WARRIORS TAKE OUT MAJOR LEAGUE THIRD GRADE GRAND FINAL WITH APLOMB!!

IBL Major League 3rd Grade Premiers 2007

SHELLHARBOUR CITY WARRIORS

Front (l to r): Clarky, Matt, Rocket, Barney, Andy, Pete

Rear: Tugga, Dale, Mal, Mrs Hatts, Scott, Geffro, Troy

Photo: Mic Talbot - click on the team photo to get a printable quality image

The whole of Shellharbour City Warriors Baseball club are celebrating a dream come true after their Major League Third Grade side defeated Cardinals 6 runs to 2 in the IBL Third Grade Grand Final at Fred Finch Park last Saturday.

In a game postponed due to rain the week before Warriors and Cardinals both played strongly throughout. Cards were forced to play catch up baseball right from the top of the first innings with lead off batter “Barney” Miller being batted in on a single by Andy Piper after gaining first base on a walk and second on a Cards error.

Warriors scored two more runs in the second and were retired in order without scoring in the top of the third after which Cards raised the excitement level by capitalising on Warriors’ only error of the game to score twice and go into the top of the fourth trailing by the lone run.
Warriors scored again in the fourth with Mic Talty being batted in from second by a towering two base hit into the left field fence by Troy Crowther.

Both sides failed to add to their tally until the top of the sixth where Warriors brought another two across the plate; Scott Beaumann’s solid sacrifice fly to ccntre field bringing Barney Miller in and Troy Crowther crossing after being given safe by umpire Gordon Lester on a close play at home plate from a pass ball.

Cards last gasp effort to score 5 runs in their last at bat to lift the trophy was spoiled by the Warriors’ pivots when the first batter up was retired after driving to shortstop Rick Clark. Two batters later second base man Barney Miller combined with Clark to pull off a clinical 4-6-3 double play to end Cards innings and give Warriors a well deserved 6 runs, 5 hits and 1 error victory over Cardinals 2 runs, 8 hits and 2 errors.

Best of the Warriors’ batters were Andy Piper with two singles from four at bats, doubles from Barney Miller and Troy Crowther (1 RBI) and Dale Chudleigh’s timely single earning him two runners batted in.
Warriors’ fielding was tight on the day with second baseman Barney Miller working hard with five assists and one error. Adam Williams at left field and Andy Piper at centre field gave the outfield a thousand percent fielding average, taking one fly ball apiece.

Play of the day began from a Talty pick off attempt at first with quick thinking and a pin point throw from first baseman Geoff Piper to Troy Crowther at third resulting in Crowther tagging out a stealing Cards runner coming from second.

Honours in the game were shared equally between the pitching and batting with neither dominating.
Cards pitchers Michael Collis (5 inn; 4 K’s, 4 hits) and Adam Thomas (1 inn; 2 K’s, 1 hit) were on a par with Warriors’ pitcher Mic Talty who pitched 6 innings, 6 strikeouts, giving up 8 hits.

Cardinals and Warriors players alike are to be congratulated in putting on an excellent exhibition of baseball. Three errors total during the game shows how tightly both teams fielded.

Adding to the side triumphing after coming into the semis in fourth place is the fact that it was Warriors’ first season in the Illawarra Baseball Major League.

Warriors’ club President Terry Williams found it difficult to hide his elation,

“What a fantastic way to finish our first season in the Majors. We have worked hard to get here and shown results. With our new ground at Shellharbour coming on line next season and the Junior Warriors’ club commencing training this week for the summer comp. I feel that we have turned a corner today. We now have the capability to properly develop the baseball talents of players of all ages that wish to play baseball in Shellharbour City.”

Warriors’ Junior baseball teams under 8’s to 16’s will commence training at King George VI oval, Port Kembla (opposite the swimming pool) every Thursday commencing at 4.00pm.
Contact numbers are 42 718469 or 42 954877.

The End - Ricky about to complete the double that gave Warriors 3rd Grade Major League side the 2007 Grand Final win over Cards Photo- Mic Talbot

Click here to see all the Grand Final Photos

3RD GRADE SCREAMS INTO GRAND FINAL

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Warriors third grade defeated Eagles last Saturday to earn a place in the Grand Final next Saturday morning at Eagle Field Berkeley.

All supporters are asked to attend to support Warriors in their first shot at a Major League Premiership.

*** Be at Fred Finch 8.30 am next Saturday September 8th with anything in Warriors' colours to let the team know that we are behind them ***

GOOD FUN AT THE TRIVIA NIGHT

WERE YOU THERE??? - If not, why not?

A great night was had by all at the annual Warriors Trivia night held at the Sporties. Specially invited guest compere and legendary lawn bowler Troy Somerville kept the night moving along at a clipping pace, putting pressure on the participants all the way down to the wire. As is usual in any baseball events involving Warriors, competition was fierce but fair. When the seventh and final round came up there were two teams tied, Geoff Piper’s “10½” pins and Mrs. Hatts “Mixed Bag” side.
Always competitive, Geffro’s team of family and friends thought that his team had it in the bag but he had not allowed for Mrs Hatt’s cunning in her team selection. Drawing from years of experience Mrs Hatts brought in wildcard participants Barney, Cathy and Clarkey. Already knowing that she basically had a solid team with key players Stuey and Ann (he looks intelligent, she is!) from the Scorer’s Association, Mrs Hatts’ (at right) usual poker face gave away nothing.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, important decisions were being discussed. Things such as “What sort of shots are we going to get next?” and “It’s all your fault! I’ll have a headache tomorrow!” were being bandied about on Michelle and Jody’s "Simply the Best" table. Dave, Dale, Fiona and Andy were kept amused by their entertaining banter all evening.
Heads were being scratched at AJ’s table with Captain Jack the fishing tragic (at left), acting dumb and refusing to tell his triviamates what sailors measure wind speed in. ("Knots ??? I only tie 'em, don't measure 'em!! Arr Arr.")
Over the back Terry’s mob, "US", kept quiet all evening, until the spoon game where Mic the panelbeater came to the fore, inventing five different ways to get the spoon through the clothing of five different players - all illegal! On yer Mic, you are a real “hands on” bloke.
Chuckles, being a Sparkey and used to putting stuff through conduit, offered his expertise to his team mates, an offer that was kindly refused by his son (left below).

Where is that spoon? Pics by Troy

Special mention must be made in results of the game where you lost ticket off yourself when sprung saying the word “answer’. No surprise that Janet finished up with all of the tickets from people at her table in five minutes. Talk about paying attention. You’re deadly Janet!! Tezza lost his ticket in a record 15 seconds.

Play of the day goes to Barney in the closest to the bottle, coming in after the 30 second warning with a toucher from a canon off the next closest coin. The crowd went wild!!! Overheard on the way out at the end of the night Clarkey was still trying to tell Barney that the shot was made possible because Clarkey had lent him the coin and they should share the spoils. Negotiations continued far into the carpark.

When the final count came in ----- Ta Daaaaaaa!!! Mrs Hatts team by ONE POINT! Victorious on the night, Mrs Hatts’ team was congratulated by all concerned and everybody left having enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Swabs were taken - all returned positive.

Thanks must be given to the Sporties for their support and kind donations, clever secretary Leanne from the Sporties for all her help, supervisor on the night Daniel.
Special thanks to Troy Somerville for donating his time and talents – much appreciated Troy.

Spot the ball?? Duh!! Everybody should know that if you have lost the ball, there will always be one on the Ump. That's right Gordon, isn't it??

Special thanks also to those who attended, Uncle Arthur certainly enjoyed the evening. Hope to see you all again next year.

Click here to see 27 pics from the Trivia Night