2007/08 Annual Report Port Adelaide Baseball Club PREMIERS, SEASON 2007/08. 100 Years of Baseball in SA PATRON Margaret Ralston 100 years VICE PATRONS Dr Roger Capps Don Carter Ron Chandler of Baseball in Bert Haynes W Jones Don Klaebe Ken Wesslink Ron Wright South Australia PRESIDENT Kevin Jennings VICE PRESIDENT Jim Wilton DIRECTORS Finance & Marketing Portfolio Chris Day Youth Operations Portfolio Jim Wilton Bob Neiswander Baseball Operation Portfolio Jeff Kevan Affiliated Associations Portfolio Peter Thompson Masters / Memorabilia Portfolio Gordon Penhall OFFICE PERSONNEL Chief Executive Officer Paul Begg Development Manager Paul Chandler Administration Officer Lauren Hill Operations Coordinator Peter Cesco Data Base Assistant Derek Slater Development Officer Ben Arthur State Director of Coaching Ron Harvey State Director of Umpiring Paul Begg OTHERS League Historian Robert Laidlaw ABF Council Representative Kevin Jennings League Tribunal Peter Dixon, Hugh Franke, Ron Wright, Peter Thompson Affiliated Associations BUASA, Scorers Assoc. SACBA, Winter Baseball 100 years of Baseball in South Australia South Australian Baseball League Inc. Contents President’s Report Chief Executive Officer’s Report Australian Baseball Federation Baseball Operations Report Finance Report Balance Sheet Detailed Income & Expenditure Statement Development Manager’s Report Development Officer’s Report State Director of Coaching’s Report S.A.S.I Report Youth Operations Report Masters / Memorabilia Report Affiliated Association’s Report Claxton Shield Little League Representative Team Under 14 State Team Under 16 State Team Under 18 State Team Premiership Tables South Australian Country Baseball Association (SACBA) State Director of Umpiring Report SA Baseball Scorers Association (SABSA) History of Capps Medallists South Australian Baseball League Inc. President’s Report It hardly seems to be 12 months since our last Annual Report, outstanding contributions to the game of baseball. and I find myself beginning this year’s report in much the same fashion. That is, by offering sincere congratulations to the I thank the members of the Board of Baseball SA for their sup- Port Adelaide Baseball Club for winning the Division 1 Cham- port and performance in the past year. You will find individual pionship after a hiatus of so many years. The 3 games of the reports on their areas of responsibility elsewhere in this docu- finals were played in very trying weather conditions, the heat ment, but I wish to acknowledge their efforts, knowing that being an additional pressure for the players and all involved, several of them have had to perform under significant medical and once again it was a credit to Port Adelaide and Glenelg constraint. Clearly, not all of the decisions made by the Board that the games were played in such a fine spirit. I must make are universally popular, but the members maintain the position mention of the exceptional efforts of the Glenelg Baseball that they are made in the best interests of the sport of baseball Club, its volunteers and the local Council, in going to extreme and Baseball SA. lengths to combat the elements, such as fans in the dugouts and for the scorers, as well as ample shade from many sources. “It is a matter of great concern that such a great game as ours The result was a facility which provided a fitting venue for our suffers from the lack of umpires, and here again I would ask grand final, with an excellent playing surface. the utmost support of everyone in endeavouring to secure a panel of umpires to adequately cover all games throughout the In November 2002 we welcomed Michael Carter to the South season. To Club Secretaries I appeal especially, to contact Australian Baseball League as General Manager, and in Sep- former players who may be persuaded to take up umpiring.” tember 2007 we said farewell. During that time our accumu- (W.H.Stephens – Hon Secretary & Treasurer - SA Baseball lated funds went from some $47,000 in the red to a positive of Umpires and Scorers Club. 19th Annual Report - 17th April around $185,000 due to a large extent to Michael’s perform- 1950) ance in the role, and he was instrumental in setting in place many other initiatives. I take this opportunity to formally In closing I wish to acknowledge the work done and assistance recognise his very valuable service to Baseball SA. We were provided to our game by the many people, be they players, then extremely fortunate to obtain as his replacement Paul parents or supporters who fill the many positions and perform Begg, who has slotted easily into the role. the numerous tasks required to enable Clubs to function. Another staff change has seen the resignation of Peter Cesco from the Operations position and I wish to thank Peter for his work in that very difficult position over the last few years. The Board is pleased to welcome Lorraine Dunn into the va- cant position and wishes her well in her new role with Baseball SA. I also wish to thank the rest of the staff of Baseball SA, together with those members of the baseball fraternity who provide voluntary service, for their endeavours over the past twelve months. Once again our Annual Capps Medal dinner proved to be an outstanding success, with many positive comments received. We were fortunate that Dr Roger Capps was able to delay his departure to the Australian Grand Prix so that he could attend and present the medal to the eventual winner, a very popular, Michael Ewart. To the Woodville District Baseball Club and the Southern Districts Baseball Club I express my thanks and well done on behalf of Baseball SA for hosting the Claxton Shield and Un- der 23 competition respectively. In both instances the facili- ties and services provided were excellent and the work done by their volunteers outstanding. In addition, Woodville are to be thanked for once more hosting the annual Goodwill Series. I also extend congratulations to Shayne Bennett who was inducted into the Australian Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in January, as a player who has had an outstanding career in the game of baseball (primarily outside Australia) and has made South Australian Baseball League Inc. Chief Executive Officer’s Report It is with pleasure I prepare my first annual report and while a sure situations. South Australia finished third behind Western home for baseball and a proposed National Competition have Australia and New South Wales. dominated previous annual reports I am pleased to say that Baseball continues to compete admirably with other sports in The performance of the Claxton Shield squad in the re- terms of playing numbers, teams competing and funding from vamped Claxton Shield competition this year was a credit to the Office for Recreation and Sport. In addition slow progress all involved. Head coach Mark Haylock certainly spent a lot has been made on a major facility and the national competi- of time with the squad leading up to the tournament. Warm tion. up games against sides competing in the December Goodwill Series were ideal in the lead up to the competition Facility Development Facility development at States Sports Park, Gepps Cross was The performance of the Claxton Shield group was certainly a very detailed project that required all cards to fall into place tested during the oppressive weather conditions in Adelaide perfectly. Since applying for $8.4 million dollars last year this and we were narrowly beaten in some close games. With figure has blown out to $19 million by the time the final case continued increased focus in this area, results are expected study was completed in February 2008. Our project is now be- to improve. Coach Haylock has resigned as Head Coach and ing considered as a high priority sport that needs the facilities the Board has appointed Ron Harvey as Head Coach of the to attract a national competition and international teams. Claxton Shield side. This case study did not receive State Government approval but Baseball Operations is supported by the Office for Recreation and Sport. We will Baseball Operations during the past season were significantly pursue the application until no further action can be taken. enhanced by the Leagues investment in providing computers to each club in the metropolitan area last season. Posting of Major concerns have been raised with the State Government results and general maintenance of the operations were signifi- over the risk to the sport if South Australia does not have a cantly more efficient than has been the case in previous years. suitable facility able to host national fixtures in 2009. On a positive note, competition management and ground Even if given an immediate green light for facility develop- allocation while appearing to be a major concern actually im- ment at State Sports Park, completion of construction would proved, and will continue to do so with stability in personnel take at least 2-3 years, placing our involvement at great risk. managing League operations. Therefore, a major focus in the short term is the development of an interim facility that satisfies the requirements to host Finance national competition events. This has been directed toward It is often discussed that Baseball SA is flush with funds due the Glenelg Baseball Club grounds. State Government support to the performance of the League over recent times. This per- has been given at this stage however their grant is subject to ception could not be further from the truth. In fact, Baseball Federal Government funding. This funding has not been ap- SA is fighting to keep its head above water in an extremely proved and we have been encouraged to re-apply to the new competitive environment. Federal Government. Those reading this report will note that Baseball SA has ap- High Performance proximately $120,000 in term deposit earning interest at a Great progress has been made in the development of our elite rate of 7.35% per annum.