Eagles cement second place in Round 10 Baseball
Premiers Berkeley Eagles strengthened their position at number two on the 2008 IBL premiership table with a 9-6 win over Dapto Chiefs in their round 10 game at Hector Harvey Reserve. Eagles outhit the opposition 12-7 and made the only error of the seven innings game.
The visitors went out to a 6-0 lead after three innings but saw the lead completely negated with Chiefs making the most of their opportunities and scoring six runs to tie the game by the end of the sixth. With game time running out Eagles rallied in the seventh where hits by Chris Piano and Mick Shipp followed by Stuart Thompson’s sacrifice hit created three runs. Closing pitcher Chad Blanch then kept Chiefs scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
Chris Piano headed Eagles hitting with 3 from 3 and 2 RBI’s while Kaine Abbott and Chad Blanch gained two hits each. Stuart McCarthy and Mark Spears registered two each for Chiefs. Josh Doyle pitched 4 innings allowing five hits and one earned run as Eagles starter and closer Blanch was effective allowing two hits and one earned run. Chief’s starter Aaron Wirth allowed six earned runs on six hits in three innings and reliever Tim Inglis allowed one earned run on five hits in 3.1 innings.
The other game produced a 9-3 win for the visitors, Bulli Pirates over Kiama Braves at Kiama Downs. Pirates opened with three runs in the first before Braves replied with two in the third. The visitors sealed the result by adding three in the fourth and two in the fifth. Errors proved expensive for the Braves - the four made in the game allowed five unearned runs to be scored by Pirates.
Pirates outhit Braves 14-5, Corey Hayman (4 / 6) and Mark Pearson (3 / 5) getting amongst the hits. Anthony Larsen was Braves only multiple hitter at 2 / 3. Pirates used three pitchers – Joe Duldig (2 innings, one hit, one earned run), Brad Drain (4.2 innings, four hits, two earned runs) and Travis Dutton (1.2 innings, no hits or earned runs). Braves starter Doug Ineson allowed 12 hits and 4 earned runs in 4.2 innings and reliever Matt Sneddon allowed two hits and no earned runs in 3.1 innings.
The Cardinals lead the table (win percentage 87%) followed by the Eagles (67%), Pirates (57%), Chiefs (29%) and Braves (13%).
In next week’s round 11 Major League fixtures Berkeley Eagles play Wests Cardinals at Eagles Field, Fred Finch Park, Berkeley and Bulli Pirates play Dapto Chiefs at Thomas Dalton Park, Fairy Meadow. Kiama Braves have a bye but play Shoalhaven Mariners in lower grade games at No. 2 Field, Fred Finch Park, Berkeley.
First grade games commence at 2.15pm.
Bodyboarding - the face of a New Age
By Reece Carter.
.jpg) Jason Finlay has been an understated figure in the bodyboarding world for quite some time now. However at just 22 years of age his quick-witted, comedic nature along with his skill and passion in the water has some people predicting he is the “next big thing”.
An expressive young bodyboarder who hails from the infamous NSW South Coast, “Jase” as he is also known has been in demand of some serious attention lately.
On April 28th of this year, some of Australia’s best bodyboarders came together for the “Boost from the Roost” tow-in bodyboarding competition at Shoalhaven Heads. Jase was one of these bodyboarders and after promising so much in recent years his time had come. He cracked the big-time, literally, winning the ‘Big Air’ competition and proved that he is one of the most explosive, sharp and progressive riders going around.
“It was really exciting because I was up against some big names. Everyone had been throwing around the idea that I had won so I was super amped before they announced it,” Jase recalls.
Jason James Finlay grew up in the landmark suburb of Mt Keira northwest of Wollongong. For Reece Carter’s full profile and story on Jason go to http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3059
Hawks dent Scorchers play-off hopes
The fifth-placed Illawarra Hawks have put the playoff aspirations of the Springwood Scorchers in real jeopardy, after defeating the Blue Mountains team 83-74 on Saturday night in Wollongong, in round thirteen of the NSW State League Basketball competition.
The Scorchers led 60-56 going into the fourth quarter but could not maintain their advantage, against a fierce three-point avalanche from the home team in the closing minutes of the game. The Scorchers had buried the Hawks in their first encounter this season, with a whirlwind finish in the final quarter, but suffered the indignity of a similar fate in this game, seemingly powerless to stop the Hawks relentless barrage of points.
The Hawks went from four points down to a nine-point lead in a matter of minutes and whilst they are themselves out of contention for the playoffs, they have now made life very tough for the Scorchers to achieve that goal.
Scorchers coach Vince Browning said "We could have won it (the game) - we had our chances. They (Illawarra) dominated us on our own boards, killing us in offensive rebounds. Then they bombed us out of it from the perimeter in the last couple of minutes."
Junior Wolves have mixed day against Manly
In last weekend’s Premier Youth League games the Wollongong Wolves picked up two wins in five games against Manly United. As expected the top of the table Wolves under 15s defeated Manly but the score of 2 – 1 was closer than Wolves fans expected given that Manly is well down in 8th spot on the ladder.
The other Wolves winner was the 14s who comprehensively defeated their opponents 3 nil. With the victory the Wolves moved to 11th position, one ahead of Manly in the 13 team competition.
With their narrow loss to their lower placed opponents by 3 – 2, the Wolves 18s are now 5 points adrift of the play off top five. The 16s fought hard before going down 1 nil to their top of the table opponents. With the loss the Wolves are two points outside the top five.
Full results for Round 16 between Wollongong Wolves and Manly United were:
Under 18: Wolves lost 3 - 2
Under 16: Wolves lost 1 nil
Under 15: Wolves won 2 - 1
Under 14: Wolves won 3 nil
Under 13: Wolves lost 2 nil
For stories on previous games and links to overall competition tables go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=2812
Cricket Australia Level 1 Coaching Courses
Cricket Australia's Level 1 Coaching Course is a comprehensive program that is directed towards coaches at under-age and community cricket level. By completing this course you will broaden the knowledge you have of the technical skills of the game, understand appropriate and effective ways to conduct sessions and improve your skills as a coach.
The course has no pre-requisites and involves an online component as well as an 8 hour practical day. The online component you will undertake is the Australian Sports Commission Beginning General Coaching Principles course. The practical component will be conducted over one day (8 hours) and each person completes a practical assessment at the end of the session.
Successful candidates receive several high quality coaching resources including the Australian Cricket Coach Manual and the Cricket Australia Coaching Guide CD-Rom as well as membership to Cricket Coaches Australia and access to a variety of resources and coaching workshops to keep their knowledge up-to-date. The course is accredited by Cricket Australia and the National Coach Accreditation Scheme (NCAS).
There are two options available for completing a Level 1 course. If your Club or Association wishes to run a course for its coaches then this can be arranged at a time and venue that suits you. Alternatively if yourself and a friend or two would like to do a course then you can book to attend any of the courses that are running in your local area.
If your Club/Association is keen to organise a course in the lead up to, or during the 2008/09 season then please contact me by email. If you wish to attend a course yourself then either contact Donna Little, coach education coordinator, (Ph: 0414 708 591) for more information or keep an eye on the link below for a list of courses coming soon. The booking process is completed online and a form can be downloaded from this link as well.
http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/coaching/hgdocs.cl?PT=dd&exp=1&L1=Accred&L2=L1&exclusive=0
Volunteers in sport
There’s no doubt that volunteers are vital to the successful running of a sports club. NSW Sport and Recreation recently commissioned Griffith University to complete a study of innovative volunteer club practices and the issues facing volunteers throughout New South Wales. Read the study’s report on http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/sportsclubs/ryc_volunteer.asp
Sportsman’s luncheon to Rescue in Germany!
On Friday 27 June at Bulli Workers Club a Sportsman’s Luncheon will be held by BULLI SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB to raise much needed funds for life saving equipment & assist in sending a team to Rescue 2008 Germany, the World Life Saving Championships in July/August this year.
Steve Carfino (NBL Hall of Fame & Foxtel Sports Presenter) will be the MC with special guests;
• Laurie Daley (Channel 9 NRL Footy Show & former NRL legend)
• Shannon Eckstein (Australian Surf Life Saving Iron-Man Champion)
• Les Boyd (Former ARL legend)
Cost is $70 (12midday to 4.30pm) which includes meal, refreshments & entertainment. On the day there will be a lucky door prize, large raffle, silent auctions & a sporting memorabilia auction to be conducted.
Contact Keith Caldwell 0414-258295 (mkcaldwell@bigpond.com) or Barry Adams 42-843817 (stalky@1earth.net) for tickets.
Sport, Physical Activity and Health – free breakfast meeting
The Australian Sports Commission’s Active After-school Communities program is hosting an Active Sports, Active Kids breakfast for Illawarra sporting club representatives, in Wollongong on Tuesday 24 June 2008. Louisa Peralta, from the Child Obesity Research Centre, University of Wollongong, will be delivering a thought provoking presentation on sport, physical activity and health.
The Active After-school Communities (AASC) program is an Australian Government initiative providing free, structured physical activity programs to primary-aged children after school at schools and out of school hours care services. Involvement in the AASC program can provide your club members, coaches and volunteers access to a free coaching course and resources, payment for coaching, and opportunities to develop networks to increase your club membership.
For more information about the breakfast and the Australian Sports Commission’s AASC program, contact Tracey Mogensen on 02 4257 8198 or tracey.mogensen@ausport.gov.au by Friday 14 June 2008. Website: http://www.ausport.gov.au/aasc
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