DRIVE, passion and commitment got Cape Woolamai resident, Melony Grand Court, back on the Softball field and from July 8 to July 13, Melony travelled to Sydney with the Victorian Over 35s division for the National Championships.
“I’ve been playing softball since I was in the Under 10s and was first selected to represent Victoria in 2000 as part of the Under 16s team. I went on to represent Victoria for five consecutive years, progressing through the U16, U19 and U23 levels. At age 18, I was fortunate to live and play in Florida on a softball scholarship — a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Melony.
“I stepped away from competitive softball for about 10 years (from age 24 to 34), mainly due to work and family commitments. But after having kids, I felt the pull to return — I was constantly encouraging them to stay active and involved in sport, and I wanted to be that role model for them. Getting back into the game became not just about sport, but also about self-care — a way to stay active and connected with friends, all while doing something I love.”
Melony said in 2022, when Softball Australia introduced the Over 35s division for the National Championships, she was selected in the Victorian inaugural team. “I’ve been lucky enough to remain part of this fantastic playing group for the past four years. It’s a big commitment time wise and financially — we train twice a week at Waverley Softball Association, which is about a three-hour round trip from my home in Cape Woolamai — but the friendships, fun, and love for the game make it more than worth it,” she said.
“For the first two Nationals, my family travelled away with me to watch, and the feeling of playing softball at a State Level with my kids watching and cheering me on, made it all worthwhile.”
This year’s National Championships were held at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney from July 8–13. “After finishing 3rd in the round games, we had a strong run in finals — beating Tasmania and then NSW, which gave us a direct path to the Grand Final. Queensland and NSW played a nail-biting preliminary that went for 11 innings, with QLD eventually taking the win,” Melony explained.
Coming into the final with fresh legs and high spirits, Victoria held Queensland to a 1–1 tie for most of the game, but they managed to bat in two more runs in the 7th inning to win 3–1. “It was a heartbreaking result, but we were incredibly proud to have made it that far and grateful for an amazing week of competition.
“The true highlight for me is getting to play alongside an incredible group of women — all passionate, supportive, and committed to the game and to each other’s success.”
Over 35 National Championships Results:
- 2022 – VIC 3rd place
- 2023 – VIC 3rd place
- 2024 – VIC Runners-up (2nd place to NSW)
- 2025 – VIC Runners-up (2nd place to QLD)
