Special Olympics Makes a Difference for Alistair

Recently I received the following letter from a mother of a Special Olympic athlete.  This athlete, Alistair, represented NSW in the softball at the recent National Games in Adelaide.

‘Alistair had the best time in Adelaide at the 2010 Special Olympics National Games.  Alistair came home a different young man.  He is much more confident and his language has improved as he is concentrating on trying to be understood.  Alistair is now saying his sentences much more clearly and they are sentences, not just one word answers.

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Congratulations to SOSUNS Athletes Selected to represent Australia

Congratulations Mel, Harry and Andew who have been selected to represent Australia in the softball team at the World Games.  The World Games will be held in Athens next year.

Your fellow athletes and supporters at SOSUNS are so proud of you all.  You have trained and played hard.  You deserve your selection not only because you are great softball players but also because you are team players!!

Well done, good luck and have a brilliant time representing your country.

NSW Softball Team are the Noisy Favourites of the Games

NSW went down to Tasmania in their opening match by a nailbiting one home run.  The Tasmanian team has dominated NSW in past National Games, but not any more!

Games were also played against Western Australia and Victoria where NSW again showed their improvement from previous years.

As the competition reached it’s final day a large crowd gathered to watch the bronze medal playoff between NSW and Tasmania. 

Word had got around that the NSW team was FUN and as reported in the daily camp newsletter had become the ‘…favourites of the entire National Games…’  Other states and volunteers commented on the sportsmanship, skill, morale and spirit of this fantastic team.  The NSW team may not have been the most athletic, the fastest or the strongest but they were certainly the most talented at providing the crowd with a great entertaining sports match with a brilliant combination of skill and personality on display every time they took to the field.

  

Harry led the team with accurate pitching under pressure and great fielding from close in, Mel took a spectacular catch and made numerous tag outs between first and second, Shaun, Alistair and Jimmy sprinted the outfield time and again intiating some impressive relay throwing and Andrew constantly plucked the ball out of nowhere as catcher.

Once again Tasmania won by one home run, but with the crowd cheering enthusiastically, the NSW Blues felt like the winners as they collected their fourth place winners.

Fran (supercoach), Deb and Elissa attended the Games with the softball team as coaches and carers.  It was a week filled with great experiences, fun and plenty of laughs.  Congratulations to Fran, who so impressed officials with her coaching skills that she has been selected to go to the 2011 World Games in Athens as the Australian head softball coach.

Softball report for 15th November

We had a wonderful day practising our skills so we can take on the Cougars and smash them again.

All of the athletes were fantastic as per usual.

Next week, if all goes to plan, we will be playing the Cougars.  Hopefully we can beat them like we did last time!!!  So athletes if you haven’t been for awhile, it would be a great opportunity to come down and be part of the Upper North Shore Team!

So make sure that you practice during the week, because I am sure that the Cougars will not want to loose again.

Again for all athletes in the state team - you must bring your shin pads to every training session and wear them of course.

Thank you to all the volunteers and parents who help every week.  It is much appreciated by the athletes.

Also, I have been begging for the trophies to be brought back.  Can parents please have another look around as we currently have no trophies to give to the athletes.

Yours in softball

Audrey

Back after school holidays - Come and join us!

Back after school holidays and it was great to see that many of our athletes practiced during the school holidays.

Luckily the rain kept away and we were able to do some fantastic drills as well as play a match!

All the athletes put in a great effort this week but special mentions must go to Alexandra for her wonderful concentration and effort during the ball drills, Patrick for his wonderful fielding during the match, Harry for his wonderful efforts on 1st base, Andrew for his pure concentration and to Alistair for his sit ups and also his fielding.

Audrey and Brett would also like to thank all the new volunteers and parents that came to help on Sunday.  If you know anyone else who would like to volunteer, please encourage them to come down and give it a try!

The athletes in the State Team are away at camp this Sunday (1/11/09).  Due to this we will not have softball on this date, but will be back at Jubilee Field on Sunday 8 November. 

Also could any athletes bring back any trophies they have at home, our stock has been depleted!

For parents - if your child does win a trophy, please if possible bring some fruit the next week to share with the group.

All state athletes, don’t forget you need to bring your shin guards with you to every Sunday session also!

Audrey

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