Peta Edebone stands at homeplate this morning in Plant City Stadium.

ISF GETS VISIT FROM 3-TIME OLYMPIAN
2006-01-10

The International Softball Federation’s (ISF) world headquarters in Plant City, Florida, hosted a special guest today. Australia’s Peta Edebone, who won a silver medal with the 2004 Olympic Softball team in Athens and bronze medals with the 2000 & 1996 Olympic teams, made her first visit to the complex.

Recently retired from international play following knee surgery after the Games in Greece, the veteran of over 300 games of international softball toured the administration building, which includes the future site of the ISF Hall of Fame and Museum. It was coincidental timing for Ms. Edebone to also see the playing facilities, which include Plant City Stadium and the Randy L. Larson Softball Fourplex. Both Canada’s and Great Britain’s women’s national teams just left town two days ago after having held training sessions here last week (see photos below).

“I thought the facility was superb,” Ms. Edebone said after her tour of the complex. “The grounds and the four diamonds were fantastic. It would be a privilege to play a tournament there. Other places in the world could only hope they had these kinds of facilities to play on.”

Ms. Edebone served on the ISF Athletes Commission at the XXII Congress this past October in Taiwan. Shortly thereafter she was appointed by ISF President Don Porter as the Athlete Representative on the ISF Executive Council.

During her playing career, the native of Victoria also played in three ISF Women’s World Championships and – among other events – multiple Canada Cups, including 2000, when she was named the Tournament MVP, and 2002 & 1999, when she was named to the tournament’s All-Star Team.

On the playing field up until this past weekend were approximately 70 athletes combined from Canada and Great Britain, who had been training at the ISF’s complex in Plant City since the beginning of last week. Head Coaches Lori Sippel (Canada) and Craig Montvidas (Great Britain) put their respective teams through on-field schedules of almost eight hours each day.

Canada's Lindsay Wightman watches a pitch come in from Great Britain pitcher Stacie Townsend during a scrimmage this past Friday morning.

Canada's and Great Britain's players & coaches listen to a talk from ISF President Don Porter (standing, top right).