After the disappointment of missing back to back National Titles, WAIS head softball Coach Kere Johanson believes the future is still bright for a young and dedicated bunch of Western Australian athletes.
The WA Flames headed into the finals as the top ranked team, but a combination of weather and complacency factored against the side, a notion that Johanson was quick to point out.
“At the completion of the Gilley’s Shield the Flames finished a disappointing third. Disappointing in the fact that during the final playoffs we under performed,” Johanson clarified.
“I believe the team was affected by the two days of rain out at the start of the tournament which cost us five games in the process,” he said.
Johanson believes the team missed the opportunity to fine-tune its approach ahead of the crunch stage of the season.
“With a young team going in to this situation for the first time, these games were crucial to the team by way of just being able to relax and play some good softball leading in to the playoffs,” he said.
“We found ourselves straight in to the finals in which we played way to tight and under performed,” Johanson said. “It was disappointing for all involved to finish off what had been a fantastic effort by a very good young team.”
On more of a positive note three WAIS athletes and one former WAIS athlete from the WA Flames squad have been rewarded with AIS Scholarships. The three currentWAIS athletes are Chelsea Forkin, Verity Long-Droppert & Jodie Stevenson while the former scholarship holder is Leah Parry (Quackenbush).
Johanson revealed that up to five current and former athletes had been considered for scholarship.
“I was told that Leigh Godfrey would of also been named in the AIS Squad had she still been living in Australia as she had been awarded the “Top Batter” for the whole Gilley’s Shield National League Series,” Johanson said.
“Four and potentially five athletes named in a squad of 23 showed that this programisfinally reaching it’s potential.
