Mosley Retires from International Competition Softball Australia Announced Today the Retirement of Catcher Tracey Mosley from International Softball Competition
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Media Release 9 September 2010 Mosley retires from international competition Softball Australia announced today the retirement of Catcher Tracey Mosley from international Softball competition. A dual Olympian and four time World Championship player, Tracey's international Softball career spanned 20 years. Tracey's first international competition was the 1991 International Softball Federation (ISF) World Junior Softball Championship in Adelaide. It wasn't long before Tracey made her debut as the 163rdcapped player on the Aussie Spirit Australian Open Women's team’s 1992 tour to China. Tracey was a regular in the team until narrowly missing selection for the 1996 Olympic Games. She took a break from the game and returned refreshed and stronger to force her way back into the team selected to compete in the ISF World Championships in 2002. Tracey then went on to compete at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, and the 2006 and 2010 ISF Open Women's World Championships. During her playing career, Tracey accumulated 288 international playing caps and was a key part of Australia's success – she has two Bronze Women's World Championship medals (1994, 2006) and a silver and bronze Olympic medal (2004, 2008). A highlight for Tracey was winning the silver medal in Athens, saying, "The team and the team dynamics were very special, and we all played for each other." The players that inspired Tracey over the years were Jenny Holliday, "it was a great challenge to get a hit off her;, Joyce Lester "an absolute legend of our game....she always took the time to chat"; and Mel Roche "for her passion for the game." As a senior member of the 2010 Aussie Spirit World Championship team, Tracey was inspired by her younger teammates. "I loved catching to Justine Smethurst, she is an awesome talent, and to hit behind Stacey Porter, a world class hitter, was another great challenge for me." Tracey certainly contributed to the team with outstanding statistics: a Batting Average, of 0.500, On Base average of 0.542 and Fielding Average of a 1.000. Aussie Spirit Head Coach, Fabian Barlow speaks highly of Tracey. "She has had a fantastic career winning Olympic and World Championship medals, as well as earning the respect of international pitchers and teams around the world. She was always excited and ready for the challenge of playing the very best from teams from the USA, Japan, China and Canada, as well as facing the best pitchers in the world such as Fernandez, Osterman, Ueno and Bay. Tracey earned the most respect from her Aussie Spirit team mates and coaches over the years. The team's performance and results were more important to Tracey than any numbers she put up, no matter how impressive they were. Tracey will be remembered as a tough, uncompromising player who wore the Australian jersey with tremendous pride". #MORE# SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA LIMITED ACN 092 181 318 Level 2 I 21 Burwood Road I Hawthorn Vic 3122 I Australia T: +61 3 9818 6144 I F: +61 3 9819 6199 I E: [email protected] I W: www.softball.org.au Page 1 of 2 Now based in ACT with the Australian Defence Force, Tracey will continue to play for the ACT Diamonds in the 2010/11 Gilley's Shield, the premier Softball event for women in Australia, and will stay involved with the Australian team in the future through a coaching role. Achievements AIS Scholarship holder for 10 years 2010-2002: Member of the Aussie Spirit, Australian Open Women's Team Awards received 2009-2010: Most Valuable Player, Edebone/Webber Cup 2008: Top Catcher, Canada Cup 2005: Most Valuable Player, Southern Cross Tournament 2007: Best Batter, Gilley's Shield 2002: Best Batter, Gilley's Shield Softball Australia congratulates Tracey on an outstanding career and thanks her for her contribution and continued involvement in Softball – we wish her well in the future. #END# SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA LIMITED ACN 092 181 318 Level 2 I 21 Burwood Road I Hawthorn Vic 3122 I Australia T: +61 3 9818 6144 I F: +61 3 9819 6199 I E: [email protected] I W: www.softball.org.au Page 2 of 2 .