Annual Report to VSA

Sale Women's Softball Association

Annual Report 1982-83

The 82-83 season was a year of ups and downs for SWSA. The disappointing feature was the drop in team numbers, particularly in the senior grades, and by far the greatest highlight was the performance of the Under 17 team in winning the C Grade title at the Victorian Championships.

The season began with 19 teams competing in three grades:-7 Open, 5 Under 16 and 7 Primary. Unfortunately, two of the Open teams dropped out during the year due to loss of players, which took a lot of interest out of the competition which was dominated by two Squaws teams. Many junior players helped make the numbers in the Open teams. We are very concerned at the future of our Open competition, as the better players are not getting the competition they need.

Premiership winners were:-

Open: Squaws White

Under 16: Squaws Red

Primary: Guthridge Martians

Best and Fairest winners:-

Open: Gail Neylan

Under 16: Jenny McGrath

Primary: Jackie Hunter

Best in Championships:-

Open: Jenny McGrath

Under 16: Karen Schliefer

Primary: Melissa Silby

Sale competed in State and Gippsland Regional Championships in all available grades, with the Under 17 being the most successful, reaching the final of the Gippsland Regionals, and going through undefeated to win the C Grade title in the State Championships at Knox. The girls are eagerly looking forward to playing in B Grade next year.

We were pleased to be able to take part in the Open State Championships once again, after a couple of lean years where we could not scrape up a team. This was a very young side which consisted mainly of the Under 17 team. Although not winning games, the girls turned in some good performances, gaining valuable experience and winning many friends. It was unfortunate for young Robyn McGrath that she suffered a broken ankle on the last day of the Championships. Robyn had played some excellent softball during the series. The injury sidelined her from the Under 17 team, so she missed out on the glory of their win. However, Robyn was soon compensated for this disappointment by recently being named in the State Under 16 Hockey Team.

A special mention must also go to Robyn's twin sister, Jenny McGrath, who had a great softball season. She did an excellent job as catcher for both the Open and Under 17 representative teams, won the Best and Fairest award for Under 16, and was runner-up in the Open Best and Fairest award.

Umpiring has again been a problem for us, with the load falling on the same few. A presentation was made to Bev Beard in appreciation of her umpiring services at all the Championships.

We were sorry to lose Gail and John Neylan at the end of the season as they moved to Melbourne to a new job. They were both valuable members of our Association - Gail as a player, coach and umpire, and John as a coach.

Sale will host the Victorian Under 14 State Championships in 1984. Preliminary planning has already begun as we are looking to making our first State Championships a success.

David McGrath - Secretary

Season Summary

Sale Women's Softball Association

Season 1982 / 83

Grounds Mc Millan Park

Committee

President                     Bev Beard

Vice President            Gayle Neylan

Secretary                    David Mc Grath

Assistant Secretary    D Krupa

Treasurer                    Judy Joyner

Assistant Treasurer    Rosemary Ham

Records Secretary     Shirley Collins

Property Officer         A Ham

Publicity Officer         G Perkins

Umpires Committee  Bev Beard, Frances Mc Grath, Liz Foreman, Cristine Fry, M Collins, Gayle Neylan

Social Committee      Barb Pinkus, R Ham, M Wilson, M Bosman, J Lucas, M Greening

Selection Committee Bev Beard, David Mc Grath, Liz Foreman, A Andrews

Teams 19 (7 open, 5 under 16, 7 primary)

Final Ladders

Open Women

Squaws White

Squaws Green

Redsox

Squaws Red

Mixtures

Secondary

Squaws Green

Squaws Red

STAGGS

Squaws White

College Blue

Primary

Guthridge Martians

St Mary's

Araluen Green

Araluen Gold

545

St Thomas

Guthridge Grasshoppers

Finals

Open Women    Squaws White d Squaws Green

Secondary         Squaws Red d Squaws Green

Primary              Guthridge Martians d St Marys

Best & Fairest

Open Women   Gayle Neylan

Secondary        Jenny McGrath

Primary             Jackie Hunter

Regional Championships

Primary            Entered

U14 Girls          Entered

U17 Girls          Runners up to Berwick at Berwick

Open Women Entered

State Championships

Primary Entered

U14 Girls    C Grade finished 6th / 7 teams at Berwick.

U17 Girls    WON C Grade finished 1st / 5 teams at Knox, Won 4 / 4 games,

                   Defeated Latrobe Valley in grand final 16-8.

Open Women     C Grade finished 7th / 7 teams at Waverley, Won 0 / 6 games

Championship Best & Fairest

Primary Melissa Silby

U14 Girls Karen Schliefer

U17 Girls Jenny McGrath

Season Highlights

First association representative team State Championship win. Our U17 girls won the Victorian C Grade Championships at Knox, coached by Gayle Neylan with assistance from David McGrath.

Under 17 Girls runners up in regional championships.

Presentation made to Bev Beard in appreciation of her umpiring services at Regional & State Championships

John & Gayle Neylan were thanked for their involvement and work for the Association

Fees - Senior $10.00, Junior $5.00