1997 - 98
Annual Report to VSA
The 1997-98 season has been an extremely busy one for the Executive and Members. Prior to the start of the season we decided that a serious attempt would be made to raise teams from the main towns in the surrounding district. Pamphlets where delivered to 2500 homes in the nearby towns of Maffra, Heyfield and Yarram. Articles about the Softball and the Association, meeting times and venues were placed in the local newspapers. The resulting attendance's, Yarram (pop 1800) one person, Maffra (pop 3200) eight people and Heyfield (pop 2000) six people, the good new was that we did end up with a new Open Women's team made up from ladies from the Heyfield and Maffra district. This ended up being a saviour as our Women's competition would have had only three teams..
Early in August along with the other user groups from Stephenson Park we were offered the chance to cater for the Great Victorian Bike Ride that was passing through Sale on the 2nd December. Lunches for 2700 people had to be made for the next days ride as well as providing food and drinks on the day the riders arrived in Sale. A lot of hard work but the money raised in that one day was more than we would have raised over the whole season.
The long weekend in January brought more work with the holding of the Under 19 Championships. A few minor hiccups, but generally everything went okay.
Unfortunately our new clubrooms were not finished for the Championships, nor for our end of season break-up in fact they are still not finished. Non performance and other building problems have now lead to the contract being taken away from the current builder. New tenders are now being called for the completion of the building. Hopefully it will be finished by the start of next season, though no promises.
Three new permanent back nets were erected in the last part of the season. Wellington Shire Council provided three quarters of the cost of the material, with the balance and the labour to erect the nets coming equally from our Association and Sale Baseball Club.
Saturday 14th March saw the presentation of Participation Medals to all our Teeball competitors, trophies to the Junior Softball Competition winners Gladiators, and Runners Up, Staggs. A presentation of a miniature version of the State Trophy was made to each player and official of the U13 Boys team who won the "B" Softball Championships at Moorabbin in February.
The evening of March 24th was the end of season Grand Final / Presentation night. For the first time the "A" Open Mixed Grand Final was played under lights. The evening was a great success with a large number of members staying on to watch and have a bite to eat. "Blue Jays" were presented the "A" Grade Trophy after defeating "TNT". The "B" Grade trophy was presented to Gunnas for their success earlier in the evening, and the presentation of the Open Women's Competition trophy was made to "Squaws" who defeated "Shots" in their final held on the previous Sunday afternoon.
R Booth
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Season Summary
Wellington Softball Association Inc.
Season 1997 / 98
Grounds Stephenson Park / Rotary Reserve
Committee
President Russell Booth
Vice President Ross Game
Secretary (Tina Johnston later appointed)
Championship Secretary (Tina Johnston later appointed)
Treasurer Natalie Dimarco
Assistant Treasurer Melissa Minard
Registrar Barb Henderson
Publicity Officer Ross Game
Grounds Manager Bruce Garner
Umpires Committee Leanne Heywood, James Booth
Registrations 240 members (67 T-ball, 70 junior, 86 senior, 17 non playing)
Teams
T-Ball
Araluen Atoms
Araluen 2
St Marys Sloggers
St Thomas
STAGGS
Super Hitters
Junior Softball
Gladiators
Shots 1
Shots 2
STAAGS
Open Women
Squaws
Heyfield
Shots
Pink Panthers
Open Mixed Twilight
Blue Jays
Gunnas
Schlong
T.N.T
Condors
Black Ducks
Panthers
Dads Army
Finals
Open Women Squaws d Shots 22-6
Open Mixed Twilight A Blue Jays d T.N.T 19-7
Open Mixed Twilight B Gunnas d Condors 25-6
Junior Softball Gladiators d STAGGS 18-2
Regional Championships
U13 Girls West Gippsland host
U13 Boys Won, West Gippsland host
U16 Girls Won, Wellington host
U16 Boys Not contested
Open Women Not contested
Bessie Frood Memorial Trophy Not contested
State Championships
U13 Boys Won B Grade (1st / 7), defeating Northan Districts 14-13 in the final at Moorabbin
U13 Girls B Grade finished 6th / 6 at Moorabbin
U16 Girls B Grade finished 4th / 6 at Berwick
U16 Boys Not entered
U19 Girls B Grade finished 3rd / 6 at Sale
U19 Boys Not entered
Open Women Not entered
Open Men Not entered
Season Highlights
Under 13 boys won B grade by defeating Northan Districts 14-13 at the Victorian U13 State Championships held at Moorabbin. Coached by Russell Booth and Bruce Garner A miniature version of the state trophy was awarded to each member at the junior presentation morning.
Major pre-season membership drive with a maildrop of 2500 pamphlets in Maffra, Heyfield and Yarram, with information nights organised in each town, with the hope of forming clubs / teams in each of these towns. The end result was a new Open Women's team from the Maffra / Heyfield areas.
The Great Victorian Bike Ride had an overnight stay in Sale during December. Our Association was one of five user groups to cater for the 2700 riders on their arrival and provide their lunch the next day. Approx 45 club member contributed to a $1240.00 share of the profits.
Hosting of the Victorian U19 State Championships on the long weekend in January 1998, with the Wellington team just missing out on a spot in the final. The championships were also a good fund raiser with $2167.00 being made
Ladies Masters team Gippy Girls won gold at the Australia Masters Games in Canberra
Clubrooms still not completed, new tenders are being called for the completion due to breach of contract by original builder
Three new permanent backnets were erected on Rotary Reserve, with scoria/entica batting boxes, with diamond 2 a pitching strip as well
Removal of cricket pitch from Stephenson Park to Rotary Reserve allowing softball full use of the baseball diamond.
Use of the baseball diamond enabled the Open Mixed A grand final to be played as a feature match under lights, with the B grade final played at an earlier time slot. Presentations followed afterwards
Over winter junior skills clinics were held at Sale, Maffra, Airly, Cobains, Bundalaguah, Cowwarr, Seaspray, Stratford & Heyfield primary schools, with approx 450 attending.
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