Wollongong’s Russell in Australian under-23 wheelchair basketball team
Basketball Australia (BA) has announced the athletes selected to represent Australia at the 2009 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Under-23 World Championship in Paris in July. Wollongong’s Shawn Russell has been selected in the team.
Australia has been drawn in Group B alongside Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Malaysia and the United States for the inaugural tournament contested by men's and women's mixed teams, while Canada, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey and host nation France make up Group A.
The team contains two Paralympians, Gold Medallist Dylan Alcott and Bronze Medallist Cobi Crispin, who represented Australia with the Rollers and Gliders respectively at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. PHOTO: Shawn Russell hits a tough shot for the Roller Hawks -
Photo courtesy of Noel Rowsell (www.photoexcellence.com.au)
The team will be coached by Mark Walker, who was the head coach of Australia's men's wheelchair basketball team that won a Gold Medal at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta.
"We've got a well balanced team, we're excited about the challenges ahead and we're aiming for Gold," Walker said.
Western Australia is the most represented state among the playing group with five athletes heading to Europe, ahead of New South Wales with four, Victoria with two and Queensland with one.
The team will undergo a final training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport from June 5-8 before departing from Sydney to London on June 28 where it will play practice matches against Great Britain from July 1-4 before arriving in France on July 5.
Australian under-23 wheelchair basketball team is: Dylan ALCOTT, VIC; Christopher BARTY, WA; Jannik BLAIR, VIC; Cobi CRISPIN, QLD; Adam DEANS, WA; Bill LATHAM, Wenty Leagues Wheelkings, NSW; John McPHAIL, West Sydney Razorbacks/Sydney Spirit, NSW; Amber MERRITT, WA; Nicholas RADOVICH, WA; Kim ROBINS, WA; Shawn RUSSELL, Wollongong Roller Hawks, NSW; Colin SMITH, West Sydney Razorbacks/Sydney Spirit, NSW
Shoalhaven pick up first point in Illawarra Baseball League
Competition newcomers, Shoalhaven Mariners played out their first positive result with a 9-9 draw against Kiama Braves in round 6 fixtures of the 2009 I B L premiership played Saturday. The game could easily have seen Mariners record a win leading 9-4 after the penultimate inning but Braves fought back strongly in the final inning to score five runs and tie the score.
Mariners had been guided by a strong effort by starting pitcher Blake Mitchell who had to be relieved on the mound when his pitch count limit was exhausted. Mitchell conceded four earned runs on 11 hits in 6.2 innings. Braves could not capitalise on their 18 safe hits where David Jefford (4 / 4, 2 RBI's) and Scott Bowman (4 / 5) headed the hitting. Mark McDonald (3 / 5, two doubles, one triple and 1 RBI) featured in Mariners 8 hits.
Other games saw Wests Cardinals get up 8-6 over Berkeley Eagles compliments of a two out two run homer by shortstop Nathan Grogan in the top of the ninth. Grogan and Chase Richardson batted 3 / 5 for the Red Birds while Joe Anson Logan Kingham and Aaron Tritton registered two hits each for Eagles.
Blake Handley recorded the win pitching 7 innings for 4 earned runs on 8 hits in relief of Josh Dean’s 2 innings for 2 earned runs on 3 hits. Joe Anson (5 innings, 1 earned run, 5 hits) and Tim Beard (4 innings 6 earned runs, 8 hits) shared Eagles pitching.
Dapto Chiefs continued their unbeaten run with an 11-1 result in eight innings over Northern Pirates. Chiefs outhit Pirates 14-6, Stuart McCarthy batting 3 / 5 and Jarrett Commane 2 / 4 with 4 RBI’s. Corey Hayman and Troy Clifford were the Bucs’ best with two hits apiece. Aaron Wirth (4 innings, 1 earned run, 5 hits) and Commane (4 innings, no earned runs, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts) combined effectively for the victors.
First Grade
Wests Cardinals 8 Runs (13 hits, 2 errors) defeated Berkeley Eagles 6 Runs (11 hits, 4 errors)
Shoalhaven Mariners 9 Runs (8 hits, 1 error) drew with Kiama Braves 9 Runs (18 hits, 2 errors)
Dapto Chiefs 11 Runs (14 hits, 0 errors) defeated Bulli Pirates 1 Run (6 hits, 4 errors)
Second Grade
Cardinals 10 Eagles 4; Braves 16 Mariners 1; Chiefs 16 Pirates 0
Third Grade
Eagles 13 Cardinals 5; Pirates 11 Chiefs 3; Braves 18 Mariners 5
Minor League
Pirates 12 Warriors (5) 0; Warriors (4) 6 Cardinals 4; Panthers (4) 10 Chiefs 4: Panthers (5) 12 Braves 4
Next Saturday’s round seven fixtures will see Dapto Chiefs play Kiama Braves at Hector Harvey Reserve, Dapto, Berkeley Eagles play Northern Pirates at Eagles Field, Fred Finch Park, Berkeley and Wests Cardinals play Shoalhaven at Cringila Community Park. First grade games commence at 2.00pm. (Report from Frank Booth)
Wollongong’s Premier Youth League 18s and 16s top table
After Round 10, Wollongong’s Premier Youth League soccer under 16s and 18s top the table. The 16s retained first position despite a 2 – 1 loss to second placed Blacktown City last weekend. The 18s had two wins in the past week defeating the NSW Institute of Sport 5 – 1 and then backing up on the weekend to defeat the strong Blacktown City side 2 nil.
After the latest matches against Blacktown City, the under 15s dropped to 4th after their 5 – 1 loss to the ladder leading Blacktown side. With their 2 – 1 win the Wollongong 14s moved up to 7th (four points out of the top 5). The 13s game was postponed and as a result the 13s are just 1 point out of the play-off five.
Results for the round played last week against Blacktown were:
Under 13: Wollongong game postponed
Under 14: Wollongong won 2 - 1
Under 15: Wollongong lost 5 - 1
Under 16: Wollongong lost 2 - 1
Under 18: Wollongong won 2 nil
Wollongong’s under 18s also defeated the NSW Institute of Sport 5 – 1 on Tuesday 5 May.
Wollongong teams play their next round against Sydney Tigers, at Elizabeth Park, Bellambi with the 13s beginning at 9 am on Saturday May 16. The 18s will play on Sunday May 17 at 9am at Hooka Creek Park prior to the Premier League Youth and Senior team games against the Tigers
Previous SportsLive reports on the Wollongong Premier Youth League teams can be found at: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3462
More results and the draw can be found at http://www.soccernsw.com.au/index.php?id=78
Illawarra Hawks overcome by Jets in State League Basketball
The Illawarra Hawks men's team remains in second place after going down narrowly to the Hawkesbury Jets in round nine of the 2009 NSW State League Basketball competition. The Jets thereby maintained their unbeaten status and outright leadership in Pool D.
Sunday's clash with the Hawks was the latest litmus test for the title aspirations of the Jets, who had faced and conquered all challengers to date in their bid for the Pool D minor premiership and their ultimate goal, the NSW State League premiership.
Coach Sutherland said "We just dug it out today for the win but I don't think we really played all that well. They (Illawarra) are definitely the best team we have faced this season and they didn't let us get comfortable at any stage of the game."
"We went scoreless for the first eight minutes of the final quarter and they (Illawarra) dragged the margin back to just four points", said Sutherland. “Thankfully we got our act together for the final four minutes to grab the win."
Hawkesbury Jets 74 defeated Illawarra Hawks 68
For more on this game and Men’s State League Basketball go to http://www.nswbasketball.net.au/events/2009/SBL/Men/09D1MResults.htm
For more Illawarra basketball stories go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1370
Action photos from the NBL, WNBL, WABL, SL, WNWBL and NWBL can be viewed at www.photoexcellence.com.au
Want to coach junior cricketers? Level 1 Course on May 24
The Level 1 Cricket Coaching Course is recommended to all volunteers involved in coaching junior club, school and community cricket teams. The course provides technical skills, game understanding, teaching techniques, effective ways to conduct training sessions and awareness of the factors motivating young people to play and enjoy cricket.
The Level 1 Course now consists of completing the Introduction to Cricket Course on-line (covering all the theoretical components of Level 1), then registering to attend a face to face practical component conducted over one full day. The Introduction to Cricket Course can be completed in one sitting or over a number of sessions, whatever is more convenient to the candidate.
The Level 1 Practical Skills Day will be held:-
Day/Date: Sunday May 24, 2009
Time: Commencing 9.00am - 4.00pm
Venue: Illawarra Sports High, Sports Hall, Gura Street, Berkeley
For further details contact Graham Smith Regional Cricket Manager Illawarra/Southern Zone
Cricket NSW | PO Box 245 Albion Park NSW 2527
Ph: 4257 3272 | Fax: 4257 1428 | Mob: 0425 297718
www.country.cricketnsw.com | www.playcricket.com
Register for Sydney’s World Masters Games:
As at late March 6700 people had registered for the World Masters games in Sydney on October 10 -18, 2009. Over 28 sports will cater for participants of varying standards and ages. For example, tennis has singles, doubles and mixed doubles in ten year age brackets from 30+ to 80+ with A grade for competition players and B grade for social players and beginners.
Registrations close on July 31. For more details go to the World Games web site: http://www.2009worldmasters.com/default.aspx
More Stories?
For more local sports stories go to www.wollongong.sportslive.com.au
If you want publicity for your sport please contact the SportsLive Director at YourOnlineCommunity office on 4254 0200 or to email click here-> | 
