Annual Report to VSA

Due to a declining membership this season has been a challenging one for the current committee.

Our Open Women's competition, which was traditionally played on a Saturday afternoon, began this season with only two teams interested in playing. Likewise our Saturday morning Junior U13 softball competition faced a similar predicament. After a survey of all those involved, it was decided to amalgamate the two competitions and to then hold a number of social twilight games on a Thursday catering for female players from age 10 to Masters and U14 boys. With only three teams formed the competition was played until Christmas, but unfortunately with a team withdrawing could not recommence after the holiday break.

On a brighter note our Prep, Grade 1 & 2 T-ball, which was not played last season, has been resurrected with four teams playing on a Saturday morning. Following this competition five teams compete in Grade 3 & 4 T-ball, with the top two teams playing in a grand final.

Declining numbers saw our popular Tuesday night Open Mixed Twilight competition down to six teams. As in the past three seasons the grand final will be played under lights, preceded by playoffs for third and fifth places, followed by the senior presentation night.

After sending out 400 fliers to local business's in the district, for the first time we have a mixed Slowpitch Corporate Challenge competition being played under lights on a Thursday evening. Part of the entry fee from each team contributes to a prize pool, which will be up for grabs in a winner take all grand final. We have four teams entered with many new faces to softball. Hopefully this competition will grow and become a major drawcard for potential new players.

Due to a lack of junior members, only a relatively young and inexperienced U13 girls and boys teams were entered in the State Championships. Those who played certainly enjoyed the experiences the weekend offered, with hopefully promises of better things to come. With a big recruitment drive for junior softball planned for next season, we hope more teams will be entered for the 2001 championships.

Ross Game

Season Summary

Wellington Softball Association

Season 1999 / 2000

Grounds Stephenson Park / Rotary Reserve

Committee

President                            Leanne Heywood

Vice President                    Ross Game

Secretary                            Ross Game

Championship Secretary (Leanne Heywood appointed at later date)

Treasurer                           (Del Donoghue appointed at later date)

Registrar                             Barb Henderson

Property Officer                 Barb Henderson

Publicity Officer                 Gavin O'Shanassy

Grounds Manager              Bruce Garner

Social Secretary                 Kim Falls

Umpires Committee           T-Ball - Barb Henderson, Softball - Leanne Heywood

Social Committee               Members of Mitre 10 Panthers & Blue Jays

Registrations Approx 200 members

Teams

Prep, Grade 1 & 2 T-Ball

Grammar

Pokemon 545

St Mary's

St Thomas

Grade 3 & 4 T-Ball

As below

Open Women / Junior U14

Trialed with three teams

Open Mixed Twilight

As below

Slowpitch Corporate Challenge

As below

Final Ladders

Grade 3 & 4 T-Ball

Grammar                  40

St Thomas                24

St Mary's                   16 79%

Araluen Green          16 68%

Araluen Gold             12

Open Mixed Twilight

Raiders                      60

Blue Jays                  54

Black Ducks             44

Ruptures                  46

T.N.T                        28

M10 Panthers            4

Slowpitch Corporate Challenge

Ramahyuck            24 211%

Serco                      24 207%

Baker Blue Socks    8 55%

Fulham Flyers          8 43%

Finals

Open Mixed Twilight           Raiders d Blue Jays 11-9

3rd Place                              Black Ducks d Ruptures 18-12

5th Place                              T.N.T d M10 Panthers 23-5

Open Women Wellington / Bairnsdale Musketeers d Raiders

Grade 3 & 4 T-Ball               Araluen Gold d Grammar 32-18

Slowpitch Corporate Challenge Ramahyuck d Serco 15-7

3rd Place                                       Baker Blue Socks d Fulham Flyers 9-8

Regional Championships

U13 Girls Played at Sale ? (Drouin)

U13 Boys

State Championships

U13 Girls                     B grade Finished 6th / 6 (0 wins from 6 games) at Ballarat

U13 Boys                    A grade Finished 6th / 6 (0 wins from 6 games)

Open Women            Not entered

Masters Gippy Girls Runners up in B grade. Lost final 5-8

Season Highlights

Both Open Women and Junior Softball competitions were amalgamated, with social twilight games played on a Thursday. With three teams only the trialed competition was played until Christmas

Prep, Grade 1 & 2 T-Ball was reintroduced

In the second half of the season a Slowpitch Corporate Challenge competition was offered to business houses in Sale, Maffra, Rosedale and Stratford. From the 400 flyers sent out, four teams entered and played on a Thursday night under lights. In the 'winner take all' grand final saw Ramahyuck being the inaugural winners taking home the $200.00 cheque and trophy.

VSA introduced membership cards

VSA ran a major raffle to be used as a major fund raiser for affiliates.

Association involved in Active Australia's National Softball Fun Day at the local sports stadium

Gippy Girls masters team competed at the Australian Masters Championships

Gippy Girls masters team took a silver medal at the Victorian Masters Championships in

B grade. Undefeated throughout the championships they lost the final 5-8

Barb Henderson and Bev Beard are now accredited Level 2 scorers

Stephenson Park Advisory Committee to be (re)established, Russell Booth to be softballs representative.

Clubroom loans repaid in full, two years early than envisaged

Inaugural Wellington versus Bairnsdale premiers open mixed final

In conjunction with Sale Baseball Club a number of improvements to the grounds have been made. Construction of new dugouts on diamond 1 and scorers huts on diamond 1 and 2, relocation of existing dugouts from diamond 1 to 2 as well as the extension of the backnets on diamond 2.

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