Season 2007/2008 Annual Report to VSA

In retrospect, season 2007/2008 was indeed a challenging one for our association to manage. From initial anticipation the future of our Open Mixed Twilight competition, celebrating its 20th anniversary, looked promising with potentially six teams to take the diamond for the new season, up by two on last season. The unfortunate reality was the new team Mariners drew players from two existing teams, Blue Bandits and New Jays, resulting in their demise. Faced with the prospect of only three teams, thankfully new association vice president Jan Te Maru was able to source a fourth team from the Fulham Correctional Centre and the competition was able to go ahead.

For this season the baseball diamond (diamond 1) was used for all games, with an early and late game scheduled to make it more feasible for shift workers to play. By the fifth round it was evident that new team Mariners and Yeerungs (previously Panthers) would be the likely finalists, with TNT and FCC trying to stay clear of the wooden spoon. Finishing the season with a 14-1 win/loss record, Mariners were the dominant favourites, against Yeerungs 8-5-1 win/loss/draw record. Although it should be noted that Mariners only loss was against Yeerungs.

Early Easter holidays resulted in FCC forfeiting the 3rd place playoff game, leaving the grand final the only game played on finals/presentation night. Judging by the dominance of Mariners throughout the season and with Yeerungs unable to field a full strength team, the grand final had the potential to be a one sided affair, but this was not the case. Consistent pitching by Yeerungs Shane O'Shanassy kept the pressure on the Mariners batters whose free flowing hitting style was restricted. As their defence kept them in the game, Yeerungs managed to get runners on base & score, helped by some uncharacteristic Mariners fielding errors. Yeerungs persistence enabled them to gain & hold the lead in the later half of the game resulting in an upset 14-11 win.

The 9th annual Slowpitch Corporate Challenge competition looked to be in dire straits with the withdrawal of two teams from last season. After a number of failed come 'n' try attempts, the two remaining teams SERT1 & Water Rats, were still very keen to play some softball for the remaining five weeks till the Easter break The only solution, why not play a best of five final series.

Water Rats, playing in its eighth season, made the most of its experience and team depth in batting & fielding, to closeout the finals series by winning the first three games. SERT1 regained some pride by winning the fourth game. Game five was not played.

So after eight attempts, with three third placings and three times runners up, Water Rats have finally succeeded in having their name etched on the Corporate Challenge perpetual trophy. If this does eventuate to be the last time this competition is played, the final result was a fitting reward for a team that has supported the slowpitch concept/game since the second season onwards and have always played the game competitively and in good spirit.

Following on from last season, with the junior T-ball clinics failing to attract players and hence folding mid season, expressions of interest for the reformation of junior competitions were sort preseason. As there was a limited response, with no firm commitments forthcoming, it is unfortunate to report this is the first time since 1974 that there are no WSA junior competitions being played. Nether less we will try again next season, with hopefully some softball orientated families moving into the area in the meantime.

The Victorian Masters Championships were held at Waverley and our association had representative players in the women's Gippy Girls team and the men's Giants team. Celeste Jackson, Leanne Heywood & Bev Beard won bronze in the women's A grade, while Ross Game played in B grade where the Giants team finished in fourth place

In June 2007, our association hosted the inaugural Indigenous Softball Carnival featuring teams from Sale, Bairnsdale & the Latrobe Valley. Although it had been hoped that participation numbers may have been higher, in the end there were two teams entered with two games being played in good spirit. Hopefully this carnival will be back bigger and better next season, with hopefully a start date closer to the commencement of our regular season. Thanks to Gavin O'Shanassy for organizing the day.

In concluding, firstly I would like to welcome Jan Te Maru to the Executive Committee as vice president. Without Jan's kiwi resolve and dedication in organising teams for both the open mixed & slowpitch competitions, it would have been very unlikely that either of these competitions would have gone ahead this season.

At this point in time the outlook for next season is not promising. There is some doubt as to whether all the four open mixed teams from this season will be returning for our only remaining competition. With this a possibility, the association has now reached the point of being at the crossroads regarding its future viable existence. In what may be considered a last resort, a major mail out /mail drop is planned before the start to next season. The flyer will be double sided and will focus on the open mixed & slowpitch competitions. It is envisaged this has the potential to reach 5000 households and will hopefully generate some new interest in the sport and entice players back on the diamond once again.

I certainly hope that this is not the last annual report of the Wellington Softball Association to be written. In complete contrast to how things were in the early days of softballs beginning in this area forty or so years ago, we certainly now have the grounds, the facilities and the playing equipment, all we now need are the players.

Ross Game

President

Wellington Softball Association.

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