softball star
STACEY PORTER
With the popularity of softball growing
fast in Australia we thought it might be
time to check out one of their superstars
in the lead up to the upcoming World
Championships in mid August.
Stacey, captain of the Aussie Spirit lets
us in on what it’s like to be part of a
championship team, the challenges and
the highlights plus a few tips for those
of you interested in pursuing a career in
softball.
“The Olympic games would definitely my
highlight so far and medalling at both
Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Being
able to perform in the pinnacle of my sport
in such a setting was a buzz that is yet to
be recreated.
Stacey has toured Japan and North
America to compete with the Aussie
Spirit team, winning a silver medal in
the US World Cup. In 2008, Stacey
was part of the Aussie Spirit team
that travelled to Beijing for the 2008
Olympic Games, returning home with
a bronze medal.
Despite her busy schedule, Stacey
was part of the Australian Indigenous
team, mentoring the young aspiring
Indigenous athletes. She was also
awarded NAIDOC Sportsperson
of the Year – a recognition of the
outstanding contributions that
Indigenous Australians make to
their communities and the broader
Australian community.
Some of the challenges that I faced
included living overseas for 6 months of
the year and not being around the Aussie
Spirit training environment full time. I’m
lucky enough to be playing professional
softball in Japan but there is something
special being around your teammates and
building on team foundations day in and
day out.
The best thing I have achieved so far
is winning an Olympic Silver Medal in
Athens 2004
I’ve been very lucky to have a pretty
long and happy career but the worst
thing so far would have to be the mini
reconstruction I had on my shoulder in
October 2006. It put me out for over 6
months, missing a national tournament
and making it probably the longest 6
months of my life.
living. Not many people get to write
Softball Player as their occupation and
I’m very grateful for all opportunities
that have been created from this. If I
could list all the great times I’ve had
involving softball you would be reading
it for days.
One of my softball travel highlights was
going to Whistler, Vancouver CANADA.
On softball tours we often don’t get
to see too much other than a softball
diamond. Venturing out isn’t too
common but I remember we had a day
off in Canada a few years ago and we
made our way to the top of Whistler and
the view was breathtaking.
I think that being a team player is
someone who is a good at being a
spark and creating opportunities and
energy for others but still has the ability
to feed off other teammates and be
directe