Melinda Weaver

Melinda Weaver (born February 1987) is an Australian softball player from Brisbane, Queensland. She plays shortstop and held softball scholarships with the Queensland Academy of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport. At national competitions, she represents Queensland. She missed out at competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics as a result of injury. She is vying for a spot on the team to compete at the World Championships in 2012.

Melinda Weaver
Weaver in March 2012 during a photoshoot
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
BornFebruary 1987
Brisbane, Queensland
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportSoftball
Event(s)Women's team
ClubBrisbane Reds
TeamNuoro
Turned pro2009

Personal

Weaver was born in February 1987 in Brisbane.[1][2][3] She has lived in Caboolture, Queensland,[4] and attended Grace College.[4] Her hobbies include surfing, camping and jetskiing.[1]

Softball

Weaver is a shortstop.[4] She has held a softball scholarship from and played for the Queensland Academy of Sport.[3] In 2007, she played for a Queensland Academy of Sport side against China. In the game, she had two hits and a walk in a 3–1 loss.[3] In 2009, she was unable to play for the Australian Institute of Sport team because she got a contract to play professionally in Italy.[5]

Weaver has also held a softball scholarship from and played for the Australian Institute of Sport, which happened in 2008.[6][7]

Weaver has played softball for several clubs, including the Caboolture Softball Association[8] and Brisbane Redsox.[4] In 2001, she played for the Brisbane U16 squad when they competed in state titles that year. At the competition, she dislocated her thumb.[4] In 2008, she competed in the Queensland Open Women's State Championships where she again played for the Brisbane side.[9]

Weaver missing out on the 2008 Games, she took a four-month break from the sport.[9]

State team

Weaver has represented Queensland on the junior and senior level at national competitions.[4][5][8][10] In 2002, she represented Queensland at the U15 national championships.[4] She was a member of the senior Queensland team in 2008.[9] She was a member of the 2009 team that won the Gilleys Shield.[5] She competed again in the Gilley Cup in 2011,[8][10] where it was important for her to play well because it was being used for selection for the national team to compete at the 2012 World Championships.[10]

National team
Weaver batting against Japan

Weaver was a member of the national team in 2007 and participated in a six-game test series against China in the Redlands.[3] This was her first international competition with the team.[3] She was on the short list of national team members to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics but did not make the final squad to go to Beijing.[9] Her lack of selection was a result of missing several national team training camps because of a broken wrist.[9] She attended the Games as a spectator.[9] She is a member of the 2012 Australia women's national softball team and is trying to solidify a spot on the squad so she can compete at the 2012 ISF XIII Women's World Championships .[2]

Professional softball

Weaver first played professional softball in 2009 for an Italian side.[5] She signed with an Italian Nuoro side during the 2011/2012 offseason.[11]

Recognition

In 2008, Weaver was the Caboolture Sportsperson of the Year.[9]

References
  1. "AIS Softball — Melinda Weaver". Bruce, Australian Capital Territory: Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  2. "Australian Open Women's Squad 2012". Australia: Softball Australia. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  3. Purdon, Fiona (13 April 2007). "China challenge". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia. p. 105. CML_T-20070413-1-105-493920. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  4. "Going soft Pair go to bat for Qld". The Northern Times. Brisbane, Australia. 9 November 2001. p. 61. TNT-20011109-1-068-4035513V8. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  5. Grimaux, Andre (27 February 2009). "Weaver out on high note". The Northern Times. Brisbane. p. 64. TNT_T-20090227-1-064-931013. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  6. Warren, Adrian (17 January 2008). "Victorian's squad pitch pays off — SOFTBALL". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. p. 13. 20080117000020192571. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  7. Warren, Adrian (16 January 2008). "AAP News: Soft: Smethurst swaps books for bat and ball in chase of Olympic dream". AAP News. Australia: Financial Times Information Limited — Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. WAAP61447173. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  8. Marsh, Peter (22 November 2011). "Home crowd to turn up heat for Gilley's Shield". Caboolture Shire Herald. Brisbane, Australia. p. 62. CSH_T-20111122-1-062-253817. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  9. "Olympics heartache fightback". The Northern Times. Brisbane, Australia. 19 September 2008. p. 49. TNT_T-20080919-1-049-096911. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  10. "Sport". The Northern Times. Brisbane, Australia. 25 November 2011. p. 71. TNT_T-20111125-1-071-404192. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  11. "La off-season dell'Italian softball league è ormai al termine" (in Italian). fibs.it. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
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