Annual Report to VSA - 2005 / 2006 Season

At the completion of the 2005 / 2006 season our Association is proud to have finally achieved a milestone that has eluded a Sale / Wellington Open team since first being affiliated with the VSA in 1978. After thirteen previous attempts at winning a Victorian Open State Championship, including three times runners up, our Open Women's team was able to go one step better at the 2006 tournament by winning the B grade title.

In the days of the Sale Softball Association our best Open Women's team result were runners up in 1987 & 1990. Then after a eight year break, the team reformed with the help of a number of pick up players, for the 2004 championships. After a controversial finish which resulted in a runners up placing, the team vouched to return for the home tournament hosted at the Sale grounds and go one step better. After being promoted to B grade, the fairytale finish in front of a home crowd did not eventuate, as the team finished a disappointing third.

At the 2006 tournament contested at the Keilor Park grounds , the team remained undefeated in the preliminary rounds, won the semi final and then went on to successfully win the title by defeating Keilor Park 4-2 in the grand final. Congratulations to the whole team on this achievement, with a big thank you to Jean Marriott for organising and coaching the team. Wellington representative players in the team were Leanne Heywood, Sharelle James and Celeste & Hannah Jackson.

With the reaffiliation of the Bairnsdale Softball Association this season, it is unfortunate that the Wellington team will be unlikely to have the opportunity to defend the title at the 2007 championships.

Following on from the 1996 formation and success of our women's over 35 masters team, Gippy Girls, for the first time our Association was involved in the formation of a men's over 35 masters team, Gippsland Giants, which debuted at the 2005 Victorian Masters Championships. Playing in A grade and after winning all of its preliminary matches, the team lost the playoff games to finish a disappointing fourth. Still the new team showed it was a force to be reckoned with and will be in the running for future tournament success. Wellington representatives were Warren Sanders and Ross Game.

Once again Gippy Girls has had success on the playing field over the past season. In June at the Victorian Masters Championships the team playing in A grade finished third to win a bronze medal. To follow on, a highlight for the team was to travel to Adelaide to contest the 10th Australian Masters Games in A grade. The team arose to the challenge of being promoted to A grade by strongly winning eight out of nine preliminary games and then went on to confidently defeat Darwin Eagles 11-0 in the grand final to win a gold medal. Congratulations to the whole team on this major achievement, as after 10 years of competition, this would in no doubt rate as one of their best ever tournament results. Wellington representatives were Leanne Heywood and Bev Beard. It should be noted that Bev took on the workhorse role of not only playing, but also umpired during the tournament.

Two long time association players Gavin and Shane O'Shanassy took on the challenge this season to play at a higher level than offered locally, by making the effort to travel and represent the Bairnsdale Giants team in the Werribee men's league. Although Gavin was restricted by work and family commitments, Shane was an integral part of the winning A grade team in this league and also featured in the Bairnsdale Open Mens team that was victorious in B grade at the Victorian 2006 Open State Championships. Shane should be commended on his achievements at this level of competition.

As a pre season tournament in September, VSA brought the U15 boys development squads to Sale. A Wellington team was one of 4 teams to play in a round robin competition. Saturday saw only one round completed due to rain, with the remaining games played on Sunday. Even though the local team did not win a game, it was an experience for those that played and was envisaged as a good introduction for our upcoming modball competition. Thanks to Leanne Heywood and Warren Sanders for coaching the team. This may become an annual event and would be a good lead in for our junior season.

Our prep to grade 3 T-ballers and U14 modballers suffered a major setback at the start of the junior season when five out of the previous season's seven teams were left without a coach. Thankfully a number of parents rose to the challenge of not only looking after their own child's interest but also that of the whole team, and so ensuring our junior competitions would continue. A big thank you to newcomers Melissa Young, Bruce Foley, Tanya Manning & Peter Johnson for all your effort during the season.

Our U14 coachpitch modball competition faced a similar dilemma with coaches and players, and although coming close to the formation of a third team, was faced with the prospect of a two team only competition. To their credit the two teams rallied and were keen enough to play each other each week. Whitetails dominated all season to only loose the one game, although this was only two weeks before the grand final, giving Tommy Devils a faint hope of an upset in the final. As the final progressed , although matching Whitetails in most areas of the game, the Tommy Devil batters were unable to convert hits into runs. By midway through the grand final Whitetails had set up a match winning lead and went on to win 10-1.

Again a big thank you to coaches Warren Sanders, Heather Leemon & Stacey Tselepis for persisting with the two teams and for making the competition possible. Thanks also to our junior umpires Alex McDonald, Andrew Devitt and Scott Bennett for their commitment to Saturday mornings.

Once again our Open Mixed Twilight competition had five teams and enjoyed playing double headers under lights to avoid the bye. Due to a downturn in female players and the need to hold onto our junior boys, teams were allowed the option to play three U14 boys as females. This proved successful and maintained a good standard of play. After a shortened thirteen round season due to the Commonwealth Games, the two best teams in the competition, New Jays and Panthers, played off in the grand final.

After five previous grand final appearances and five times runners up (twice to New Jays), Panthers were keen to take the premiers shield from three times consecutive winners New Jays. The final lived up to expectations, with both teams batting and fielding to the best of their abilities. Although as the game progressed, Panthers consistently converted hits into runs and slowly, innings by innings, built up a match winning lead. Steady pitching by Shane O'Shanassy protected the runs and finally, after eleven seasons, the Panthers team were open mixed premiers. Final score 19-6.

The 7th annual Slowpitch Corporate Challenge commenced its short eight week season in February. This is one competition where you need to play well and win from the first game, in order to make the "winner take all" grand final. Following the withdrawal of the RAAF team MBZ, many of the players from Ramahyuck formed a new team named Heritage. Heritage sent the benchmark for the slowpitch game and became the team to beat all season.

After losing only one game to Water Rats, Heritage went into the final as favourites. Once again the final lived up to expectations with both teams playing to a high standard. The overall all round strength of Heritage prevailed as the game progressed, which saw a 18-8 win for the new team to the competition.

In conclusion, it is disappointing to note the downward slide in our junior members over the past five seasons, almost to the point where it will not be viable for our Saturday morning competitions to continue.

This is a real area of concern. Even with tremendous junior development support from VSA preceding the 2004/05 season, the dwindling number of junior players threatens the future viable existence of our Association. The reality is that without junior members progressing to senior levels, our future senior teams and competitions will struggle for the playing numbers to survive.

Ross Game

President.

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Wellington Softball Association

Season 2005 / 06

Grounds Stephenson Park / Rotary Reserve

Committee

President Ross Game

Vice President Warren Sanders

Secretary Eleanor Johnson

Treasurer Leanne Heywood

Registrar Ross Game

Registrations

101 members (48 T-ball/Modball, 39 recreational, 11 representative, 3 coach/scorer)

Teams

Prep, Grade 1,2 &3 T-Ball

545 Super Doopers

545 Rugrats

Mighty Monkeys

Allstars

Junior U14 Modball

As below

Open Mixed Twilight

As below

Slowpitch Corporate Challenge

As below

Final Ladders

Junior U14 Modball

                                          Won Loss Draw Pts

545 Whitetails                     11 1 1     46 144%

Tommy Devils                       1 11 1      6 69%

Open Mixed

New Jays                           12 1 2     52 269%

Panthers                            10 4 1     42 149%

T.N.T                                   6 7 2     28 117%

Allstars                               5 9 1     22 54%

Breakaways                      2 13        8 47%

Slowpitch Corporate Challenge

Heritage                           7 1          28 211%

Water Rats                       4 4          16 106%

Lo-Ded.com                     3 5         12 84%

Ramahyuck                     2 6           8 56%

Finals

Junior U14 Modball

Grand Final       545 Whitetails d Tommy Devils 10 - 1

Open Mixed Twilight

Playoff for 4th    Allstars d Breakaways 7 - 0

Semi Final          Panthers d T.N.T 24 - 1

Grand Final        Panthers d New Jays 19 - 6

Slowpitch Corporate Challenge

Playoff for 3rd    Lo-Ded.com d Ramahyuck 7 - 0

Grand Final        Heritage d Water Rats 18 - 8

State Championships

Open Women Won B grade (won all games, defeated Keilor 4-2 in the final) played at Keilor Park.

Masters

Gippy Girls A grade Bronze medal at Victoria Masters Championships

A grade Gold medal at Australia Masters Championships

Gippsland Giants A grade 4th place at Victoria Masters Championships

Season Highlights

At the completion of the 2005 / 2006 season our Association is proud to have finally achieved a milestone that has eluded a Sale / Wellington Open team since first being affiliated with the VSA in 1978. After thirteen previous attempts at winning a Victorian Open State Championship, including three times runners up, our Open Women's team was able to go one step better at the 2006 tournament by winning the B grade title. The team defeated Keilor in the final 4-2.

Congratulations to the whole team on this achievement, with a big thank you to Jean Marriott for organising and coaching the team. Wellington representative players in the team were Leanne Heywood, Sharelle James and Celeste & Hannah Jackson.

A newly formed men's over 35 masters team, Gippsland Giants, debuted at the Victorian Masters Championships. Playing in A grade the team finished in 4th place. Wellington representatives were Ross Game & Warren Sanders.

After ten years of competing in masters events Gippy Girls had their best ever tournament result by winning a gold medal in the A grade division at the Australian Masters Championships. Wellington representatives were Leanne Heywood and Bev Beard.

Wellington players Gavin & Shane O'Shanassy have played for the Bairnsdale Giants team in the Werribee men's league in A grade. Shane was an integral part of the winning A grade team in this league and also featured in the Bairnsdale Open Men's team that was victorious in B grade at the Victorian 2006 Open State Championships.

In relation to the Stephenson Park grounds & facilities, confirmation that the current committee remain as an advisory committee only and be generally classified as a tenants group. This meaning the advisory committee will not be subject to the reporting burdens and formalities of a special committee of management. The proposal to amalgamate the committee with the Sale Oval committee was rejected. The Stephenson Park / Rotary Reserve grounds remain a level 1 facility, to be primarily maintained by council.

A proposed irrigation system for our grounds, the botanic gardens, the tennis & croquet clubs has been approved. Rotary Reserve & baseball diamond will all be irrigated. Water will be pumped from Lake Guyatt.

Level 1 coach's course was held at the grounds during May 2005. Ross Game, Warren Sanders & Willie Tangaroa passed and are now accredited Level 1 coaches.

Pre season tournament - VSA brought the U15 boys development squads to Sale on the weekend of Sept 3rd & 4th 2005. A Wellington team was one of 4 teams to play in a round robin competition. This may become an annual event and would be a good lead in for our junior season.