Young ACT side ready to play ball with nation's best players.

(From Canberra Times)

Fielding an inexperienced side for the open women's Australian Championships beginning in Adelaide tomorrow, ACT coach Tania McCreedy is realistic about her young side's chances.

''They're very inexperienced, but they're a good solid team. They get on really well and they train hard, so we can only hope,'' McCreedy said.

Only three ACT players have open nationals experience, so the ACT is unlikely to improve on last year's credible fifth place. But with the oldest player only 22 and some as young as 15, McCreedy hopes the tournament will give them invaluable experience against the country's best softballers.

''There's no better training than to play in an open nationals, and if we come out with wins beside our name then it's a bonus, as long as everybody learns from the experience.'' The squad welcomed the return of experienced catcher Louise Harriden, who recently returned from overseas. But with the team still lacking fire power on the mound, McCreedy recruited Western Australian Lisa Buswell and Alison Fleming from Queensland to help out 15-year-old local pitcher Jenna Richards.

''ACT always lacks numbers, and we've got some very good players who are playing overseas at the moment, and unfortunately they ...