LVBA 2011

[tgonguy999]

With the season about to start and other leagues having their own thread i thought it time that we talk about the LVBA

This weekend kicks off the year with the annual Gippsland Championships held at Morwell and Churchill, with the wet summer and reasonable weather in the lead up both venues should be in great shape for two days of baseball. For a full preview of the weekend Read this
www.baseballvictoria.com.au/default.asp?Page=74189

Well before the gippy champs, even before christmas the LVBA was putting things in place to have a major recruiting drive this year. The end result being that throughout the league 150ish new kids becomeing involved at the 5 clubs. That is a huge boost to the league as there was only around 75 kids playing baseball in 2010, alot of credit needs to go to the LVBA brass and of course BV who spent alot of time helping clubs out,

Here is an article abut it www.baseballvictoria.com.au/default.asp?Page=74294

There have been a few other changes coming in this year, with the Junior Winter Champs being held over school holiday the schedule has been shortened to accomidate the champs and send quality squads.

All in all the LVBA is gearing itself up for a big year and trying hard to grow and expand

[Deleted]

All credit to baseball people in the Valley!

Whoever is involved with BV communications during the winter season, I would hope that all associations fire up, like you guys have done here.

Keep sending news, images, information and story ideas in to the state governing body.

Best wishes to all winter leagues for the 2011 season.

[braves6]

Any news on ins and outs from the LV clubs? Heard a few baseballers having a crack at the new gridiron club in the valley.

[tgonguy999]

Well i can only say with confidence about traralgon. Owen Godenzi will miss 6 weeks or so playing gridiron, Dylan Frietag is off to the motherland to pusue cricket interests, and Japanese player shige Suzuki will head home sometime throughout the year. We have regained services of Andy Matthews after a season off, and are looking to blood two or three juniors into the 1s side.

Now for the rest, Chris Cumming has been appointed coach of morwell after a two year absence which hopefully will see the club start to find it's feet again. I have no names but believe they have gotten a couple of players back and numbers are looking reasonable for the start of the year.

Sale is bolstered by the return of young flamethrower James Jackson after a year overseas on exchange, and if the young kid can throw some strikes and get some help I see them as vying for finals. Another returnee after a lengthy absence is nathan Massey. Massey was a perennial junior squad rep and if he finds his feet could help the sale charge.

As for your boys braves6 I believe jhonny keirghan is having a season off which hurts but will be offset by the return of ben laux? That's all I've heard from your camp other then behind the scenes there seems to be a few more pitching in which sounds positive.

There hasn't been much of substance come out of the moe camp other then I've heard Noel Tobias isnt coaching this year with duane baker being approached but last I heard he couldn't commit. The only other news I heard but haven't cinformed is young star Nathan Simpson has hurt his shoulder.

I'm sure after the weekend things will be a bit clearer

[braves6]

Dont believe everything you hear though 999. J.K is playing this year after deciding to give up football now. Mr. Laux is great news for us again and a young student at monash will be a BIG help too. Looking forward to the weekend to see whats what and will catch up for a cold one with you.

[6for8]

Interesting that Tobias isn't coaching, from what I gather from last year, he had a vision to build a dynasty over the next couple of years. Nevertheless, I hope Dwayne takes the gig, a gentleman of the game I think he has been underutilized the last couple of years and still probably the best on the bump for them in my opinion. Shame about Simpson, did he hurt his arm playing over summer?

Don't forget Davis Long moving away is another out for the Redsox, and six weeks without Godenzi is a long time considering it equates to half the season...

[gj]

6 for,
are you going to Sydney with the Provincials? If, so perhaps start a thread to give us some info.
Also, further updates on Japan tour.

[tgonguy999]

A couple of scores from the morwell with pakenham and traralgon playing out a 5all draw in an entertaining game and moe knocking off a strong berwick side 1-0 with only a handful of hits for the game. Both pitchers were outstanding and unfortunately the only run coming from a Pass ball. I haven't heard any scores from Churchill while currently playing at morwell is the host v moe and berwick and pakenham facing off

[Deleted]

I agree 6For that Duane is a gentleman and can still throw (he threw for us in Ballarat last weekend at the Masters) but he's battling a hip problem which hopefully he will work through.

Im sure he is keen to help the club in some way no doubt, thats the sort of bloke he is.

[tgonguy999]

The 2011 IPM Mitsui and co LVBA season kicks off tommorow and each team is gearing up to start the season with a W. Traralgon starts the year off with a bye, except for there under 10 teeball and under 14 sides who both have 2 teams which will face off at KLP.

The Morwell Cougars will host the Sale Rangers at Toners Lane Morwell and if last week was anything to go by the field should be in top nick with a lot of work happening over the off-season. These two clubs will have alot of motivation to come up trumps as neither club has tasted much success of late and both looked to have bolsterd their respective sides. I would guess that Morwell will start with lefty Martin Kennedy and Sale will go with young flame thrower James Jackson. This could go either way but Sale should get up.

Churchil Braves will kick their season off at home to the Moe/Newbourgh Dodgers in what should be a cracker of a game. These sides have plenty of history playing in finals of recent years. Churchill will be hoping there guns will be firing to get them off to a perfect start. Moe will be looking at there younger brigade to take the club to the next level. Unless he is used today Churchills Matt Prior will go off for them, although they will have plenty of options if he is needed in the DBA. Moe dont have as many choices on the bump but will be well served with either Jason Smith or Nathan Simpson. My Choice is Churchill in a close one.

Here is a link to last weeks Gippsland Champs.
www.latrobevalley.baseball.com.au/?Page=74441

[tgonguy999]

Sunday see's round 2 kick off and everyone will be hoping for the weather to fine up after flooding rains in the area causing the gounds to become fairly water logged.

If you would like to see a write up of last weeks games here is a link
www.latrobevalley.baseball.com.au/?Page=74625

This week has the Traralgon Redsox kicking off there campaign at home after a bye last week. There opponents the Morwell Cougars came off a thumping at the hands of Sale and will be looking to improve, they will be strengthened by the return of big hitting centre fielder Kim Mayberry as well as a couple of other stronger players. The Redsox have had some interuptions in the preseason with some injuries hampering there title defence early. They will however field a full strength side and look at starting the year in style. Traralgon to good in this one

Game of the week this week again involves Churchill as they travel to Stephenson Park to face a Sale side brimming with confidence. Sale racked up 28 runs last week and will look to push the braves all the way. Churchill have a formidable linup and will be looking to stamp there dominance on the LVBA early. Sale will go with either Will Hector who got the W last week, or James Jackson on the hill to keep the bats quiet. Matty Prior or Grant Irving will get the duties for Churchill. I see Churchill having to many weapons.

[Deleted]

I was doing a recent cruise around the winter websites and came across a "History" piece written by Russell King for the Latrobe Valley Baseball Association. I gather this is a fairly recent entry.

Sure, those of us who were around the game in the sixties will get more out of it than our younger players, but as a record of early association and Victorian baseball history it is a lasting and wonderful snapshot.

Great read. Well done.

[braves6]

Top two sides Churchill and Sale played a nailbiter on Sunday with the Braves coming away winners 2-1. Prior on the hill going complete game as did Hector for Sale. Scores couldve been blown out if Churchill converted the 9 runners stranded after limiting Sale to only 3 hits. This now gives Churchill a game and a half clear on top to Sale sitting second.

Umpires called the Morwell ground unfit to play and ruled a washout for the Morwell v Traralgon game, theres a lot of banter going around the league as to what could be done as both clubs played their juniors there in the morning so thought grounds were fit.

[braves6]

Churchill Baseball Club held their annual Players Auction after Sundays game with a new record for price of player in the A Grade Hits category.

John Keighran broke through and sold for $305 marking the first time the 300 had come up.
Two players later and Mat Prior sold for $315 creating the record.

A good night had by all, and a great event that the club holds every year for fundraising.

[The Puma]

May 31, 2011 8:00:39 GMT 10 braves6 said:

Umpires called the Morwell ground unfit to play and ruled a washout for the Morwell v Traralgon game, theres a lot of banter going around the league as to what could be done as both clubs played their juniors there in the morning so thought grounds were fit.

The firsts game at Pakky was called on the weekend after the seconds had played without a drop of rain, they simply destroyed the ground. There was no chance you could have played another 9 digs let alone started the game. Both coaches and the umpire were in complete agreeance even tho everyone wanted to play, it was just dangerous.

[braves6]

So, can they now re schedule that game? thats what the talk is here. my understanding is that they couldve called it off the day before and rescheduled but now that umpires have called it, its a done deal.

[The Puma]

We don't reschedule games in the DBA mate, we just head to the bar.

[tgonguy999]

I figure its time to get back on here and talk the valley up again, its been a while with rep commitments and club commitments taking up alot of time i havent given alot of time to this thread.

This weeks games saw some great weather and even better baseball. I will put a report link below but will do my own little summary.

Churchill came to to KLP to take on Traralgon and all day there was great baseball. it started in the juniors with a walk off home run to win the game and then both B and A grade games coming down to one run with churchill taking both games. B grade was 3 -2 and was a pitchers duel between two young throwers. A Grade was even more of a pitchers duel with a 1-0 ballgame, traralgon having three hits for the game and churchill only 6 it just showed the closeness between the two teams. Matt Prior for Chirchill was lights out and Luke Hornstra for Traralgon made sure the game was in the balance to the last pitch.

Moe made the long trip down the highway to Sale in order to keep in the top three. Both sides have been the big improvers this year and a good game was always on the cards. While Moe toiled all day it seemed Sale always had the answers and came away with an 8-3 victory and in doing so took second spot.

www.latrobevalley.baseball.com.au/?Page=76651

[braves6]

A potential season defining game this week with Traralgon and Moe going against each other with the winner going a game clear into third spot whilst the loser will be playing catch up for the run towards finals. Moe currently own the bragging rights however with their backs to the wall now I cant see Traralgon dropping this game.

Churchill hosts Morwell in what one would expect a win for the Churchill boys.