The NSW Firestars are ready to ignite Blacktown Olympic Park at the National Softball Championships! The best female softballers from New South Wales will go head to head with their counterparts from the ACT, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, from February 17 - 21.

Determined to take the NSW Firestars all the way to glory are Australian Olympic greats Melanie Roach, Stacey Porter and, NSW Firestars' Captain, Belinda Wright, and with Olympic stars in key positions, New South Wales will be able to call upon one of the strongest squads ever assembled by the State for the Nationals

The squad also includes: Karina Cannon, Kyira Cox, Nikki Deegenaars, Ashleigh Deen, Hannah Deen, Simone Freeman, Kelly Gentle, Stacey McManus, Katherine McVeity, Monique Miller, Kaia Parnaby, Ashlee Pobjie, Kym Turnell, Sally Ward, Rachel Zucchetti.

2009 is a milestone year. For the first time in Softball history, the National League Championship and the Gilley's Shield will come together as one tournament - the National Softball Championships. Hot favourites for the competition will be defending 2008 National League Champions, Queensland Heat, but never bet against a team playing in front of a partisan New South Wales crowd with the NSW Firestars quietly confident. Whichever one of the six State teams prevail one thing is for certain - it's going to tense, fast and explosive.

'National Pride' will be the competition theme this year and Olympic legend Danielle Stewart will launch a campaign aimed at growing awareness and support for the return of the game to the Olympic's after 2012 - 'BackSoftball'.

So why not bring the whole family down to support the NSW Firestars at Blacktown Olympic Park! Games start at 9.30am daily from February 17 - 21. All Adult Tickets are $10 with children under 16 absolutely free! Finals Night on Saturday 21^st February (from 7pm) promises to be something very special with fireworks on the field during the game and then in the night-sky afterwards as a celebration of the magic of Softball.