Player Profile – Justine Smethurst
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Position: | Pitcher |
Uniform Number: | 11 | |
Debut: | 2004 Blacktown International | |
Cap Number: | 234 | |
Club Team: | Brisbane Panthers | |
Association Team: | Far North Queensland | |
State Team: | Queensland Heat | |
Date of Birth: | 14 January 1987 | |
Height: | 179cm |
Justine grew up in Victoria, playing her junior softball at the Glen Eira Moorabbin Softball Association.
With her towering height, Justine displayed her outstanding pitching talent from an early age, leading the Victorian U16 Girls’ team in 2003 to the national title, winning the MVP award at that championship.
The following year, Justine’s potential was recognised with selection into the senior Australian team for the Blacktown International.
In 2005, Justine led the Victorian team to the U19 Women’s national title, claiming a second National Championship MVP award.
Shortly after, Justine was offered a scholarship at the University of Hawai’i, playing softball there in 2006 and 2007, leading her team in most statistical categories and pitching three perfect games in her freshman year.
In 2008, Justine was selected as the youngest member of the Australian team for the Beijing Olympic Games, coming home with a bronze medal.
After representing Australia at the 2010 and 2012 Women’s World Championships, Justine took some time away from the game, before moving to Queensland and playing for the Heat team in 2015.
In 2016, Justine was a key part of the Gilley’s Shield (Open Women’s National Championship) winning Queensland Heat team, claiming the Best Pitcher award and pitching the full seven innings in the Grand Final, giving up just one run.
Representing Australia at the 2016 and 2018 World Championships, Justine has now played at four senior World Championships and is one of only two current squad members (in addition to Stacey Porter) with Olympic experience.
Media | |
Article – March 2018: Olympics can wait – Justine’s focus is on 2018 | |
World Championships & Olympic Games: | |
2018: | XVI Women’s Softball World Championship, Chiba, Japan |
2016: | XV Women’s Softball World Championship, Surrey, Canada |
2012: | XIII Women’s Softball World Championship, Yukon, Canada (bronze medal) |
2010: | XII Women’s Softball World Championship, Caracas, Venezuela |
2008: | Olympic Games, Beijing, China (bronze medal) |
National Awards: | |
2020: | Player of the Grand Final, The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball |
2016, 2017, 2018: | Best Pitcher, Open Women’s National Softball Championship |
2005: | Most Valuable Player, U19 Women’s National Softball Championship |
2003: | Most Valuable Player, U16 Girls’ National Softball Championship |