavoidably helped develop her teaching and coaching skills.

Nancy Whittingham’s softball career highlight – and there were many – surely came in 1965, when she helped lead Australia to the Women’s Softball World Championship gold medal in Melbourne.

Rebecca Strapps was first selected to the Australian Under-19 team for a Canada series and then again for the 3rd World Under-19 Championships in the US in 1987. 

Rosemary Adey was in 1997 inducted into the World Baseball Softball Confederation Hall of Fame for leadership that helped make Australia one of the world’s leading softball nations.