Softball: Women's Olympic destiny to be decided

The New Zealand women's team will play in an Olympic qualifying series in Australia in March, with the winners earning a place at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The series, from March 21-23, will decide who fills the one Olympic place available from the Asia/Oceania region.

New Zealand and Australia are the only countries entered so far.

Registrations do not close until the end of this month.

White Sox coach Mike Walsh is happy with the tournament dates because they followed the domestic season.

"It is close to the end of our season so we have five months to get ready for it. It gives a chance for players to establish themselves and get a campaign going."

Walsh admitted that a key to New Zealand's hopes would rest with officials gaining the release of American-based pitcher Ali Arnold.

Arnold, 18, was the team's top pitcher at the World Series in Saskatoon this year, but since then she has taken up a four-year scholarship at the University of Iowa.

"A key element is pitching and we have to come up to a high standard as a pitching staff," Walsh said.

"It is critical that we get Ali released from college. They [the college] are aware of it and are considering it at the moment."

The first step in the campaign to qualify for the Olympics will be a training camp at the end of this month.

Walsh said it was crucial for all players to start to impress from now if they wanted to be part of the side at the qualifying series.

"It is crucial from now on, we are not going to wait until March and it is game time.

"The team for Australia will be named in late January, so whatever softball the players have they need to make the most of it."

- NZPA