Australian Baseball

Baseball has had a busy period since our last E-News with substantial developments taking place. Please CLICK on the highlighted links to read more about each topic.

The baseball that will be used for the ceremonial First Pitch at the 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Seattle on July 10 is taking a worldwide baseball journey. The tour, which came to Australia on the 31^st May and culminates at the 72^nd MLB All-Star Game in Seattle on July 10, was designed to illustrate the worldwide popularity of baseball, both at the professional and grass-roots levels. Today, David Nilsson threw the MLB 2001 All-Star Ceremonial First Pitch Game Ball to Don Knapp, ABF National Manager - High Performance Division in the Australian leg of the world tour at Broadbeach on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The supplier base has been increasing steadily under new BALME management with developments in store to help promote our National Licensing Program and our supporters. Details of the agreement and Frequently Asked Questions can be found in the ABF Web Library. Any further queries please contact Les Flower at VBA on (03) 9360 0766 or bballvic@netspace.net.au

To help plan your ‘time-off’ to watch some baseball…the calendar of events is constantly being updated through the year 2002 with the World Masters Games to take place in Melbourne October 2002. Keep posted in the Oceania Site’s Major Events for Baseball taking place in their region.

CAL RIPKEN WORLD SERIES

The new Australian Dingoes Team has been announced with the appointment of Bob Nilsson as Head Coach, Greg Kent as Assistant Coach, and Keith Land as Executive Officer. The players are: Jeremy Blad and Matt Kennelly from WA; Jayden Pendleton, Adam Bowmaker, Shaun Garner, and Mitchell Moore from NSW; James Beresford, Feeney Armistead, Mitchell Parry from VIC, Jason Brown from NT, Clinton Naylor and Alan Schoenberger from QLD, Stefan Welch and Tom Fiebig from SA, and Ben Warner from ACT. Congratulations to all selected!

BASEBALL CONFEDERATION OF OCEANIA

The BCO’s updated contact details can be found in their LIBRARY, following appointments of several new members, one of which is their new President, Mark Peters (our former ABF President and Board Chairman).

Also in their LIBRARY is the ‘Baseball Rules Index’, created by Wayne Durbidge, to help find relevant rules in the Official Rules Book…a handy reference item for officials.

NATIONAL SCORING DEVELOPMENT

A recent telephone conference held on the 21^st May between representatives from the State Scorers Associations and the ABF discussed upgrading the National Scorebook, National Software Package and development of a National Scoring Accreditation Scheme. Scoring will take on a new level in Australia as these members solidify ways to keep up with technology and mould as a group.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY PROGRAM

From July 4th to August 18th there will be 60 players in attendance at the inaugural Major League Baseball Australian Academy (MLBAAP) that will be held at the Gold Coast. This group will be broken into two groups. AAA will have 35 players and AA will have 25. These players are eligible for selection in their respective touring side of 18.

OVERSEAS PLAYERS NEWS FORUM

LUKE PROKOPEC is leading the rookies with a brilliant 6-1 record. A day after the most dominating start of his career, rookie right-hander, Luke, was downplaying talk of his name being in the mix of National League rookie-of-the-year candidates. "He's got great stuff, obviously, a plus-fastball when it's 93-94-miles per hour, and a couple of good breaking balls to complement a good changeup," catcher Chad Kreuter said. "And he's got the [mental] makeup of a competitor. . . . Whether he's getting beat around or whether it's a one-run game, he's out there with the same fire in his eyes. He wants to keep achieving even when he's doing well."

BRAD THOMAS becomes the 12^th Australian Major League Player in history! 23-year-old, former Sydney Storm player made his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday against the Oakland A’s. Although impressing the 1^st place Twins in Spring Training in 8 starts with their Double-A affiliate with a 5-0, 2.79 ERA he had a tough debut giving up 4 runs, 3 hits in 1 ^2/3 innings. Although having a difficult time in his first appearance Thomas was elated to make it to the big league level.

THE AUSTRALIAN PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TOURING TEAM

Country Baseball NSW took all the Trophies, winning the Webb Cup, played between NSW and Victoria 22 runs to 2. Northern Territory came in second followed by Queensland Country Rams, Victoria Provincial, New Zealand, Western Australia Country then South Australia Country.

Team STATS are now available in the Provincials Site in the LIBRARY as well as the Game Results in the News.

The Australian Provincial Touring Squad will be heading off to Europe with Coach Allan Parrott from the 30^th June through 25^th July to participate in the Belgium and German Opens. Team profiles including players and coaching staff are also available in the Provincials LIBRARY.

Victoria came out as the ‘reining’ champs for the National Women’s Championship after a severe rain storm cancelled the finals. There was no question about their strength as the Victorian Team aggressively fought their way through the competition winning all but one game (vs NSW) with the mercy rule. Team MVPs were Cheryl-Lee Drew (WA), Mary-Anne Palatsides (VICP), Rachel Hawert (QLD), Narissa Dobel (CNSW), Danielle Bilby (NSW), and Shandelle Ross (VIC).

Our very first National Women’s Squad is gearing up to participate in the inaugural Women’s World Series to be held in Toronto from the 4^th – 8^th July. Australia was instrumental in initiating this event for women and has expressed interest in hosting the 2002 Women’s Series!

The 13th Annual Schoolboys Tournament was recently held in Melbourne, 6th - 11th May at Cheltanham. It was a highly successful and entertaining week with NSW running out winners for the fifth consecutive year.

Final placings were (in order): NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, then WA. The Golden Arm went to Chris Morgan (ACT), Golden Glove - Jonathon Freeston (NSW), Batting – Chris Clem (QLD), and Most Valuable Player to Jared Mangioni (NSW). All Team Stats are available in the High School Site – LIBRARY.

As many are aware, Maria Martinez-Frew, our iBaseball Webmaster has now left. Adam Mark is our new iSport Sport Development Executive for Baseball. Adam started working for iSport in January last year. He originally looked after NSW Amateur Soccer Federation, Northern NSW Soccer Federation, NSW, Futsal, QLD Futsal, and Cricket NSW which have all become extremely successful sites under iSport’s domain.

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