Sandra Holden
Sandra Holden (née Avery) is an Australian softball pitcher. She teaches high school science at Livingstone Christian College and resides in Ormeau, Queensland. She represents Queensland in national competitions and she is a member of the Australia women's national softball team, where she represented the country in a 2009 tour of Japan and in a January 2012 test against New Zealand. She is trying to earn a spot on the team that will allow her to compete at the 2012 ISF XIII Women's World Championships
Holden in March 2012 during a photoshoot | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Birth name | Sandra Avery |
Nationality | Australia |
Residence | Ormeau, Queensland |
Sport | |
Country | Australia |
Sport | Softball |
Event(s) | Women's team |
Club | Peninsula Cougars |
Achievements and titles | |
National finals | 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Personal
Holden is from Queensland.[1] She is a high school science teacher at Livingstone Christian College,[2] and is married. Her maiden name was Avery.[2] She resides in Ormeau, Queensland.[2][3][4]
Softball
Holden is a pitcher.[2][5] She started playing softball as a ten-year-old in school. This led her to joining a club outside of school.[6] She has played softball for around 20 years[2] and prays before she plays in games.[6] She plays club softball for Peninsula Cougars.[2]
State team
Holden usually represents Queensland in national competitions. However, in 2003, she represented Tasmania at the national championships, earning the spot because the Tasmanians were looking to fill in their squad as they were short on players.[5]
Holden first represented Queensland on the junior U23 level in 2000 and played with them for four years.[5] She was first named to the Queensland state senior team, Queensland Sunlanders, in 2004, and first represented them at the 2005 national championships. She earned her spot after the withdraw of two players and retirement of one player ranked above her.[5] She represented her state in the Gilleys Shield in 2007,[7] 2011 and 2012.[3][8] In 2011, she picked up a bronze medal in the Shield.[8] The Logan West Leader described her performance in 2012 as being in "top form".[8] At the end of the fourth round of competition in 2012, her team was in fourth place.[4][8] Two other years that she played for the team, they finished first in the Shield.[6] She also represented her state in the 2012 Edebone-Weber Shield,[3] similar to the Gilleys Shield except it includes New Zealand as a competing side.[9]
National team
Holden is a member of Australia women's national softball team. She rotates spots with teammate Jocelyn McCallum as one of the team's pitchers.[10] She was a member of the 2009 national team that toured Japan for two weeks.[2] She is a member of the 2012 Australia women's national softball team and is trying to earn a spot on the team that will allow her to compete at the 2012 ISF XIII Women's World Championships.[1][4][8] In January 2012, she traveled with the team to play in a test series against New Zealand women's national softball team.[3] She was chosen to represent the country in a March 2012 series against Japan that was played in Canberra.[4]
References
- "Australian Open Women's Squad 2012". Australia: Softball Australia. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- Lancaster, Paul. "Sandra's pitching for top title — Baseball/Softball — Sport — Redcliffe & Bayside Herald". Redcliffe-and-bayside-herald.whereilive.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- "Holden to take on White Sox". Albert & Logan News. Brisbane, Australia. 25 January 2012. p. 49. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- "Pitcher-perfect performance stars". Albert & Logan News. Brisbane, Australia. 7 March 2012. p. 41. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- "Sandra breaks through". Caboolture Shire Herald. Brisbane, Australia. 7 December 2004. p. 36. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- "In the Dressing Room with ... SANDRA HOLDEN". Albert & Logan News. Brisbane, Australia. 8 February 2012. p. 43. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- "Locals keep state on ball softball". Redcliffe Bayside Herald. Brisbane, Australia. 10 January 2007. p. 102. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- "Holden wins coveted spot on national squad". Logan West Leader. Brisbane, Australia. 1 February 2012. p. 46. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- "Softball NSW — Ph 02 9677 4000 Fax 02 9677 4040". Softball.net.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- Steele Taylor (18 February 2011). "Pitcher's Olympic dream shattered". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 10 March 2012.