NEWSLETTER
PRINT POST APPROVED – PP616737/11122
THE CLAXTON SHIELD CLUB
FORMED 2002
TO MAINTAIN THE TRADITION & FELLOWSHIP OF STATE & INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL
JANUARY 2008
CLAXTON SHIELD CLUB W E B P A G E - www.waclaxtonshieldclub.baseball.com.au
CLAXTON SHIELD SERIES in PERTH – SOUTH AUSTRALIA JAN 3RD – VICTORIA JAN 24TH - INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
CLUB GET TOGETHER AT CLAXTON SHIELD GAME:
Your Club has arranged for any Member, who would like to attend the Victorian Aces versus Barbagallo Perth Heat game, on Friday JANUARY 25TH 2008, entry to a reserved area to view the game, with some “FINGER FOODS and your first drink is free – a cash bar will be operating for your convenience, and we hope to celebrate a win for the “Heat”. It is important that you signify your intention to attend with an
R S V P
to the Secretary by the
21ST JANUARY 2008 by
Telephoning on 9459 1990 or emailing to corker@multiline.com.au
Here is an excellent opportunity for Members to get together at a Claxton Shield game, and particularly when we play the Victorians, with the possibility of seeing PETER MOYLEN, Atlanta Braves’ major league pitcher, in action.
This evening has been arranged by the EVENTS Department of BWA under SHANE TONKIN (a Claxton Shield Member himself), who together with YOUR CLUB have substantially subsidised this event for your enjoyment and the COST will be $5 per Member. It is a night when CLAXTON SHIELD PLAYERS of all eras and generations can get together and enjoy each other’s company. Shane has the task of organising all events for BWA and on this particular night he will endeavour to join us to contact some of his “old teammates” so Shane has said “COME ON ALL YOU EX-PLAYERS, GET HERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME TONIGHT”. REMEMBER – that for $5.00 you have – entry into the stadium – special reserve seating area – finger food served – a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink on arrival – GREAT VALUE – I’m sure you will agree, so lets make it our best supported night yet, catch up with old mates and fly the flag of the CLAXTON SHIELD CLUB.
Another reason to celebrate, is the fact that, in this month - JANUARY 25 years ago, the then Federal Minister for Home Affairs and Environment, Tom McVeigh, Officially opened PARRY FIELD INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL STADIUM, at the 1983 Claxton Shield series.
PARRY FIELD started, as a dream of Bob OSSEY’S, when KEVIN PARRY brought him to Australia in 1972. Baseball was struggling around the country and Kevin considered that the importation of talent from America to kick start our State baseball and carry us into a force to be reckoned with in Australian Baseball.
Bob was signed up with Victoria Park and the Club went forward and developed Forster Park, Cloverdale to be the best ground for baseball in the metropolitan area. The Belmont Roads Board was unable to allow the Club to develop more at Forster Park, so suggested that the Club move to the old Belmont Oval to accommodate their ambitions. The Board would develop the ground for the Victoria Park Club.
Suffice to say – Kevin PARRY was pleased to back the scheme by the Club, and the Belmont Council, under Mayor Fred RAE, who together with the West Australian Baseball League with President Neville PRATT, the Victoria Park Club, President Eric KNIGHT, would be happy to have the Club and the League, organise and stage, all state finals, the Claxton Shield and any International games that could be induced to play in Western Australia at the stadium. Then with the collaboration between the Belmont Council, the WA Baseball League, the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Victoria Park Club saw the Federal Government only too happy to contribute to the Scheme. The Federal governments’ contribution was almost half the cost of the facility. Unfortunately, at this time, the project was delayed by the “razor gang” as it was called, for almost 12 months.
In the end, it all came together with the opening game on November 23rd in 1982,
with the official opening in January 1983.
VISIT OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES “PATRIOTS”.
On the 6th and 7th of December the NSW “Patriots” visited Baseball Park on Tom Bateman Reserve to do battle with the Barbagallo Perth Heat. Then both teams visited Mandurah for the third game in the best of three. The Department of Sport and Recreation’s Country Sport and Enrichment Scheme facilitated the playing of this third game in a country setting, and many local residents and baseball fans attended the game.
The first game was won by the HEAT 1 run to nil in an exciting pitching dual, with the HEAT scoring their run in the bottom of the 9th dig. Then in the 2nd game the HEAT scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and it looked likely to be a run away, but no, the PATRIOTS came right back in the 2nd with 5 runs on some good batting. The HEAT committed a couple of costly errors in this game and the PATRIOTS scraped home with the score 9 to 8.
The country game at Mandurah turned out to be a close encounter, similar to the first game, with the HEAT taking a one run lead for a time then extending it to two runs to nil. In the 7th dig, Trent OELTJEN, leading off, smacked a Dean White pitch over the right field fence for a home run for their first score of this game. It turned out to be the only score for the PATRIOTS and the HEAT ran out victors 2 runs to 1 and the series win 2 games to one.
It was an excellent series of three games and I’m sure all baseball fans that attended the games were very happy with the results and the display of first class baseball exhibited by the players of both teams.
The Management of the Club take this opportunity to wish all Club Members and their families a wonderful and happy festive season and may the NEW YEAR bring you all
continuing good health and a prosperous year in 2008.
CAL RIPKEN IS BASEBALL AMBASSADOR TO CHINA
In October, Cal Ripken, who in July was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, made his first trip as American Public Diplomacy Envoy, a post to which he was appointed in August, by the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Ripken, one of the greatest athletes in history, holds one of Baseball’s most prestigious records, having played 2632 consecutive games. H travelled to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, where he visited schools and sports clubs, ran baseball courses, and helped to motivate young people by sharing his personal life experiences.
This initiative, like the Major League Baseball International’s recent programme, aims to satisfy Chinese youngsters’ growing interest in sport and baseball in particular. This year Great Sports, the countries leading cable Sports channel, broadcast live the 2007 World Series.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
CZECH REPUBLIC – Draci AVG Brno have won the national championships of the Czech Republic for the 13th time, beating MZLU BRNO in the final playoffs 3 wins to nil.
CROATIA - BK Kelteks have won the Croatian national title for 2007, winning the final series by 4 wins to nil against BK Zagreb.
BELARUS - The national title of Belarus went to Brest Zubrs, who beat Sugar Storm Skidel 3 – 0 in the final playoffs.
“PLAY BALL” IN CHINA FOR CHILDREN
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL INTERNATIONAL (MLBI) introduced its “Play Ball” programme, designed to promote baseball among children ages 8-12, in 120 elementary schools in Beijing, Guangzhoum, Shanghai, Tianjin and Wuxi, in the People’s Republic of China.
Over the 2007-2008 school year “Play Ball” will give more than 100,000 elementary school children the opportunity to learn the basic rules of play during their physical educations lessons. “Baseball has been growing in China for many years” note, Ganbei Lin, Manager of Beijing’s Office of sport, Culture and Education. “This new initiative will be a great help to Chinese young people, not only by developing Baseball, but by revitalising youth sport in our Country”.
BY THE 21ST JANUARY 2008
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