Warriors Clean Up

It was great to see about twenty of us turn up to the Sporties Presentation night where the Warriors cleaned up big time.This is the night that the Sporties get all the clubs that they sponsor along to the club and present awards recognising contributions made by individuals within the clubs. They then select one person in each category for the major award. We had three people nominated: Liam for the junior sportstar. Amie for the senior sports star and Terry for the clubperson star.

We were suitably entertained with a talk by the special guest Steve Rixon, ex NSW cricket catcher(oops, wicketkeeper) who gave us some funny anecdotes about his cricketing past as well as some honest opinions on todays cricket scene.

It was no surprise to any of the Warriors there when Terry was called out for the Clubperson of Clubpersons, an award which he graciously accepted with the usual aplomb that Terry is well known for and immediately showed his grand style when he dropped the clock that was the award but still made the catch, grabbing it half an inch before it hit the deck and shattered.You're still on the team Tezza!!! Terry was seen later in the poker machine area with a shell shocked look on his face muttering "I'm gonna kill the bastards that did this to me!" No mate, everyone in the club agrees that you well and truly deserved the accolade. Good speech too!!

Next came the Junior sports star awards where Liam received the award from our club and was probably pipped on the post by a Junior State representative footballer. Congratulations Liam.Little interest was shown in the proceedings by Liam after this as he was too busy checking out the talent around the club. He's a worry that boy.

We then moved on to the Senior Sports star awards in which Amie was not really surprised to be called up on stage as the Warriors' nominated player after all the work that had been done to make sure that she turned up on the night. It was a great pleasure and a surprise to Amie when she was named the Senior Sports star of stars and presented with the trophy by Councillor Don Briggs. Congratultions Amie. You'll have to make Mick to sleep on his stomach for another year so that you can go round another season with us now - translation: no babies for another twelve months.

As usual, Amie took the acceptance of the accolade in her stride although with a little bit less dramatics than Terry.

All in all, a good night was had by all.

Starting with a Grand Final win

What a great way for second Grade to finish the season. How sweet it was to get on top of the Panthers in the game that mattered after pretty well copping a pasting from them all season. My heart goes out to Jacko and his boys but you can't take anything away from the way that the whole Warriors team put it together on the day. To be able to come from 8 - 1 down to win 10 - 9 showed great determination. The whole team pulled together and when we were at the point of seven runs down there was no feelings in the dugout that the game was over. The positive attitude shown by everybody as we went out to bat in the top of the third came to fruition as we slowly clawed the runs back and then went one up, reversing the pressure and putting it all on the Panthers to come out in the last dig to have to score two runs to win, especially seeing that they were only into the second batter in their line up. How the Warriors kept the pressure on and didn't fold was a treat to watch. Kevin March, the President of the IBL, asked me to congratulate all of our team after the game. It was one of the finest examples of a game of baseball that he had seen for many years.
High praise indeed, and praise which the team had well and truly earned.
How can you pick the best from that team on the day? Everybody that went up to the plate scored at least one safe hit. How can you forget Andy's three great catches at centrefield (he batted 1000 on the day too; 2 doubles and two singles. WOW!!!!)? Adam's fantastic take at left field after missing nothing out there at training on Tuesday night?
What about the battery! Damo chucking to Pete. Pete calling Damo in and absolutely stunning the Panthers batters who are used to getting it all their own way. Didn't happen. Pete unintentionally donging the batter on the helmet while throwing to three. That was great. So what, it cost us two but on he upside it let the opposition know loud and clear that we meant business from early on. Get out of the way or get steamrolled. Then Damo kept tossing 'em in, under a lot of pressure and the smile never leaving his face as each new batter faced his pitching. Did he know something we didn't? Smiling assassin?
Matty and Adam swinging at the first pitch and both getting safe hits. Great stuff.
Not to mention the aggressive base running. For a team that hasn't had signals all year, suddenly the lights came on and everyone really put the pressure on the Panthers in the field. They felt it too. Not just one or two of them running hard, all of them with a hunger to get to the next base. Magic!
Amie safe as houses at first once again, Dave at rightfield getting the ball in quick, Dougo leading the batting and solid at shortstop. Damo following in the batting order with both really unlucky not to pierce the infield in the first dig.
And don't forget Tezza at third, glaring at em as they came up to bat, getting next to no work there so Amie didn't have to try to judge how much curve Terry put on the ball throwing to first and when it would start to swing.
You gotta mention Sue who came off injured early on after covering the ground like Phar Lap only to just have a catch tip the end of her glove. Shouldn't have gone up to bat but I think a team of wild horses at least would have been needed to stop her. Made contact too!
We can't forget the other Adam who had to start work in a new job on the day and couldn't take the field as well as birthday boy Martin who kept the bench warm and the positive attitude flowing.
What a team effort! What a team to be proud of! Don't think it gets much better than that!!!
Who can forget the feeling as Andy gloved that catch to finish off the game. What a moment.
Played hard, done well. The whole Warriors club is extremely proud of you all.

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