16 Feb 2018

IT'S been a busy time on the field for South Australia's national squad softball players with the possibility of more international competition to come for some of them.

Belinda White, Jordan Lambert and Steph Trzcinski (returning from the US after three years living and playing softball) were joined in the squad by Chelsea Robinson and Maddie Cameron who shone with the composite All Stars team which competed at the recent Asia Pacific Cup.

The All Stars backed up the main national team, Aussie Spirit, which finished second to Japan in Blacktown, New South Wales.

But the pressure will be on later this week when the national team for the world championship in Chiba, Japan, is selected from the current 30-strong squad.

Lambert, 24, the most valuable player at the 2017 Open Women's National championship, said it would be an exciting but anxious wait for the team announcement.

''It's been full on and the competition we have just had for the Asia Pacific Cup was a very high standard and good fun,'' Lambert said.

''But now all we can do now is wait to see who makes the team for the world titles. To make the team would be an absolute highlight.''

Athletes who miss the world championship team could be in the running to be selected for the Aussie Spirit's debut into the fast-growing National Fastpitch Pro League competition in the US between May and July this year.

There are about 50 matches played with the Aussie Spirit team competing professionally mainly against US composite teams.

It's also been a whirlwind few months for SASI athletes Cameron, Lambert and Robinson.

The trio enjoyed the facilities and lifestyle of Japan's Kochi City which they visited in October last year as part of the Aussie Spirit's development program.

The athletes were chosen in a squad which played 10 friendly games - giving the players a taste of international competition and to experience Japanese conditions before the 2018 world championship in Chiba.

The team was made up of Aussie Spirit players, Identified Pathway athletes and players who competed at the recent junior world championship.

Lambert, who plays for West Torrens, also was a member of the Aussie Spirit team which finished fourth at last year's world cup and second at the Canada Cup.

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