Olympian Ellen Roberts makes her return to the Japan Softball League (JSL) first division with Minamo Ogaki this Saturday, taking on Toyota Red Terriers as the second half of the season resumes.

The league took an extended break for the Tokyo Olympics and made its official return last weekend.

Roberts helped her company team win their way back into the league’s first division in October 2020, however, she elected to stay in Australia for the beginning of the 2021 JSL season to focus on selection.

The gamble paid off and Roberts officially became an Olympian during the Aussie Spirit’s second round in Fukushima where she iced Australia’s only win for the tournament in a thriller over Italy.

.@SoftballOz beat Italy 1-0!

A strong bounce back after the opening game defeat, @kaialynette pitches all but the final out and Ellen Roberts (@aussie_9) comes in to close the deal in a tension-filled finale 💪#Tokyo2020 | #TokyoTogether pic.twitter.com/pUrtQysaz0

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 22, 2021

Minamo are ranked eighth at the season’s resumption with a 5-6 record for a solid return so far in the top league, Toyota currently sit in second position at 8-4.

In their last meeting, Minamo successfully defended a single run for six innings to record a 1-0 victory over Toyota.

On Sunday, Roberts will take on the 2-10 Shionogi Pharmaceutical Popon Gals to round out week six of the season.

Also resuming their season fresh off an Olympic campaign is Stacey Porter and Kaia Parnaby for SG Holdings Galaxy Stars in Division 2.

Relegation has fired up SG Holdings who are a perfect 6-0 following the opening half of the season, they’ll face fellow 6-0 team Takagi Kitakyushu Water Wave in a top of the table clash this Saturday and the struggling 1-5 Seiko company on Sunday.

Live streaming, box scores and replays are available for Division 1 games via the season schedule page at jsl-women.com.

Minamo Ogaki Season Schedule, all times JST

• Wk 6, 11 Sep, Minamo V Toyota, 10:30am, Denso Bright Pegasus
• Wk 6, 12 Sep Minamo V Shionogi, 10:30am, Denso Bright Pegasus
• Wk 7, 2 Oct Iyo Bank V Minamo, 1:00pm, Seiyo Municipal Uwa Stadium
• Wk 7, 3 Oct Honda V Minamo, 10:30am, Seiyo Municipal Uwa Stadium
• Wk 8, 9 Oct Minamo V Taiyo Yuden, 1:00pm, Kawaguchi Baseball Stadium
• Wk 8, 10 Oct Denso V Minamo, 10:30am, Kawaguchi Baseball Stadium
• Wk 9, 16 Oct Minamo V Toyota Industries, 1:00pm, Ogaki Kita Park Baseball Stadium
• Wk 9, 17 Oct Minamo V Hitachi, 1:00pm, Ogaki Kita Park Baseball Stadium
• Wk 10, 23 Oct Minamo V BIC, 1:00pm, Sanichi YBS Stadium
• Wk 10, 24 Oct Minamo V NSK, 10:30am, Sanichi YBS Stadium
• Preliminary Finals 28 - 29 Oct, Amagi
• Finals 6 – 11 Nov, Fukushima

SG Holdings Galaxy Stars Schedule (D2), all times JST

• Wk 3, 11 Sep, SG Holdings V Takagi, 10:30am, Yamato Sports Park
• Wk 3, 12 Sep, Seiko V SG Holdings, 10:30am, Yamato Sports Park
• Wk 4, 1 Oct, SG Holdings V Daiwa Electric, 10:30am, Shinkin Moriyama Stadium
• Wk 4, 2 Oct, SG Holdings V YKK, 1:00pm, Kanegasaki Junior High School Softball Field
• Wk 4, 3 Oct, Tokai Rika V SG Holdings, 1:00pm, Shinkin Moriyama Stadium
• Wk 5, 15 Oct, Takagi V SG Holdings, 1:00pm, Gan’nosu Recreation Center
• Wk 5, 16 Oct, SG Holdings V NEC, 10:30am, Gan’nosu Recreation Center
• Wk 5, 17 Oct, Dream V SG Holdings, 1:00pm, Gan’nosu Recreation Center

Japan Softball League Standings, D1, D2 & D3