Team pick a rare feat

A Rockingham City and Districts Softball Association player has reached the pinnacle of WA softball, after being selected to join the Western Flames open women’s State team.

Lark Hill Lightning’s Monique Rimmer will travel to NSW in January to compete in the 70th Open Women’s National Softball Championship.

The 20-year-old is just the second player from Rockingham to be chosen for the open WA team in the association’s 40-year history.

Rimmer started playing as a junior and has previously represented the State in the school girls under-17 competition.

Rimmer said she spent a number of years playing T-ball.

“After my sister started playing softball it seemed like an obvious next choice,” she said.

“It wasn’t long before I fell in love with the sport and to now be playing for the WA team is a dream come true.”

Association president Mike Canning said Rimmer was a fantastic player and role model.

“We are very proud to see Monique come up through the club ranks and make her mark as part of a State side,” he said.

“She is showing everyone where the association is at in terms of talented players and proving to young girls that if they work hard they can reach high levels.

“Her skills are incredible — her ability to read the game and her speed in base running is phenomenal.”

With 18 clubs and 43 teams making up the association, softball is becoming increasingly popular in the area.

Canning said the Lark Hill Sporting Complex was one of the best softball facilities in the State and the growing player numbers was largely due to the sport being re-introduced into the Olympics in 2020.