THE HISTORY OF SCHOOL BASEBALL IN AUSTRALIA Baseball has been played in schools since the early 1900s. In New South Wales the longest running School Knockout happens to be in the sport of Baseball, the Proud Shield competition as it is known, began in 1908, and was won by Fort Street High. The sport is presently played in over 500 Secondary Schools around Australia. At the interstate level, competitions have existed since the 1940's, with some evidence suggesting competitions in the 1930's. These competitions involved New South Wales and Queensland teams with spasmodic representation from South Australia and Victoria. Throughout the 1970's and early 1980's only New South Wales and Queensland teams competed, until 1987 when Australian Capital Territory played in a three way Championship. Michael Chapman, the New South Wales Combined High Schools Baseball Convener, worked tirelessly throughout this time to have other States participate and for Baseball to come under the umbrella of the Australian Schools Sports Council. In 1988, Michael was elected the first National Secretary of the Australian Secondary School Baseball Association under the banner of the Australian Schools Sports Council. The Championship of 1988, held in Canberra, had four teams - New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. It was a trial Championship before the full acceptance into the Australian Schools Sports Council. The venue for the inaugural Australian Secondary Schools Baseball Championship was Oriole Stadium, Sydney in 1989 where Victoria also competed for the first time. This year saw us playing our 29th Championship. With the greater interest in the community, baseball standards have improved in schools. The Australian Secondary Schools Baseball Team toured for the first time in 1992. This seven game tour of Japan was an outstanding success. With the team finishing the tour with a 3.5/3.5 win/loss record against some of Japan's leading prefectures. In 1995, the Australian Secondary Schools Baseball Team toured Canada participating in the BC Falls Classic, winning all 10 matches and having an outstanding tour in the process. A National Team also toured to American Samoa in 1996 and to Florida in 2000. Beginning in 2005, with a tour to South Africa, and then in 2007 to Canada, and 2009, 2011 2014 and 2016 to the USA, the National Schools Team will be undertaking an international tour every second year. Such future tours will give added incentives to be involved in School Baseball. The following information is provided as an insight into School Baseball and should you have added information regarding its history please do not hesitate to advise the National Secretary. Past Champions The Champion team is awarded the Michael Chapman Trophy Year Champions Runners Up 1989 Victoria New South Wales 1990 Victoria New South Wales 1991 New South Wales Queensland 1992 New South Wales Western Australia 1993 New South Wales Queensland 1994 Queensland Western Australia 1995 Victoria Queensland 1996 Victoria New South Wales 1997 New South Wales Victoria 1998 New South Wales Queensland 1999 New South Wales Queensland 2000 New South Wales South Australia 2001 New South Wales Victoria 2002 Victoria New South Wales 2003 New South Wales Queensland 2004 Western Australia New South Wales 2005 Victoria New South Wales 2006 New South Wales Western Australia 2007 Queensland New South Wales 2008 Western Australia New South Wales 2009 Victoria New South Wales 2010 New South Wales ACT 2011 New South Wales Western Australia 2012 Victoria New South Wales 2013 New South Wales Western Australia 2014 New South Wales Victoria 2015 New South Wales Victoria 2016 Western Australia New South Wales 2017 New South Wales Victoria Players Awards During the series there are a number of awards players are competing for: * Golden Glove Award: - Graeme Webb Memorial Award For the Most Outstanding Fielder of the Championship * Golden Arm Award:-For the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Championship * Batting Award:- For the Best Batting Average of the Championship * Most Valuable Player Award: - Ken McGuire Medal For the Most Valuable Player of the Championship As well as these awards, a Most Valuable Player Award will be made at the completion of each game to each team throughout the Championships. 2 Awards History Year Golden Arm Batting Award Golden Glove M V P Graeme Webb Award Ken McGuire Medal 1989 Cameron Cairncross - QLD Andrew Lehmann - VIC Tim Auld - VIC Lyndon Hockey - VIC 1990 Stephen Hill - VIC Scott Tunkin - NSW Kyle Burton - VIC Cameron Burns - VIC 1991 Adam Leidreiter - QLD Glenn Reeves - VIC Adam Roberts - ACT Adam Roberts - ACT 1992 Dion Sappelli - WA Dean Marnell - VIC Ben Utting - VIC Dean Marnell - VIC 1993 Brent Iddon - NSW Scott Mitchell - NSW Darren Phillips - NSW Shane Hogan - VIC 1994 David Gooda - QLD Russell Spear - VIC Ben Risinger - WA David Gooda - QLD 1995 Travis Brooker - VIC Heath Wilson - QLD Ben Risinger - WA Ben Risinger - WA 1996 Michael Crooks - VIC Lachlan Thorburn - QLD Cameron Ross - VIC Lachlan Thorburn - QLD 1997 SEE BELOW 1998 Tom Brice – SA Adam Morrissey - NSW Rod Van Buizen - NSW Adam Morrissey - NSW Gary Coogan – NSW 1999 Leigh Neuage - SA Peter Tautor – VIC Scott Dalgairns - NSW Andrew Sheffield - NSW Daniel Westerside – WA 2000 David Welch - NSW Nick Kimpton - ACT Dale Ziersch - SA Jarad Mangioni - NSW 2001 Chris Morgan – ACT Chris Clem – QLD Jonathon Freeston-NSW Jarad Mangioni – NSW 2002 Evan Phillips – VIC Ryan McMillan - NSW Trent D’Antonio – NSW Adam Blackley – VIC 2003 Shaun Lindsay – NSW Ben Erichsen - NSW Mitch Thomson – QLD Tim Kennelly - WA 2004 Liam Hendriks – WA Daniel Glynn - NSW Tom Dicker - VIC Tomo Murakami - ACT 2005 Josh Spence - VIC Jason Cousins - VIC Alan Schoenberger - QLD Josh Spence - VIC 2006 Liam Hendriks - WA Stefan Welch - SA Stefan Welch - SA Stefan Welch - SA 2007 Yasu Maki – QLD Justin Roe – SA Christian Wise – WA Justin Roe – SA 2008 Nathan Driessen– WA Brodie Wyatt - SA Sam Thornton - ACT Sean Williams – ACT 2009 Tom Shaw - VIC Jordan McDonald – WA Jacob Younis – NSW Daniel Lee – SA 2010 Dan McGrath - VIC Luke Parish – NSW Alex Stewart – WA Jacob Younis - NSW 2011 Josh Spence – QLD Corey Barnes – NSW Nathan van der Linden-SA Nathan van der Linden-SA 2012 David Smith - WA Sam Kennelly – WA Tim Wakefield – NSW Ben Kernick – VIC 2013 Bryce Collins – QLD Jack Barrie - QLD Dean Frew – NSW Dean Frew – NSW 2014 Lachlan Wells – NSW Tyler Leskiw – QLD Mitch Neunborn – WA Dean Frew – NSW 2015 Jack O’Loughlin - SA Gavin Dixon - NSW Harry Fullerton - NSW Jack O’Loughlin - SA 2016 Josh Robins - NSW Matthew Martinson - NSW Jess Williams - WA Ulrich Bojarski - WA 2017 Lachlan Giulieri - NSW Rhys De Highden -VIC Ethan Stacey - NSW Oliver McMahon - VIC Note: In 1997 the weather meant a shortened Championship was played. As a result the above awards were not given, instead each State gave an MVP Award, & a Final Series MVP was awarded. The awards went to: Final Series MVP: Nathan Walbanke (NSW) New South Wales MVP: Rod Van Buizen South Australia MVP: Darian King Western Australia MVP: Aaron Ottoway Queensland MVP: McLean Brealey Victoria MVP: Casey Jones 3 Players who have competed in SSA Baseball Championships and signed Professional Baseball Contracts (* WENT ON TO PLAY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL) James Albury QLD Boston Red Sox Byron Aird NSW Detroit Tigers Dean Aldridge NSW Detroit Tigers John Allender ACT Arizona Diamondbacks Craig Anderson NSW Seattle Mariners Nathan Aron VIC New York Yankees Tim Atherton NSW Minnesota Twins Joe Atkins SA Kansas City Royals Tim Auty NSW Seattle Mariners Mitch Ayres VIC L.A. Dodgers Trent Baker QLD Cleveland Indians Jack Barrie QLD Minnesota Twins Ryan Battaglia QLD Cleveland Indians Hayden Beard ACT New York Mets PJ Bevis QLD Arizona Diamondbacks Liam Bedford VIC Philadelphia Phillies Shane Benson NSW Toronto Blue Jays Daniel Berg VIC Minnesota Twins Tim Besford VIC Montreal Expos Elliott Biddle VIC Minnesota Twins Adam Blackley VIC Minnesota Twins *Travis Blackley VIC Seattle Mariners Ulrich Bojarski WA Detroit Tigers San Francisco Giants Jake Bowey WA Houston Astros Oakland Athletics Tom Brice SA Chicago White Sox Adam Bright VIC Colorado Rockies * Cameron Cairncross QLD San Diego Padres Brett Cederblad QLD Boston Red Sox Greg Clarke NSW Minnesota Twins Dylan Child SA Pittsburgh Pirates Chris Clem QLD Cleveland Indians Michael Collins ACT Anaheim Angels Tim Cox NSW Boston Red Sox Tristan Crawford QLD Minnesota Twins Lachlan Dale WA San Diego Padres Josh Davis VIC Anaheim Angels Trent D’Antonio NSW Florida Marlins Alan De San Miguel WA Minnesota Twins Andrew Dewar VIC Atlanta Braves Mitch Dening NSW Boston Red Sox Nathan Driessen WA Cincinnati Reds Jarrad Eacott NSW Minnesota Twins Gavin Edmonson WA L.A. Dodgers Tom Ellis VIC Seattle Mariners Justin Erasmus QLD Boston Red Sox Tom Fiebig SA Cincinnati Reds Mitch Fienemann SA Pittsburgh Pirates Simon Fletcher NSW Minnesota Twins Adam Forbes NSW Chicago White Sox Michael Forbes SA Atlanta Braves Darryl George VIC Tampa Bay Devil Rays David Gooda QLD Milwaukee Brewers Paul Gorman QLD Anaheim Angels Mitch Graham WA Philadelphia Phillies Denis Grubb ACT New York Yankees Josh Guyer NSW Minnesota Twins Ben Hammer VIC Houston Astros Elliott Hargreaves WA Cincinnati Reds * Brad Harman VIC Philadelphia Phillies Karl Harris NSW Montreal Expos Nathan Hass QLD Atlanta Braves Matthew Haynes QLD Cleveland Indians Donovan Hendricks VIC Atlanta Braves Josh Hendricks VIC Minnesota Twins * Liam Hendriks WA San Francisco