2010 Dominos Claxton Shield Finals PhotosCassandra Sedgman, Tuesday, 9 February 2010To view pictures from the 2010 Dominos Claxton Shield Final Series take a look at the following LINK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aces wrap it up in twoCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 8 February 2010This article was written by Kingsley Collins and sourced through the following LINK Victoria is the 2009/10 Dominos Claxton Shield champion after downing a gallant South Australia 7-4 in Game Two of the Grand Final series at La Trobe University this evening..... While the final margin appeared clear-cut, the Aces had to do it the hard way with the visitors holding a 4-3 lead into the eighth after Michael Collins had set them alight – again – with a three-run bomb in the fifth. Outhitting South Australia thirteen to eight and stranding twelve runners on base – to seven – Victoria had a greater share of opportunities but were thwarted on a number of occasions by a South Australian outfit that refused to lie down.
In presentations after the game, Victoria's Matthew Blackmore was named "Claxton Shield Finals Series MVP" and "Pitcher of the Year" in recognition of an outstanding summer that collected him seven wins, one loss and an ERA of 1.95.
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Harman's major goalCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 8 February 2010This article was written by Andrea Petrie from WA Today and sourced through the following LINK VICTORIAN star infielder Brad Harman is hoping to get more than just a grand final win over South Australia from this weekend's Claxton Shield series. The former Philadelphia Phillies player, who spent seven years with the Major League Baseball club, said he was hoping to get a new contract out of the game. Harman, 24, has just become a free agent and is keen to get back to the US. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What is major league baseball's hardest record to breakCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 8 February 2010This article was written by Ryan Gray from www.helium.com annd sourced through the following LINK With all of the talk about performance-enhancing drugs and rule breakers these days, there has been more than one call for asterisks in the baseball record book. But there won't be any reason for that when it comes to these records. They are the ones that will never be broken, so no changes are necessary. There are two pitching records held by the same man that are in a dead heat for “hardest record to break”. When you have an award named after you, that signifies that you have done something special. Cy Young holds the record for career pitching wins with 511. The active leader, Jamie Moyer, is more than 250 wins behind. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 10 Best Current Major League Baseball BallparksCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 8 February 2010This article was written by Spencer Estey from The Bleacher Report and sourced through the following LINK
 10. Safeco Field (Seattle, WA) 9. Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore, MD) 8. Miller Park (Milwaukee, WI) 7. AT&T Park (San Francisco, CA) 6. PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA) 5. Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO) 4. Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL) 3. Busch Stadium (St. Louis, MO) 2. Fenway Park (Boston, MA) 1. Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heartbreak for Penrith baseballersCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 8 February 2010This article was written by Lawrence Machado from The Penrith Press and sourced through the following LINK PENRITH’S baseballers came close to upsetting last year’s premiers Blacktown Workers in an exciting first-grade game last weekend. Penrith went 5-0 up as James Yates accounted for most of the runs in their away game. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - ABF TOURNAMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEECassandra Sedgman, Friday, 5 February 2010The Board of the ABF is calling for expressions of interest from members of the broader Australian Baseball community for TMC appointments. Selected TMC members will be appointed for terms of 3 years. There will be no limit on the number of terms a committee member may serve.
Independent Delegates: The TMC will be comprised of independent members drawn from the broader baseball community. No TMC member can be a representative (eg employee; board member) of an ABFmemberState body. Similar to the ABF board, the TMC shall be entirely independent.
To register your interest, please complete the attached form and return to Stuart Allen at stuart.allen@baseball,org.au or by fax on 07 5510 6855.
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2010 National Women's ChampionshipsCassandra Sedgman, Friday, 5 February 2010The ABFpleased to announce that the 2010 Australina National Women's Championships will be hosted by the ABF at the Palm Meadows facility, located at Carrara on the Gold Coast, from April 3 - April 10 inclusive. We look forward hosting all teams on the Gold Coast and seeing some amazing games of baseball. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preview - Victoria VS South Australia - Dominos Claxton Shield Grand FinalCassandra Sedgman, Friday, 5 February 2010This article was written by Kingsley Collins and sourced through the following LINK With a 3-3 record for the regular season, Victoria and South Australia appear very well-matched for the Dominos Claxton Shield Grand Final as the three-game series begins at Melbourne's La Trobe University on Friday evening.......
Victoria finished on top of the table and earned direct entry to the final, while South Australia had to do it harder by getting past the Patriots at Norwood last weekend. It was a superb effort to take the second and third games of that series – in large part due to a stroke of management genius in sending Ryan Murphy to the hill in the decider.
Do last week’s contests have any bearing on what might happen at La Trobe? No. Does Victoria having the week’s rest from travelling give the home side any advantage? Probably not. Does playing away from home bear any terrors for the visitors? Certainly not, with their players and management staff well-attuned to the rigours of baseball at elite level.
Both states can boast outstanding records in Claxton Shield competition, although South Australia has been in the doldrums for many years and finished an abject last in 2008/09 - with one win. Victoria has won twenty-one shields, its most recent in 2007. South Australia has won fifteen, its last way way back in 1980 EBR (Even Before Roly). The southerners had limited success in the old ABL and haven’t appeared in a play-off - at all - for nigh on twenty years.
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Valuable premiership points for RSL Tigers and the IndiansCassandra Sedgman, Friday, 5 February 2010This article was written by Sharon James from The Whyalla News and sourced through the following LINK Senior A-Reserves Baseball Results Round 17 RSL Tigers 5 defeated RoadRunners 4 RSL Tigers versus RoadRunners was tight as well as the previous battle between the A-Graders. Both team's were neck and neck in the first innings with two runs each, with the second innings sorting out the nerves for the RoadRunners as the Tigers pressured them again. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ABL - Murphy sparks a miracleCassandra Sedgman, Wednesday, 3 February 2010This article was written by Gordon Armstrong from The Standard Messenger and sourced through the following LINK SOUTH Australia’s Claxton Shield baseball manager Tony Harris says the baseball gods were looking down on his team after its stirring two games to one preliminary final series win against New South Wales last weekend at Norwood Oval. Outstanding individual efforts from Ryan Murphy and Dan Wilson helped propel SA to this week’s Claxton Shield final against Victoria in Victoria, SA aiming for its first Shield in 30 years. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Menai teenager becomes a US Texas rangerCassandra Sedgman, Wednesday, 3 February 2010This article was written by Brad Forrest from The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader and sourced through the following LINK MENAI teenager Guy Edmonds had more than 20 US-baseball scouts watching him during the Australian under-18 championships last week. Today, Edmonds becomes one of the richest 16-year-olds in Australian sport. Yesterday, the Aquinas College student, who does not turn 17 until March, signed a big six-figure rookie baseball contract with the Texas Rangers.
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Pressure and dominanceCassandra Sedgman, Wednesday, 3 February 2010This articlle was written by Sharon James from The Whyalla News and sourced through the following LINK Senior Baseball Round 17, A-Grade RSL Tigers 2 defeated RoadRunners 1 This game was very low scoring because these sides concentrated on pressure and dominance around the diamond. As many safehits were gained, runs were even harder to get, with both RSL Tigers and RoadRunners diligently playing a solid game. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Double troubleCassandra Sedgman, Wednesday, 3 February 2010This article was sourced from The Werribee Hoopers Crossing Point Cook Star through the following LINK WYNDHAM Vale twins Preston and Harley Yochim share a lot of things – a birthday, a school, a loving family but most notably, their passion for baseball. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Workers on fire after winning weekCassandra Sedgman, Wednesday, 3 February 2010This article was sourced from The St Mary's Star through the following LINK BLACKTOWN Workers meet Manly in a major baseball league grand-final replay this week and have stepped up to the plate in preparation. The Workers are first and Manly fourth heading into the round.
Blacktown tuned up by winning each of their three games in the past week.
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Dolphins win anotherCassandra Sedgman, Tuesday, 2 February 2010This article was written by Marty Shevelove from The Leader Express and sourced through the following LINK THE Chelsea Dolphins moved to 14-0 last Sunday with a 9-3 State League division three win over visiting Cheltenham A. The Dolphins were to have played Doncaster on Sunday afternoon at HD Thomas Reserve but that game, along with all others in division three, has been moved to February 28. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lions back on even termsCassandra Sedgman, Tuesday, 2 February 2010This article was written by Marty Shevelove from The Leader News and sourced through the following LINK A CLUTCH two-out base hit by Tim Hanson and good relief pitching by Ben Bartlett gave the Springvale Lions a 6-5 State League division two win at Mulgrave last Sunday. The win was their fourth straight and evened their record at 9-9. They have yet to be beaten in 2010 and are two games out of the four. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Double celebration for women's baseballCassandra Sedgman, Tuesday, 2 February 2010Kingsley Collins, Monday, 1 February 2010 With dual milestones to be recognised, Saturday 6 February is shaping as a massive day for women's baseball with attention well and truly focused on the action at Deep Creek Reserve.......
Doncaster Baseball Club’s women’s programme started in the summer of 2000/01 and – after ten seasons – is widely regarded as being the largest and most progressive of its kind in the land. Aside from regularly fielding three or four teams – three this season - in the Baseball Victoria competition, Doncaster has produced a welter of outstanding individual players who have represented Victoria and Australia at elite level.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of its involvement in women’s baseball, Doncaster Baseball Club has organised a Past and Present Players Day to coincide with a triple-header being played on Saturday 6 February, at Deep Creek.
The programme is as follows:
Currently third in Division Three, the Dragons will take on fourth-placed Bundoora in the early game. With Doncaster holding top placing and Springvale second in both Divisions One and Two, supporters are assured of a great day of baseball and social engagement that is sure to attract a large crowd.
But as in those Demtel advertisements from another time, there is more - much more - as Doncaster celebrates the career of a club stalwart and outstanding achiever in the sport.
Doncaster Coach Samantha Hamilton will suit up for her 200th game with the Dragons.
Hamilton has been there from the start – since 2003 as Head Coach - and is very well credentialled to reflect upon the development of the Doncaster programme and upon the current state of women’s baseball.
Hamilton’s initiation into the sport did not come about through any prior family involvement in the game. In fact it was quite fortuitous for all concerned.
“I saw an ad in the local Leader Newspaper advertising a Come and Try Day at Greenhills-Montmorency Baseball Club back in 1996,” Hamilton recalls. “They'd had a team the previous inaugural season, but were looking to increase that to two teams the following summer.”
“I was hooked on the sport after my first game,” she said. “I hit an in the park home-run against Newport.” Certainly an auspicious start for the first sacker/outfielder who has earned a stack of accolades in the sport at all levels – including the World Cup Stolen Bases Award and the Baseball Victoria Hitting Award.
 When her side moved from Greenhills to Doncaster, Hamilton had no idea of where it would lead her and the Doncaster club.
“We moved for better facilities and it all just snowballed. Now we have the biggest programme in the country,'' Hamilton said.
"From day one we wanted to be competitive but the game play, knowledge and desire to improve has been the big stand out. We're not women playing baseball, but baseballers who happen to be women."
In Hamilton’s time at Doncaster, the Dragons have contested six grand finals and have been victorious twice. Runners-up in both Division One and Two last season, Hamilton is keen for her charges to go one better – especially in the tenth year of the women’s programme. A permanent fixture in the national side, Hamilton has played in every Australian team since its inception in 2001 and has been an annual fixture in Victorian teams since 1999. The 36 year-old still has the motivation to achieve at elite level while savouring the highlights and the experiences delivered through her involvement in the sport.
“The Australian Women's team has come fourth in the last three World Cups,” Hamilton lamented. “I'm growing tired of coming home with nothing, so this year - if selected - I know that I'll being doing everything I can to contribute to winning our first World Cup medal.”
"I've got a good chance to make the World Cup side later this year (United States in August) and I'd love to play in 2012, but then that might be it. I can envisage down the track being part of the coaching staff, but I don't want to look back and think maybe I should've played in one more World Cup or one more nationals campaign,'' she said.
In an outstanding career studded with highlights, Hamilton regards winning a gold medal at the 2002 World Series as her greatest thrill at international level.
“Playing baseball in Japan in 2005 for Tokyo Wellness College for four months - where we became the Tokyo Champions – was a wonderful experience. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have played at two Major League stadiums – the Skydome (in Toronto, Canada) and Tropicana Field (Florida, USA).” For all that, though, Hamilton fondly recalls winning the Baseball Victoria Division One title in 2005/06 as “probably my most memorable achievement.”
Achievers in any field of sporting endeavour rarely – if ever – do so without experiencing the gamut of highs and lows. Indeed so in Hamilton’s case, where illness and injury have both posed a threat during her stellar career.
Diagnosed with a kidney disease (nephrotic syndrome) two years ago did not quite sideline her from the game, but made it difficult to achieve at her customarily high level.
“I'd gained fifteen kilograms of fluid to my body, but mostly in my legs,” Hamilton said.
“Even simple things like walking became difficult some days, but I never gave up playing or training. I look almost unrecognisable now compared to back then.”
“I had a shoulder reconstruction nine months ago after diving for a flyball in a training mishap prior to the 2008 World Cup. The accident didn't stop me from playing overseas or at the following National Championships in Geelong (where she incidentally received the Victorian Team MVP). Unfortunately - if I ever wanted to throw again – I had to have an operation,” she said. “So as I head into my twelfth Victorian team (for the National Championships on the Gold Coast in April), I potentially could have the best arm, and be the fittest I've been since my first team.”
 As a regular Australian representative, Hamilton has developed a first-hand sense of how Australian women’s baseball players stack up against their counterparts.
“We seem to do rather well against the other countries,” she observed, “and our style of game continues to grow with each World Cup campaign.”
“We've gone from a team selected from Nationals - which just went away - to a squad of the best thirty players in the country selected and put through intensive training camps, constant fitness testing, then cut to eighteen having international game play before heading into a tournament,” Hamilton said.
“The professionalism has grown also through the opportunity of living and playing baseball overseas – such as the time I spent in Japan.”
The capacity of women’s baseball to grow and to further prosper in Australia is an issue close to Hamilton’s heart.
“I would love to see more girls and women playing baseball. But when you hear stories of clubs turning away junior girls from playing as their clubs only have boys in the teams, it breaks my heart,” Hamilton says. “Thankfully we have a good junior girls program at Doncaster that is helping to filter through into our senior women's teams. That will continue to strengthen our programme for years to come.”
“It is exciting to see the youth now coming through from all parts of Australia,” Hamilton said. “Back when the first Australian team was selected, it was made up of eighteen Victorians out of twenty. But now - as we head into almost a decade of having had a team - youth is beginning to dominate selections from all states, with the average age being around nineteen years.” “I can see that in the future our National team will continue to grow in strength as the ABF is beginning to acknowledge that our programme is one of worth.” Increasing participation numbers and developing our capacity to produce more women players at elite level depends so much on the support and the promotion that it receives at grassroots level, which is where Hamilton will again find herself at Deep Creek Reserve on Saturday.
“I’ve played in eleven national championships and won nine,” Hamilton said. “But for me, winning a club Grand Final is a step ahead of the other stuff – especially as a Coach.”
“You work so hard all year, with the same group striving towards the same goal. There is nothing better than rocking up on Saturday, hanging out with your mates and giving it your all.”
In her seventh season as a senior coach described by Dragons Men's Coach Stephen Black as “well respected and very knowledgeable”, Hamilton derives plenty from her leadership role.
"A lot of people ask me what it I enjoy. It's the smallest things -like seeing a player hit a hard ball to the fence and running a triple,'' she said. "It's daggy, but you feel like you've played a small part in their success and I just want to contribute to making my players the best they can be."
PAST AND PRESENT PLAYERS’ DAY, Saturday 6 February 2010
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Get your tickets to the Claxton Shield Final SeriesCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 1 February 2010
The Aces are in a hurry to get their Grand Final tickets for next week's blockbuster weekend against South Australia. So should you be.....
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET PRICES Adult $10 (bring your own chair or standing room) All Grandstand Tickets $15 (ticket includes a seat in the grandstand section) Entry to Games 1 and 2 and gain entry to Game 3 (if required) for FREE Adult $20 TICKETING:
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA GREATCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 1 February 201031 January, 2010 2009/2010 Dominos Claxton Shield
MEDIA RELEASE
CLAXTON SHIELD BASEBALL
While many other South Australia sporting teams have fallen by the wayside in recent times, SA's baseball side has risen from the ashes to make the 2009/2010 Dominos Claxton Shield grand final against Victoria, starting next Friday in Melbourne.
Not since winning the Claxton Shield in 1980 has a South Australian team played in a baseball grand final, making this year's effort one out of the box.
After losing Friday night's game one of the three-game semi-final series 1-0 against NSW, South Australia fought back to win Saturday's game 3-2, then Sunday's decider 1-0, in an awesome display of baseball at Norwood Oval.
The hero of the game was Ryan Murphy, who in his first start on the mound this season, pitched a complete game shut-out, while also accounting for SA's only run, when he blasted a shot out of the park in the second inning.
Murphy only gave up two hits and one walk in the game, while striking out eight batters. Except for Michael Lysaught's double in the sixth inning for NSW, not one batter advanced past first base for the visitors.
Lysaught was NSW's most dangerous threat with the bat, as he could have tied the game in the third frame when his shot was headed for the other side of the home run fence, only to see rightfielder Dan Wilson reach over and pull in a sensational catch.
Now its on to Victoria for South Australia's best chance at a baseball championship in 30 years.
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NSW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0
SA 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 x – 1
Hits: NSW – Lysaught, Dening; SA – Welch 3 Cresswell 2, Murphy (hr), Collins.
WP: R. Murphy; LP: C. Anderson.
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South Australia's Michael Collins has been announced as the Claxton Shield offensive player of the season, while Matthew Smith earned Rookie of the Year honours.
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Don’t forget the chance to help name Adelaide’s team in the new Australian Baseball League next season, has been extended to February 3.
Go to http://www.nameyourteam.baseball.com.au/ for the chance to go into a draw to win a trip for two to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Los Angeles, and put your vote in for the new team name.
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The naming-right sponsor of the 2010 Dominos Claxton Shield South Australian baseball team is Cornes Toyota.
For further media information, contact Robert Laidlaw on 0407 979 163, or General Manager Pat Kelly on 0414 841 495.
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Victoria hosts South Australia in Claxton finaleCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 1 February 2010
South Australia defeated New South Wales two games to one to qualify for a Dominos Claxton Shield Grand Final showdown with Victoria Aces next weekend......
The Grand Final series will be played at La Trobe University, Bundoora. A SERIES PREVIEW will be posted on these pages during Wednesday. The Grand Final series presents an opportunity for the Victorian baseball community to express its unequivocal support for a squad that has done our state proud during the 2009/10 season. With the new Australian Baseball League to be fully operational for the 2010/11 summer, Victorian baseball supporters are urged to come out in their droves to demonstrate the level of our support for the new league.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET PRICES Adult $10 (bring your own chair or standing room) All Grandstand Tickets $15 (ticket includes a seat in the grandstand section) Entry to Games 1 and 2 and gain entry to Game 3 (if required) for FREE Adult $20 TICKETING: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rox Sign Durfee High Star Coury, Make Several Roster MovesCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 1 February 2010This article was sourced from Our Sport Central through the following LINK -The Rox claimed infielder *Daniel Berg* off waivers from the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association. Berg joined the AirHogs in mid-season of 2009 after playing in the Minnesota Twins' organization for five seasons, where he reached as high as Double-A. He hit.252 with three home runs and five doubles in 35 games for Grand Prairie last year. The native of Melbourne, Australia, represented his country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and at the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament. -The Rox traded LHP *Craig Anderson* and RHP *Jerry Dunn *to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League in exchange for future considerations. An 11-year veteran of professional baseball, Anderson led the Can-Am League with 87 strikeouts in 2009 en route to a 7-4 record and a 3.62 ERA. The Australian also pitched for the Rox in 2005 before being signed by the Baltimore Orioles' organization and reaching as high as AAA. Dunn spent the last two years with Brockton, leading the league with 24 saves both seasons. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MARINERS: Pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith says he learned from an up-and-down seasonCassandra Sedgman, Monday, 1 February 2010This article was written by Ryan Divish from The Olympian and sourced through the following LINK SEATTLE - Don Wakamatsu's face breaks into a grin, then grows serious. It's clear the subject of the conversation - Ryan Rowland-Smith - fills the customarily cool Mariners manager with some emotion.
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Claxton Shield Grandfinal Seats - ON SALE NOWBen Foster, Thursday, 28 January 2010
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A Message from the CEO - John MayThursday, 28 January 2010On behalf of the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) and our Board of Directors, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the large contingent of volunteers, administrators, officials, coaches, supporters and participants that contributed to the success of our recent 2010 National Youth Championships (NYC). The Under 14 NYCs were hosted by Beenleigh Hawks Baseball Club, at The Under 16/18 NYCs were hosted by Geelong Baycats Baseball Club, at the
It was a pleasure working with both committees on this project(s), and thank you for your tireless efforts. Events such as this would not be possible without the invaluable support of our valued sponsors: to the Australian Sports Commission, our naming rights sponsor Bob Jane T-Marts, Edge 85, Virgin Blue, Willis Insurance and Fielders Choice – thank you. Thank you also to the City of Baseball Victoria – in particular Christine Little – who acted as our U16/18 event Administration Coordinator and worked tirelessly throughout the duration of the tournament – thank you. Baseball Tournament Directors: U16/18 Tournament Director Neil Barrowcliff, and his Assistant Tournament Directors Michael Goulay and Jason Blair – thank you for your support and guidance throughout this event. Similarly; thank you to Alan Weir, and his Assistant Tournament Director Peter McClenahan, for their patience and leadership at the U14 Championships. Technical and Officials – I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the team of 48 Scorers and Umpires who have travelled from around the country, committing their time to officiating both tournaments - Your efforts are greatly appreciated – thank you. I would like to make special mention of our Scoring Coordinators: Lyn Stokes/ Robyn Karlsen (U16/18) and Di Connors (U14), and our Umpire Coordinators: Ian McKenzie (U16/18) and Barry Foat (U14). To the large contingent of talent scouts who descended on Photographers – Thank you also to Joanne Thompson and her team from Kangaroo Photos (for taking some amazing shots) at the under 16/18 event; and Wayne Bowring from OzSport Photography, who captured all the action at the U14 championships. The The Thank you to the small team at the ABF who put in the long hours to deliver these events – and tackled the task of coordinating all activities both on and off the field for both tournaments. (Namely Stuart Allen, Cassandra Sedgman, Jennifer Stockman, Geoff Robertson and Brett Pickett.) I would like to make special mention of our surrogate ABF staff members – our interns, Andrew Percival (U14), Kiara McDonald and Anthony Fagan (U16/18) – for assuming the role as Village Coordinators at GGS/TSS. I am sure it was an interesting learning experience for the three of you, and we could not have delivered this important component of the tournament without your assistance. Furthermore, I would like to thank all Team Coaches and EOs for donating your time to the development of our junior High Performance athletes. I know a lot of time and effort was put in to preparing your teams prior to these events, and you should be commended for your commitment to these young athletes. In an endeavour to strengthen the quality and delivery of this event in future years, we welcome any and all feedback you may have pertaining to your experience at the Championships. Congratulations to the Players – for showing great sportsmanship, leadership and talent – and for providing us all with an exciting display of top baseball action. I look forward to watching many of your careers progress. And lastly, to the Parents and Supporters – thank-you for taking the time out of your busy lives to join us at these Championships; and for supporting not only the athletes, but our sport as a whole. It is sincerely appreciated. To all of those people listed above; congratulations on a job well done. We look forward to working with you in the near future. Kind Regards, John May CEO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern All Stars win inaugural Sydney Women's Invitational Tournament.Cassandra Sedgman, Thursday, 28 January 2010To find out all the results from the Sydney Invitational Women's Tournments use the following LINK
The Southern All Star have won the inaugural Sydney Women’s Invitational Tournament at Blacktown Olympic Park, Sydney 10 – 5 against the Central Coast Marlins.
Day 5 saw the final 4 games of the competition played, with all eight (8) teams looking for a victory on the final day.
Proceedings began with the 7 v 8 game between Baulkham Hills and Newcastle. Baulkham Hills jumped out to an early lead with 14 runs in the 1st inning to take the driver’s seat and take 7th place in the process.
Two other local Sydney teams contested the 5 v 6 playoff, the Greenway Giants against the Cronulla Sharks. Both team put out a great performance with nothing separating the sides until the final inning of the game where the Greenway side produced the winning to take the victory 5 runs to 4.
The Baseball for All side from USA and Canada had their final outing in the Sydney Women’s Invitational on Day 5 against the Knights in the 3 v 4 playoff. The Baseball for All side has played some fantastic baseball over the tournament but was not able to make inroads into the Marlins defence in this particular game.
The Knights were too strong for the young Baseball for All side taking the game 12 runs to 2 and finished the tournament in third place. The youthful Baseball for All side competed well in all their games and deserved a 4th place finish in the tournament.
So the last two teams standing were the undefeated Marlins who worked hard throughout the tournament and were well deserving of a finals berth. A team mixed with experience and youth who matched up against the experience side of the Southern All Stars from Victoria who had a host of Australian players within the side.
The Southern All Star played a solid brand of baseball scoring runs in every inning of the game except the last. The standout for the Southern All Stars was Amy McCann who hit a solo home run from her 3 hits in the game. Taylor McKay also produced 3 hits from her 4 at bats.
The Marlins weren’t able to quite get into their groove, but rallied in the 4th and 5th innings produced two (2) runs in back to back innings to bring the deficit back to five. The Marlins weren’t able to get any closer in the final innings while the All Stars added an extra run in the 6th to put the icing on the cake.
The Southern All Stars took the game 10 – 5 and with that win became the inaugural Sydney Women’s Invitational champions.
A great tournament has come to the end, with all the women involved having a great time with new friends made while others reacquainted with old friends.
To check out all the results, play by plays and photos of the tournament head to website, www.starsports.baseball.com.au
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Aces in training for Claxton Grand FinalCassandra Sedgman, Thursday, 28 January 2010Kingsley Collins, Monday, 25 January 2010 Victoria Aces have finished on top of the Claxton Shield table and will host a best-of-three Grand Final - at La Trobe University - over the weekend of 5-7 February. The Aces will play the winner of next weekend's Semi-Final between South Australia and New South Wales Patriots (Norwood Oval). The Aces invite all of their supporters to come along their training on Friday 29 January, watch the squad go through their preparations and have a chat to the players and management staff afterwards. This Friday's training session will be held at La Trobe University (Preston Baseball Club), starting at 7.00 PM. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Australia to host New South Wales in weekend semi-final seriesWednesday, 27 January 2010The DOMINO’S CLAXTON SHIELD – Comes Down to the Wire After a closely contested season the NSW Patriots are travelling to The squads are peppered with professional players and led by exceptional coaching staffs. The Patriots are being led by former Major League player Glenn Williams while Tony Harris, stalwart of the Australian National coaching staff and former Williams says “the NSW players have worked hard to get to the semi-finals and we’re really happy to be playing for the chance to face “There’s a buzz around baseball in The teams have evenly spilt their six regular-season meetings with the three games won by NSW being one-run affairs. Norwood Oval has hosted large crowds all season -- more than 2,000 fans are expected at each game. WHAT: Domino’s Claxton Shield Semi-Final Series: NSW Patriots versus WHERE: WHEN: Game 1 – Friday 29 January 6:30 pm Game 2 – Saturday 30 January 6:30 pm Game 3 (if needed) – Sunday 31 January 6:30 pm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Australia's Call-to-ArmsRobert Laidlaw, Saturday, 23 January 2010South Australia is hosting a best-of-three semi-final of the 2009/2010 Dominos Claxton Shield at Norwood Oval from next Friday, January 29, which is the first time in over a decade such an important baseball game or series has been scheduled in the state.
This is a plea to all media outlets to get behind the local team, which, if successful, will earn SA the right to challenge Victoria for the championship from February 5 in another best-of-three series.
With the new Australian Baseball League due to start next season, next weekend's home semi-final series will have huge ramifications, as South Australia will use it as a stepping stone to launch into the future with confidence.
Not since 1980 has a SA baseball team won a senior championship of any sort, including Claxton Shield and the former Australian Baseball League, which ran for 10 seasons from 1989.
South Australia has not had a lot of success on the overall sporting landscape through the 21st century, with next weekend's baseball semi-finals the perfect opportunity for the media to embrace a team that has proudly represented the state in a national competition.
On Friday SA will start its finals campaign, probably against NSW – unless it loses both ends of a double-header against bottom team Queensland tonight – from 6.35pm.
This is a call to arms for all media outlets to get behind the push to help put the state baseball team in the eye of the local sporting community.
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