Kath came from a sporting Mt Gambier family, where softball and baseball had flourished because of the American influences of the time. She had her first taste of softball while serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force during WW2.
If one searches the online site Trove, the name of Kath O’Connell appears at the bottom of a story from The Advertiser on Monday 4 January 1954.
The story announces the selection of the Open State softball team which would compete in the Australian Softball Championships in March of that year.
There are famous softball names amongst the players in that 1954 team: Rosemary Adey, Dorothy Hosking and Shiela Hamilton, who was named captain of SA for her third successive year.
“Miss Kath O’Connell” was named as team scorer at the bottom of the story. No grandeur, no special mention, no highlighting of the role.
Afterall, this was only her fifth consecutive selection as State scorer at the national championships, and she would continue in that role for a further six years. She would score for SA for 12 consecutive years from 1949-1960.
A softball scorer is more of an essential role than a glamorous one. A detailed understanding of the game, its rules, and unrelenting and mistake-free focus are vital.
Kath O’Connell was from a sporting family from Mt Gambier, where softball and baseball had flourished. Thanks to the American influences, she had her first taste of softball while serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force during WW2.
When she shifted to Adelaide, Kath O’Connell joined the newly formed Umpires’ and Scorers’ Club in 1954 and took on the roles of Secretary/Treasurer and Vice-President at different times.
After that, her interest in umpiring took root. She passed the first Australian Softball Theoretical Examination in 1953. Then in 1955 she gained her AA (All-Australian) Umpires classification.
She also accepted positions on the Association’s governing body as Vice-President on five occasions and served on multiple sub-committees in the important role of Publicity Officer.
As Kath Sims, she has been honoured with Life Membership of Softball SA, Hall of Fame induction, and the Best and Fairest Award in ‘C’ Grade has been named the Kath Sims Medal.
