SPONSOR SPONSOR REQUIRED REQUIRED YOUR LOGO YOUR LOGO COULD BE HERE COULD BE HERE CALL 0434922757 CALL 0434922757 BSA Is a not-for-profit organisation run solely through the funds generated at the park Touching Base The newsletter of the Brisbane Softball Association “The Place to Play Softball” I’m pickin’ up good vibrations With the sounds of the The Rep season is almost way. A special thanks to all Date Claimer great Beach Boys tunes over with our U19 Women of the volunteer coaches, 4-6/10/14—U19 State hitting the airwaves her- about to play—please come managers and statisticians. Championships alding spring and the prom- out and support the team. We couldn’t achieve any- 11 /10/14—Season launch ise of summer it is hard to A big congrats to our Open thing without you. And of believe that it is only a few Red and White teams for course the supporters. If 11/10/2014—Rep nomina- sleeps before the summer their magnificent efforts. you didn’t see Rosie Harm’s tions open season begins—and I am victory dance on the BSA The Whites were a bit 21/10/14—Club Council pickin’ up good vibrations! hard done by because they Facebook page you really 8/11/2014—Unified Soft- This year the competition just missed out on the missed something special. ball League Grand Final will be bigger and better playoffs by a very small Finally, the social softball with the addition of a defensive run percentage experiment was such a suc- 8/11/2015—Rep Awards skinned diamond 2 and an but acquitted themselves cess over the last two years Night under 15 boys competition. well by being runners up in that it is now a permanent 15/11/2015—Club Council At the time of writing, the President’s Cup. And feature with a summer com- 30/11/2014—National clubs are madly trying to the Reds, well, what can I petition looking very good ADF Championships say—winning the final by a and a SQI champions league finalise teams with many 6/12/2014—Level 4 decisive 8-0 is a statement where the best teams from players meaning to return scorer’s clinic or join but not yet putting in anyone’s language and the winter Slow Pitch comps 13/12/14—last game for pen to paper—a frustrating the ladies deserve all the to play off to establish huge the year time for club registrars. accolades that came their bragging rights—stay tuned. Inside this issue: Sow’s Ear to a Silk Purse Present's Message 2 Umpire’s Call 2 The cabbage patch is a patch no bobcat operator and truckies more with the turning of the to get the irrigation laid and Rep Round Up 3 first sod and the laying of the the surface down in one day. Sport Shorts 4 deco surface in readiness for I suspect there will be a lot Summer Big Bash 4 the U19 Championships on the of lobbying of the Fixtures first week end in October. and Grading Committee to Scorer’s Corner 4 The small band of work- play on what will be a Olympic Watch 4 ers—namely Dave very good surface in- Waller, Dave Trotman deed. and Mick Gregory— Was Leigh pleased?— performed a small mira- you bet—see page 2! cle by working with the Volume 3 Number 2 www.brisbane.softball.org.au October 2014 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT UMPIRES CALL With the season drawing closer If you have been following our Facebook page, and let’s things have been hotting up at face it who isn’t, then you would have noticed questions Downey and with the board and our posed by our friends from the Umpires Association that volunteers. There is so much going on are, at least for most, a bit tricky. and most of this will be captured in This great initiative of our President Leigh Martyn, de- this newsletter but the highlights scribes a situation that can and does occur in a game and for me since the last newsletter are: you, the reader, has to make a decision as if you were Open Red winning the Open State Championships – the Umpire. If by some strange reason you haven’t seen undefeated! Best Defensive too! #TeamDiversity it yet, log on and have a look and see how well you know The courageous run to the finals of our U17 team – the rules! had a brilliant carnival and only just went down in the Grand Final At time of writing our last rep team for the year is gearing up for the U19 state championships at OUR DA – that’s exciting. Go BSA! The effort the BSA working committee have done for the State U19 champs – we want this championships to be the best one yet The volunteers that continually work to make this association what it is. From working bees to working committees (namely my Sports Development portfo- lio), thank you! Members like you are gold! And although I write it last, those that know me, will know that I am pretty excited, ok, over the moon, about the transformation of Diamond 2. It’s been a long time coming but I guess now we can say it was worth the wait. We have a little ways to go to make it Brisbane Softball Association’s Redshirts umpire pro- to the standard we want (and that’s more of a work gram runs throughout the summer season at Downey in progress, hoping to tell you more next newsletter) Park. This program, conducted by accredited national but we have a 2nd skin diamond and it will make its and international BSA Umpires, will work with you to debut at the State U19 Championships (October 4- teach the rules, where to stand for calls, how to manage 6). Kudos to Wally for his efforts in organising the games safely and (believe it or not…) have fun doing it! work that has occurred so far. The official opening of Diamond 2 skin diamond will be in our comp on the Starting on 18 October 2014 the Redshirts program is 11th October @ midday, so we would love to see as your chance to get more out of softball by giving your many as you as possible to celebrate this milestone for Brisbane softball. support to umpiring your game. This year is going to be a big one with all the events we have planned. I hope to see you all around the park and at Whether you just want to support your family who plays, these events and continue to support our great associa- your club, or are thinking of international stardom (yes, tion. we have international umpires who started as Redshirt) Looking forward to seeing you all over the ball park! register your interest with your club or association to Leigh Martyn. become a Redshirt. For details contact Martin Turnbull at Editor: Jeff Wood martin,[email protected] Email: [email protected] Page 2 Touching Base REP ROUND UP Our representative teams have been sizzling the month also be travelling to Perth with the Heat Team in of September with our Open Women’s Teams and Under January 2015 to play for the Gilley’s Shield. 17 Team playing at Redlands and Caboolture in their respective State Championship hit outs. The school holidays began with gusto with the Under 17 State Championships being held at Caboolture. After a Our Open Red team went through the Championships undefeated! With many of our experienced players still overseas in Amsterdam at the World Series, our young slow start, our girls found their softball ‘mojo’ and team (most senior player Jessica Muller at the ripe age punched above their weight to win a berth in the grand of 25J) performed outstandingly. They defeated final. Playing against Wynnum for the second time that Redlands 8-0 in the Grand Final to win the Queensland day and ahead 5-4 with just six outs to go, they had the Cup and win back the Mack Gilley Memorial Trophy after State Title within reach. Wynnum however had other a 3 year drought. They were also crowned best defensive ideas and went ahead 10-5 to take the State team with just 4 runs scored against them for the whole Championship crown. tournament. Just awesome! At the conclusion of the event the Under 17 Our Open White team weren’t too shabby either! Our Queensland Team was announced with the following girls fought tooth and nail during the round games but girls earning State Representative honours: missed finishing in the top 4 by just 1 run. With a never say die attitude they progressed to the Open State Phoebe Collins Championship final against Wynnum but were narrowly Lauren McDonnell beaten 3 -2 and received the Ipswich Trophy. Congratulations are also extended to Kym Tollenaere At the conclusion of the event the Queensland Heat (Head Coach), Michelle Waller (Assistant Coach) and Team was announced. Our girls faired well with the Kim North (Manager) who will also be travelling to following players earning State Representative honours: Canberra to play for the Esther Deason Shield in 2015. Brooke McNamara The Under 19 Team is busy making final preparations Stephanie Harm for their State Championship being hosted by our very Janice Blackman own Brisbane Softball Association. Come down and Mikayla Gregory show your support it’s going to be a ripper! Kate Sternes Melinda Weaver While our teams are hard at it, the Development Jocelyn McCallum Portfolio Team is well into planning for the 2014/15 Jodie Bowering Program.