Illawarra wins at NSW Country Championship

The Illawarra Baseball League Men’s representative team successfully defended the New South Wales Country Championship title played in Port Macquarie over the Labour Day weekend.

Illawarra defeated Newcastle 9-5 in the final to take back to back titles for the first time since 1980 and 1981. The win is the twelfth by Illawarra since the Championships began in 1948.

The team went through the round robin series against Newcastle, Central Coast and the NSW Country under 18 team unbeaten to qualify in top position for Monday’s final.

In the final first baseman Lee Vlasoff triggered six runs in the bottom of fifth inning with a grand slam (bases loaded homer) that put Illawarra equal with Newcastle who had scored four in fourth.

Trent D'Antonio batted in a run in the sixth and he and Mitch Thompson batted in runs in the eighth. Thompson and Troy Green registered two hits each in the final, the winners being outhit 14-9

Chris Morgan pitched 6.2 innings conceding 12 hits and four earned runs and Blake Handley closed with 2.1 innings for two hits and one earned run sharing the duties in the final.
 
The Illawarra B men’s division team was beaten 9-8 in their final against Newcastle B. Stuart McCarthy and Mick Shipp registered two RBI's each for Illawarra.
 
In the women's division the Illawarra team finished in third place with Macleay Valley taking the title for the second time. (Story supplied by Frank Booth)

Junior Cricket’s combined competitions begin on October 11

The Illawarra and South Coast combined junior cricket competitions in under 16A, under 16B and under 14A are to begin on Saturday October 11.

In the under 16A competition there will be six Illawarra teams - Wests Illawarra Red, Wests Illawarra Blue, Port Kembla, Thirroul, Corrimal and Balgownie. South Coast will have four teams – Shellharbour, Warilla Sports, Lake Illawarra and Albion Park.

In the under 14A, there are also four South Coast teams and six Illawarra teams. The South Coast teams are Albion Park, Warilla Sports, Shellharbour and Kiama. The Illawarra teams are Balgownie, Thirroul, Corrimal, Dapto, Helensburgh and Wests Illawarra.

The younger Illawarra grades will begin on October 18. Port Kembla cricket club is still looking for players in the under 11s and 12s. Contact Martin King on martin.king@portkemblacricket.org  or check out Port Kemble’s web site www.portkemblacricket.org

Support local teams in soccer’s Champion of Champions

At the end of each junior and amateur soccer season knockout Champion of Champion tournaments are held between winners of the various grades from football associations across NSW. So far 7 teams representing the Illawarra have progressed to the semi-final stage on October 12.

Figtree is the most successful club so far with 3 teams through to the semis, followed by Unanderra with 2, Balgownie and Woonona 1 each. The draw for the semi-finals on October 12 is as follows:

Under 10:
S/F: Figtree v Kincumber; 12.15pm, Valentine Sports Park

Under 11:
S/F:  Unanderra v Terrigal; 9.45 am, Valentine Sports Park

Under 12:
S/F: Figtree v Narellan Rangers; Valentine Sports Park, 9.45am

Under 14:
S/F:  Balgownie v Wyoming; Valentine Sports Park, 2.45pm

Under 12 women:
S/F: Figtree v Colo Colo Cougars; Valentine Sports Park, 9.45am

Under 16 women:
S/F: Woonona v Springwood; Ray Marshall Field, 11.45am

Under 18 women:
S/F: Unanderra v Bosco; Ray Marshall Field, 1.15pm

For more details on the Champions of Champions go to:
http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5924-0-0-0&a=COMPS

Want to join an Illawarra Surf Club?

With the surfing season just beginning Illawarra clubs are inviting new members to join from Nippers to seniors.

For contact details of Illawarra clubs from Helensburgh to Windang go to www.illawarrasurf.com

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