Annual report to VSA

Annual Report to VSA for season 1988/89

SALE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION INC. ANNUAL REPORT

1988/89 has been another very busy season for Sale Softball Association with the highlights being our hosting of the Victorian Under 14 Championships, the success of our Under 16 team in winning their division at the Victorian Championships at Frankston, and the successful introduction of our mixed mid-week twilight competition.

Prior to our season commencing we finally completed all the requirements to become an incorporated body. Our Tournament Committee had also been very busy preparing for the Under 14 Championships.

We felt that this was a very successful tournament with everything having flowed smoothly until the unfortunate finals' mess up of which you have all heard so much. The whole affair left a sour taste in our mouths and no doubt resulted in great disappointment and disillusionment to the teams most affected. We trust that the softball fraternity has learnt something from this episode, and that we work together to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

We once again thank the East Sale RAAF Base for their fantastic co-operation in assisting us to host the Championships. We also thank the Commonwealth Bank and Ollie's Family Restaurants for their financial support.

This season we entered teams in all grades of Victorian and Gippsland Championships. Our only success was the Under 16 team. Congratulations to coach, Bev Beard -(out of umpiring gear for a change), and her team of hard-working girls. Congratulations also to Penny Beard and Sarah Menke on being named in the Under 16 development squad. Penny was subsequently named to attend further weekly training sessions in Melbourne.

Other players to be named in development squads were Jill McGrath and Katrina Drewry (Under 19), and Jacqui Tudor (Open).

Our success story of the year was the introduction of the mid­week twilight mixed competition. Ten teams entered, which brought an influx of new faces into our association and also saw the return of several of our female members who had ceased to play on Saturdays. Each team is limited to a maximum of four males on the field at one time. The competition which began in a semi-social low key manner was well received by all, and seems assured of a bright future.

On the other hand we are rather concerned in the decline in interest in our Saturday ranks. This season we could only field 4 senior teams, our under 17 competition had five teams, and the under 14 was almost a non-event with only three teams. The T-ball competition, however, continues to thrive with fourteen teams. We were able to introduce a Grade 1/2 division this season. We shall have to work hard at retaining our T-ballers to get some flow-on into softball.

We look forward next season to moving onto our new grounds which will provide a much bigger and safer venue. We will share the grounds with hockey and baseball. The conversion of the former tip site has been a major exercise with the Sale Rotary Club, Sale City Council, Department of Sport and Recreation, and all the user bodies contributing to its completion. It is planned to officially open the facility in June when Sale hosts the Victorian Country Baseball Championships.

In December we farewelled the Fry family. Chris and lan and their girls, Michele, Kathy and Vicky, had been great contributors to Sale softball and their efforts and participation will be missed

Our Grand Finals in March again saw Squaws White take out the open title, this time defeating club mates, Squaws Rebels. All Stars' players, Michele Fry and Kelly Trentini, took out the best and fairest awards.

The Under 17 competition was won by Squaws who defeated Staggs. Penny Beard and Kimelle Kipniak won the best player awards.

RAAF Eagles won the inaugural mixed competition after an exciting finals' series of upsets and close finishes.

Highflyers were Under 14 girls premiers and Araluen took out the Under 14 boys' title.

In closing this report may I say, that in this difficult time of turmoil for VSA, we all remember that we are all part of VSA. Let's work together to help us get back on the rails.

David McGrath

Secretary

Season Summary

Sale Softball Association Inc.

Season 1988 / 89

Grounds Mc Millan Park

Committee

President                     Bev Beard

Vice President            Terry O'Shanassy

Secretary                     David McGrath

Assistant Secretary     Penny Beard

Treasurer                     Christine Fry

Assistant Treasurer     Nicole DeMuth

Match Secretary          Leonie Wilson

Property Officer          Frances McGrath

Publicity Officer          Alison Cooper

Umpires Committee    Bev Beard, Frances McGrath

Selection Committee   Terry O'Shanassy, Rosemary Gerrand & coaches

Teams

Open Women                   4 teams

Open Mixed Twilight      10 teams

Under 17 Girls                   5 teams

Under 14 Girls                   3 teams

Under 14 Boys

Grade 1 & 2 T-Ball            6 teams

Grade 3 & 4 T-Ball           8 teams

Final Ladders

Open Women

Squaws White

Squaws Rebels

All Stars

Mixtures

Under 17 Girls

Squaws

STAGGS

Chaos

College

Skits

Finals

Open Women                              Squaws White d Squaws Rebels

Open Mixed Twilight                 RAAF Eagles d College Red 

Under 17 Girls                             Squaws d STAGGS

Under 14 Girls                             Highflyers

Under 14 Boys                            Araluen

Best & Fairest

Open Women                         Michele Fry / Kelly Trentini

Under 17 Girls                         Penny Beard / Kimelle Kipniak

Regional Championships

U14 Girls                                 Entered played at Traralgon

U16 Girls                                 Entered

U19 Girls                                Entered

Open                                      Entered

State Championships

U12 Primary Girls                     Div 2 finished 6th / 6 at Berwick

U12 Primary Boys                     Finished 3rd / 4 at Berwick

U14 Girls                                    C Grade finished 4th / 5 at Sale

U16 Girls                                    WON D Grade 1st / 4 defeating Ballarat 18-17 at Frankston

U19 Girls                                    B Grade finished 6th / 6 at West Gippsland

Open Women                           C Grade finished 5th / 6 at Dandenong

Season Highlights

The Association is now an Incorporated body

Under 16 Girls won D Grade at the Victorian State Championships, they were undefeated during the tournament. Coached by Bev Beard & Liz Foreman.

Team members -

Michelle Giblett (captain)

Katrina Drewry (vice captain)

Penny Beard

Rebecca Czosnek

Kathy Fry

Amanda Gard

Sara Menke

Fiona Mowatt

Ginelle Waugh

Anna Rys

Janelle Freer

Coach - Bev Beard

Ass Coach - Liz Foreman

Scorer - Leonie Wilson

Manager - Shirley Mowat

Successful hosting of Victorian Under 14 State Championships at RAAF Base with 15 teams attending, apart from controversy over the way the finals were played.

Commencement of Open Mixed Twilight competition on a Tuesday with ten teams, with third placed team RAAF Eagles the inaugural winners.

Will be playing on Rotary Reserve next season.

Presentation to the Fry family for their involvement and dedication to softball.

Individual photos given to each T-Ball player

Players named in Development squads -

U16 Penny Beard & Sarah Menke

U19 Jill Mc Grath & Katrina Drewry

Open Jacqui Tudor.