Luck of the Irish

Former local softballer matching it with best in the business at world cup

It has been a huge 12 months for former Mount Gambier based softballer Georgia Hood culminating in her appearance as part of the Australian national team, Aussie Spirit, at the women’s World Cup qualifiers in Ireland last week.

Cracking a place in the Aussie Spirit line-up and hitting the diamond regularly, was a huge step for the feared batter and back up pitcher, who was part of the team’s 2020 Olympic program, heading to Tokyo and only just missing out on final selection.

It comes on the back of Hood dominating her first season of US College softball and earning a scholarship to a Division 1 NCAA school going forward.

Georgia’s US college journey started a couple of years ago and she quickly emerged as one of the top players in Pensacola State history.

In 98 career games she finished with a .450 batting average, 27 homeruns, 32 doubles, and 130 total RBI. In 307 at bats she struck out just 22 times while piling on 138 hits As a pitcher she finished her career with a 12-3 record, overall 1.74 ERA while averaging close to eight strikeouts a game

Georgia was named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year and FCSAA State Player of the Year in back to back seasons, helping the Pirates to a Conference Championship her freshman year and a runner-up finish this last year, which resulted in a spot at the FCSAA State Championships

She also earned back to back 1st team all-NFCA Region nods, with the culmination being named back to back NFCA and NJCAA 1st team all-American.

Not surprisingly, Georgia’s form captured the attention of NCAA Division 1 programs and when she finishes her time with the Australian national team at the World Cup qualifiers in Europe, she will be joining the Coastal Carolina University as a sophomore as part of the Chanticleers Division 1 program, competing in the competitive Sun Belt Conference.

And the Chanticleers will be getting Georgia off the back of a truly exciting World Cup qualifying tournament in Ireland earlier this month where Australia was one of two qualifiers from Group A, alongside the United States, to head to the 2024 World Cup in Italy next year.

Georgia was a vital part of the Aussie Spirit campaign, often called upon in clutch moments, especially in the batting box, as well as earning a pitching callup against the all conquering US line-up.

Georgia batter in a number of runs during the week long tournament, including two critical runs in the World Cup decider against great Britan – which was a must win game for the Aussie Spirit to earn that World Cup place. The Australians had surprisingly lost to the same team in the tournament opener