By Ben Drewe, The Chronicle
THERE might be fewer teams this season but Dodgers will face a challenge in chasing their seventh-straight Toowoomba Softball men’s A grade premiership.
The Toowoomba Softball season is scheduled to start tomorrow at Kearneys Spring Sporting Complex and a drop in player numbers means that only three teams will contest the men’s A grade competition.
Six-time defending champions Dodgers are one of those three teams but will have to pursue their seventh title without the services of Australian pitcher Andy Blackshaw and fellow Queensland representatives Seven Hamilton and Shaun Goffer.
The pair are taking the season off and while Dodgers coach Peta Johnson knows their absence will be tough to overcome she is confident the current squad can do well.
“We’re going to be without Andy Blackshaw and Seven Hamilton this year so it will be a bit of a change,” Johnson said.
“I think it will definitely even out the competition but we’ve still got the nucleus of our team there.”
Warriors have also lost players, with their Brisbane-based players not coming back.
They have picked up some players from the USQ Firebirds side, which has pulled out of the competition this season.
That has meant Australian under 17 representative Dean Halsey has moved over to Warriors, while state player Myles Davis is another handy addition.
The dwindling player numbers have also seen All Stars and Aces merge to form the third men’s team.
They will try to come together to form a competitive team this season.
Meanwhile in the women’s A grade competition, All Stars will be out to defend their title.
They have recruited Mariah Passfield to bolster their infield defence, while Kelly Ireland will be keen to build on her break-out season last year.
Warriors will be out to go one better this season and the addition of Tracey Dryden to their line-up could help.
Dodgers could challenge for the title again this season as they endeavour to improve on finishing third last season.
They have added Leah Milward to their line-up and have the benefit of their young players having more experience than last season.
Aces are the fourth team in the women’s A grade competition and will be looking to the likes of young guns Phoebe Merchant and Maddie Franketo to spark their offence.
Aces are coming off a win-less season last campaign so they will be keen to be more competitive this time around.