Elinor McKenzie Shield
Encyclopedia
The Elinor McKenzie Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 19 Women's Championship of the Australian Softball Federation
.
In 1971 Victoria put forward the suggestion to the Australia Federation to stage an invitational tournament for the 18 and under age group to fill the gap between the under 16 and senior championships. The proposal was put forward as a Notice of Motion at the 1972 Assembly meeting. The first 18 and under, conducted as an equivalent event to the open and under 16 events was staged in Melbourne
, in 1974. The age group of the championships officially became the under 19 in 1976.
Edna Nash, the then President of the New South Wales Softball Association
, traveled to Melbourne to donate the trophy in honour of Elinor McKenzie. Sadly, Elinor never got to present the trophy, passing away from the effects of cancer on the eve of its first presentation on 19 May 1974.
Elinor had a long and proud history in softball
, playing more than 25 times for Australia
in an International career that spanned some 12 years. She was a member of the Australian team for the first world championship staged in Melbourne in 1965; the competition was then known as the Diamond International Trophy. According to Dr. Lynn Embrey in her account of softball history ‘Batter Up!’, in the final against USA, it was Elinor who scored the vital run on a wild pitch
from American pitcher
Donna Lopiano
after hitting a double to centre field as leadoff batter
in the bottom of the sixth innings.
The niece of Australian cricket
great Keith Miller
, Elinor was a well-respected first base player
who not only excelled in softball but also played at representative level in both basketball
and cricket. Her prowess on the softball diamond was well respected throughout the world.
As a coach
, Elinor showed her ability and the never-give-up attitude that she displayed as a player which was instilled in the young Victorian charges she led to the first under 16 championship hosted by Perth in 1970.
These championships are a befitting tribute to a great softball player who proudly wore the green and gold of Australia.
Australian Softball Federation
Australia's softball history began in 1939 when Gordon Young, Director of Physical Education in NSW, began to promote the game in schools and colleges. In 1942, during World War II, US army sergeant William Duvernet organised softball as a recreation for US nurses stationed in Victoria. Another...
.
In 1971 Victoria put forward the suggestion to the Australia Federation to stage an invitational tournament for the 18 and under age group to fill the gap between the under 16 and senior championships. The proposal was put forward as a Notice of Motion at the 1972 Assembly meeting. The first 18 and under, conducted as an equivalent event to the open and under 16 events was staged in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, in 1974. The age group of the championships officially became the under 19 in 1976.
Edna Nash, the then President of the New South Wales Softball Association
New South Wales Softball Association
- State teams :The New South Wales Softball Association attends all ASF National ChampionshipsFor the 2006 Championships the following was entered:*Under 16 Girls*Under 16 Boys*Under 19 Women's*Under 19 Men's*Under 23 Women's*Under 23 Men's*Open Women's...
, traveled to Melbourne to donate the trophy in honour of Elinor McKenzie. Sadly, Elinor never got to present the trophy, passing away from the effects of cancer on the eve of its first presentation on 19 May 1974.
Elinor had a long and proud history in softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, playing more than 25 times for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in an International career that spanned some 12 years. She was a member of the Australian team for the first world championship staged in Melbourne in 1965; the competition was then known as the Diamond International Trophy. According to Dr. Lynn Embrey in her account of softball history ‘Batter Up!’, in the final against USA, it was Elinor who scored the vital run on a wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
from American pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Donna Lopiano
Donna Lopiano
Dr. Donna Lopiano is the President and founder of Sports Management Resources, a consulting firm that focuses on bringing the knowledge of experienced, expert former athletics directors to assist scholastic and collegiate athletics departments in solving growth and development challenges.Lopiano...
after hitting a double to centre field as leadoff batter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
in the bottom of the sixth innings.
The niece of Australian cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
great Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
, Elinor was a well-respected first base player
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who not only excelled in softball but also played at representative level in both basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and cricket. Her prowess on the softball diamond was well respected throughout the world.
As a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, Elinor showed her ability and the never-give-up attitude that she displayed as a player which was instilled in the young Victorian charges she led to the first under 16 championship hosted by Perth in 1970.
These championships are a befitting tribute to a great softball player who proudly wore the green and gold of Australia.
Previous individual award winners
- 2006
- Most Valuable Player:
- Pitching Award:
- Batting Award:
See also
- Australian Softball FederationAustralian Softball FederationAustralia's softball history began in 1939 when Gordon Young, Director of Physical Education in NSW, began to promote the game in schools and colleges. In 1942, during World War II, US army sergeant William Duvernet organised softball as a recreation for US nurses stationed in Victoria. Another...
- ASF National ChampionshipsASF National Championships- National Championships :Each year the Australian Softball Federation holds 8 National Championships. These are hosted by the various state bodies around Australia on a rotational roster....