june2009

World Series All Star Exhibition Fastpitch Men's Softball Match- June 13- Update !!

June 5, 2009

Brisbane, AU

The World Series All-Star Exhibition Fastpitch Softball Match- June 13- Victoria Point Sharks Sporting Fields- a game organised by players, for the players.
 
THIS WEEK: Get comfy- the weekly wrap, the naming of the Queensland Invitational team with player profiles, and “The 2002 Open Men’s Nationals- a tournament to remember!”
 
·         The team lists are finalised and the respective coaches are working on their game strategy. This is going to be bigger than Game 3 of the Origin!
·         There was much speculation as to whom the legend that was described in last week’s update was:: Who played for the New Zealand Black Sox for 14 years (1981-95), won one ISF Open Men's World Series (‘84) and was runner up for two more ('88 and '92), won no less than 11 New Zealand Club National titles and 9 Provincial titles, was a member of the ASA National team and ISC World team, and has been honoured with induction into the New Zealand and ISF Halls of Fame? Ladies and gentlemen, this description fits none other than Mr Mike Nichols, and we’re glad to have Mike involved as co-coach of the World Series All-Star team
·         This week, we’re going to detail the accomplishments of 2 more players that have left their mark on the international stage and we are pleased to have involved on the night
·         The first, who will be assisting Mike co-coach the All-Star team, also has a long and distinguished history in playing for the might of the Open Men’s Black Sox fastpitch team representing New Zealand from 1981 to 1992 and attending the Open Men’s World Series in Michigan (1984- Champions) and Canada (1988- Runner’s Up). Playing in the American Softball Association Champion team in 1991 and winning the New Zealand Nationals an astounding 5 times over 13 years few have done more than this hitting machine. Personally awarded NZ National’s Best Batter 4 times and NZ Player of the Year in 1987 it will be an honour to have this international calling the shots for the All-Stars on the night. But who is it?
·         The second player under the spotlight this week is home-grown talent at its best and will be in the starting line-up for the All-Star team. He set the benchmark for many years as an Australian player and his ability to perform in a crunch situation has rarely been matched to date. In a time when next to no Aussies were travelling to the northern hemisphere to play in the toughest competitions in the world the path was laid by this well rounded player who displayed all that it takes to excel at fastpitch- strength, speed and skill. A member of the Australian Open Men’s team from 1991 to 2000 having competed at 3 World Series: the Philippines (1992), Michigan (1996), and South Africa (2000). Winning the International Softball Conference in 1993 and Runner Up the next year, he also excelled on Australian soil playing for the Qld Open Men’s between 1989-1992 and 1994-2001 (Champions 1995) and also for ACT in 1993 (Champions) and 2003 (Champions) during which time he was awarded 3 Open Men’s Nationals MVP and one Open Men’s Best Batter awards. An inductee to the ISF Hall of Fame (2005), the Australian Softball Hall of Fame (2004) and 3 time ISC All World Team  member (1993, 1994 and 1995), Brisbane has been waiting for this players return to the diamond!
·         Whilst names will be applied to these profiles next week, this week we will name the Queensland Invitational team members. This impressive line-up of youthful exuberance and formidable experience will be looking to match it with the World Series All Star team on the night of June 13:
 
The Queensland Invitational Team players and coaches:
 
NAME
REP HISTORY (JNR and SNR)
1.       SHAUN MERINO
International team: New Zealand Junior Black Sox 1999-2001
World Series: ISF- U19s Sydney, 2001
Individual Awards: Tri-Nations 2000-2001 Best Pitcher (Champions), Junior Nationals Best Pitcher 1997-2000 and Best Batter 1998-99
2.       AARON CLARKE
 
State: Qld Open Men’s 2008-2009
 
3.       CHRIS STAHLHUT
 
State: Qld U/19s 1992 (Champions), 5 times Open Men’s Nationals (Champion 2002)
 
4.       LUKE VAN DE GRIENDT
 
International team: Australian Open Men’s team member 2008 (Pacific Series)
State: Qld U/16s- 1995, 1996. U/19s 1997-1999. Open Men’s 2003- present
 
5.       DARREN (DJ) PYKE
 
State: Qld U16s and U19s 1991- 1994. Open Men’s (Champions 2002).
 
6.       DARREN BREWER
International team: Australian U/19s 2001 (World Champions)
World Series: ISF- U/19s Sydney, 2001.
State: Qld U/16s- 1997-1999. U/19s 2000-2002. Open Men’s- 2008.
Individual Awards: U/16s Nationals Best Batter 1999. U/19s Nationals MVP 2002
 
7.       COREY MATAKATEA
 
International team: New Zealand Black Sox 2005-2007
State: Wellington 2005-2007, Qld Open Men’s 2008, 2009
 
8.       JASON NATHAN
International team: Australian U/19s 1993, Open Men’s 1994, 1998-2002, 2006
World Series: ISF- U19s Auckland 1993, Open Men’s South Africa 2000
State: 4 times Qld U19s (Champions 1992) and 10 times Open Men’s Nationals (Champions 2002)
Individual Awards: Open Men’s Nationals Best Batter (2006)
9.       DAVE BERRIDGE
International team: New Zealand U/21s 1981, New Zealand- Tri Series 1989
World Series: ISC- 5 times World Series 1981-1985
State: New Zealand Nationals 1982 -1991, NZ Lion Red Series Fastpitch 1987-1992, Singapore Classic (Champions) – Derori North Harbour NZ 1990
Individual Awards: Portales Texas Softball Tournament Best Pitcher 1983, NZ Lion Red Series Best Pitcher 1988, Australian National Fast Pitch League- Best Pitcher 1992/93, 93/94, 94/95  
10.    JULIAN JEMMOTT
 
State: Qld U/16 2006, 2007. U/19 2008, 2009. Open Men’s 2009
 
11.    BENNY TRINDLE
 
World Series: ISC- World Series 1993
State: Open Men’s 1984 (founding team member) -1988, 1993-1995
 
12.    JOHNNO WHITEFIELD
 
International team: NZ Colts
World Series: ISC- multiple World Series as player and Coach
State: Auckland Marist, New Zealand Marist, Auckland Open rep, Qld Open Men’s (1995 Champions)
 
13.    RAY LANE
 
State: Qld Open Men’s representative 4 times
 
14.    MARTIN CONNOLLY
State: Qld Open Men’s 1992, 1995 (Champions), 1997. 1997 Canada - Melbourne Mercs ('AA' Ontario Provincial Champions), USA - Ashland Abbott Labs, Ohio
 
15.    TONY CAILOTTO
International team: Australian U/19s 1996-97, Open Men’s 2000
World Series: ISF- U/19s Canada 1997 (Champions), Open Men’s South Africa 2000. ISC- World Series 2000
State: Qld U16s, U19s and Open Men’s 1991-2001, 2003-2006. Open Men’s Coach 2008, 2009
Individual Awards: Best Batter U19s Nationals 1995
OFFICIALS
 
MURRAY RIVERS
 
International team: Australian Assistant Coach- 2003 NZ tour (Dean Schick Memorial Tournament (Champions) and NZ, Japan, Australia tri-series)
State: Qld Open Men’s player 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995 (Champions). Open Men’s Coach 2002 (Champions) and 2003. Northcote Tigers 1975-1977.
 
MAURICE PARAHA
International team: Australian Open Men’s Assistant Coach 1995-96
State: Qld Open Men’s Coach and U/19 Youths Assistant Coach 1990-1996 (Open Men’s National Champions 1995), Qld U/16s Boy’s 2009-2010
 
 
 
And now for this week’s slice of history: “2002- A Year to Remember”
 
2002 would see the Queensland Patriots take away what would seem to be an uncertain team to Perth to battle it out for the illustrious John Reid Shield- success Queensland had not tasted since 2002.
 
Queensland started the week a little wobbly going down to the host team Western Australia in a close encounter on day one. But from there on in, the maroon machine wouldn’t miss a beat.
 
With the experience of Terry Downes in the middle and supported well by the pitching staff of Darren (DJ) Pyke and the young Josh Daley, Queensland had come from behind on a number of occasions during the week and had shown they were indeed true contenders. Chris MacRae was solid behind the plate all week long and with the batting offence of Geoff Champneys, Scott Sunley and Jason Nathan, the Patriots had managed to come up with the goods a number of times when their backs were to the wall.
 
The week was very much a team effort, and the bonding sessions and team excursions did well to draw the members together. Queensland had defeated the likes of the young ACT and Western Australia in subsequent round games and the preliminary finals and were up against the in-form Victoria in the championship match.
 
The unpredictable Victoria had Australian representative and pitcher Kris Kiefel on the mound but it was Kiefel’s bat that would do the damage early in the game with him homering to put the blue team up 1-0 early in the game. Queensland counter-attacked with key at bats from Champneys, Nathan and Stahlhut. Richard Devey was impressive coming off the bench and picking a well timed walk. But Queensland’s hunger for the title showed as both Kenny Pregnell and Hamish Monkman homered to put the Patriots in the lead.
 
Victoria changed their pitcher, bringing in Todd Grego, but the damage had been done. With two out in the bottom of the 7th, a ground ball back to Downes at pitcher and a routine out at first sealed the win for Queensland for only their second ever Open Men’s National title.
 
It was a sweet success for Queensland’s coaching staff- Murray Rivers, the first and only Queenslander to realise success as both a player and coach, and to Scott Cagney, who, whilst being involved in many a Queensland team over the years, had not yet departed an Open Men’s National’s tournament as a victor. It was also a momentous occasion for Downes being named MVP at the (belated) finals night dinner making him the first Australia player to accumulate the awards Best Batter, Best Fielder and Most Valuable Player at the Open level.
 
Perth 2002 was the second successful campaign for Champneys, Downes, Sunley, Rivers and Patriots Manager Maxine Cleary. The success experienced in 2002 is an experience that will be etched in the memories of all those that were involved, and is sadly a victory that has not been able to be replicated since.
 
QUEENSLAND- 2002 Open Men’s National Champions team members: Geoff CHAMPNEYS, Josh DALEY, Richard DEVEY, Terry DOWNES (c), Barry JACKSON, Chris MacRae, Dale MERRITT, Hamish MONKMAN, Jason NATHAN, Kenny PREGNELL, Darren PYKE, Chris STAHLHUT, Scott SUNLEY, Brett WILLIAMS. Officials: Murray RIVERS, Scott CAGNEY, Maxine CLEARY, Ngaire HUSTON
 
 
Next week we name the World Series All-Star team members, the umpires for the game, and who will be competing in the pre-game entertainment challenges.
 
And don’t forget the good people at the South Brisbane Softball Association will be hosting the 2009 South Brisbane Softball Association Club Classic and Masters Classic Tournament this Queen’s Birthday long weekend at the South Brisbane Softball Grounds, Preston Road, Carina. 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 at 1:00pm on Monday afternoon followed by presentations and the customary naming of the tournament team.
 
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