Annual Report to VSA - 2003/2004 Season

One of the highlights of the 2003/2004 season was the awarding and presentation of life membership to long serving member Russell Booth. Over a fourteen year period Russell contributed tirelessly to the successful functioning of our Association at junior and senior levels. During this time Russell coached sixteen representative teams at regional and state championships, as well as serving on the executive committee for six seasons, four of those as president.

Russell was actively involved in the running of the Victorian Under 14 1994 and Under 19 1998 State Championships, has contributed to the construction of many facilities at our home grounds and has represented softball on advisory committees to the present day.

Our Association was fortunate to have two life members present, David McGrath (awarded 1987) and Bev Beard (1981) to make a special presentation of a signed softball by the 2000 Australian Olympic Softball team in a timber display case to Russell at the Open Mixed grand final / presentation night. A number of past members were present to be part of the presentation.

On another positive note, after a seven year absence, our Association welcomed the reformation of a Wellington Open Women's team to compete at a Victorian State Championship. The team, comprising mainly of Bairnsdale women, performed admirably at the 2004 championships at Knox by winning three out of four preliminary games. In the grand final against Keilor Park, a controversial decision on the final play of the day resulted in the team being defeated 11-10. Although devastated by the final result, for a newly formed team it was still a great effort nevertheless. The team have vowed to return and to go the next step at the next championships. Thanks must go to Jeanie Marriott for organising and coaching the team.

After finishing with only three participating teams last season, the future of our Open Mixed Twilight competition looked in jeopardy, but was given a lifeline with two new teams from the Grammar school and the Par 3 golf facility. Also a number of players made the weekly journey from Bairnsdale to improve the standard of competition. Instead of a bye, double header games were played under lights, which proved popular in providing players with plenty of game time on the field.

After a seventeen game season, New Jays undefeated for the season went into the grand final as favourites. The team to play them was decided in the earlier semi final, with Panthers defeating Par 3 in a tight game 14-6. The season's two best teams fought out the grand final, with Panthers becoming runners up for the third consecutive season. Congratulations to New Jays who were once again victorious winning 27-10, perhaps next year Panthers time will come and they can reverse the result.

With the failure to generate enough interest to run a stand alone Grade 5 & 6 T-ball (Mod ball) competition, it was decided the only way to hold the older t-ballers to the sport would be to integrate them with the younger t-ballers to create a Grade 3 to 6 T-ball competition. In a four team Saturday morning competition, the younger players rose to the challenge to keep up with their older counterparts and along with the careful arrangement of players in teams, resulted in an even competition. As the season progressed the standard of all games improved as players confidence grew.

This season 545 All Stars emerged as favourites for premiers by finishing on top of the ladder and being undefeated in their last nine games. The premiers from the last two seasons, 545 Redbacks, were split into a Gold and a Blue team at the beginning of the competition. The Gold team finished in second place and were keen to challenge the All Stars in the grand final.

The final game for the season lived up to expectations, with both teams in a position to win halfway through the game. It was only in the last two innings that the big hitters for All Stars showed their form to give their team a commanding lead. All Stars defended their runs to become this season's premiers by defeating Redbacks Gold 23-14.

Our Prep, Grade 1 & 2 t-ballers began their round robin competition with plenty of enthusiasm, but unfortunately with only three teams, the team with the bye was relegated to a practice session only. With an influx of interest generated by those playing, a fourth team was formed midway during the season, making a much improved competition for everyone involved.

Our sincere thanks go to our junior umpires and coaches, as well as to the morning grounds set up crew. To all those involved, without your efforts the Saturday morning competition would not be possible.

Once again the Slowpitch Corporate Challenge was keenly contested on a Thursday evening by players of varying age and experience. With four teams, down one on last season, games were close with always the possibility of an upset. Last seasons runners up Southern Rural Water Rats had their eyes firmly set on another grand final berth, with the chance to go one step further and claim the winner take all cheque and perpetual trophy.

After finishing undefeated and on top of the ladder, their best result in four seasons of playing, Water Rats thought they had the edge over second place and four times winner Ramahyuck. Ramahyuck, after a slow start, had other ideas though and struck form at the right end of the season to just make the final on percentage over third placed Spotloss. In the winner take all final Ramahyuck set up a commanding lead after two innings, giving Water Rats little hope of catching up and held on to a memorable 18-12 win.

On the weekend of March 27th & 28th our Association was invited to cater for the Touch Football State Titles. A big thank you to the fifteen helpers who prepared food and manned the canteen, your efforts resulted in this being a successful fund raising venture for the Association.

Our Masters team Gippy Girls continue to represent the Latrobe Valley, Sale and Bairnsdale regions with distinction by earning bronze medals at the 2003 Victorian and the Australian Masters Championships.

Next season promises to be one of high expectations with our Association hosting the 2005 Victorian Open State Championships in November 2004. The hosting of these major championships is a big undertaking for our small Association, with the whole of Stephenson Park & Rotary Reserve and all of its facilities will need to be utilised to make the championships one to be remembered.

This is the first time our Association has attempted to host an Open Championship, with the hosting of the Under 14's in 1984, 1989 & 1994 at the RAAF Base East Sale and the Under 19's in 1998 at our current grounds. At the 1998 championships with seventeen teams playing on five diamonds, our girls finished in third place. These Open Championships will need seven diamonds with up to twenty teams attending and hopefully our ladies can go one better than the runners up title at the 2004 championships. We wish them all the best with their endeavours to become the only Sale / Wellington Open team to ever win a Victorian State Championship.

In finishing I would like to welcome Eleanor and David Johnson to our Executive Committee and once again I must thank Del Donoghue for her efforts with the 545 T-ball teams throughout the season.

Ross Game

President.

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