HOT SOFTBALL ACTION AT SOUTH BRISBANE CLUB CLASSIC
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY LONG WEEKEND (6th, 7th & 8th JUNE 09)
The 2009 South Brisbane Softball Association Club Classic and Masters Classic Tournament will be held this weekend at the South Brisbane Softball Grounds, Preston Road, Carina. There will be eight teams competing in the Men’s Club Classic with an additional nine in the Women’s Masters and six in the Men’s Masters.
This year’s Men’s Club Classic will be a particularly strong competition with a majority of the current Aussie Steelers (Australian Open Men’s team) playing in preparation for the 2009 World Series in Canada in July of this year. Top class action is assured and the country’s best talent will be on display.
Last year’s champions, Western Australia’s Southside Mariner’s, return again this year and are looking like starting as favourites as they have again bolstered their already strong line-up with local pick-up Zenon Winters and Adam Folkard from down South. Australian representatives Adam Humble and Nathan Jones will be looking to take the trophy home to the west coast for the second year in a row.
Also travelling to the tournament will be Sydney United with pitchers Brad Riley and James Darby doing the job with the ball and hitters Nick Norton, Mick Tanner and the Williams brothers looking to take the trophy home with them.
The Victoria Point Sharks have a well balanced team on paper and will be looking to find some form. This year they have again stuck with regular pick-ups Neil Delpero (WA) and Michael Gibson (NSW) to help chalk up the wins. Sharks will welcome the return of Australian representative Josh Davison to their tournament line-up and will be looking for youngster Julian Jemmott and the experienced Jason Nathan to fire on the field and with the bat.
The Brisbane Giants will also be looking to carry some good form into the tournament and have worked on securing themselves a strong hitting line-up lead by the big swinging Corey Matakatea. The Giants will be calling on ace pitcher Shaun Marino to do the job in the middle and kiwi Tyson Burns will add to their depth.
Local teams Bruins, with Brit Richard Devey and Australian newcomer Tyron Bartorillo along side New Zealand recruit Thomas Cameron, and Scorpions, led by veterans Terry Downes and Scott Sunley and pick-up Mike Harrow, will have a shot at the title and will be looking to come in under the radar and punch above their weight for the 3 day tournament.
Te Arohanui (TAN) and Raiders will also be in on the action with Aaron Clarke leading the way with the ball for TAN and David Metekingi in his utility role whilst Adam Pearce will be calling the shots from behind the plate for Raiders. With eight teams in the competition only the top three teams will be going through to finals play-offs so there will be no room for complacency from any of the teams over the weekend.
The action starts early everyday with games scheduled from 8:00am on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and late games scheduled for 6:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. The grand final is scheduled for 1:00pm on Monday afternoon followed by presentations and the customary naming of the tournament team. It’s shaping up to be a huge weekend of international softball action with plenty of entertainment good times both on and off the field.
