• For what is supposed to be quite time of the year in early January we were extremely busy.

In that January period we conducted

• Two three day camps

• Four Specialist Hitting sessions utilizing the services of Trent Oeltjen.

• The Holiday LL Competition.

• Organised two Girls Representative teams, an Under 13 and Under 16.

• The Holiday Competition ticked a lot of boxes for us. Importantly we grew the concept from six teams to eight teams with the introduction of a Minor League Competition.

The structure was different to what was originally intended as a result of a relatively poor response from the players of Minor League age. There were only sufficient numbers for two teams in Minor League which was obviously insufficient to conduct a nine day competition.

The alternative proved to be a better solution. Major League was reduced to a four team competition that strengthened the competition by not having to spread the playing strength so far. Also it allowed the introduction of a four team Minor Competition for players with 1998 DOB and younger.

Because of the late change we had to increase the squad size from the desired 11 players to the difficult number of 13 players per squad. Injuries in some teams offset the problem.

We make no apology for setting a 60% participation rate to be eligible for the Holiday competition. My view is that, next year the percentage rate will be even higher. Without it the squads would have been even more difficult to handle.

As I said earlier the Competition ticked a lot of boxes – however one of them was not an improvement in playing standard. The playing standard was very, very mixed.

Minor League teams struggled to get outs, it was more the fielding than the pitching that contributed to the problem. The same can be said about Major League where, as a whole, infields struggled to achieve outs. The batting averages were inflated by numerous infield hits.

The standard of umpiring was much improved. Carlingford supplied three young Umpires they have been ‘bringing’ through and they were very good. It was an ideal environment for young or inexperienced umpires as again this year the behaviour of coaches, parents and players was very good.

Our thanks are extended to both Castle Hill and Kellyville Clubs which hosted the Competition. Despite the heat and dry conditions the diamonds were presented in very good condition. The opening of Canteens was an added bonus.

• Baulkham Hills were named as the ABF Club of the Year for 2008/9

• While we have received no information on the LL State Championship, no rules but more importantly no Charter, nor boundaries - the two teams for that tournament have been selected. The teams are:

Hills North

• E. Bourke, G Burgess, L Campbell, D Frew, L Gilchrist, P Holm, M Inskip, J McCarthy, M Rofe, J Lindsay, J Roberti, I. Whatson, D Wiggins.

• Coaches are D Lindsay, P Whatson. Scorer M Gilchrist

Hills South

• M Bohan, W Buhler, C Forbes, J Gray, R Haruta, J McCallum, M McCarthy, T Roberts, J Sammes, J Smith, Y Suzuki, L Waddell, D Wright.

• Coaches are G Giffin, R West. Scorer M Thompson

We intend to appoint James Waddell and Nick Leahy as Assistant coaches to further their Development as Coaches

The staging of the tournament in Shellharbour will result in an expense for the parents. We opted not to arrange accommodation on behalf of parents. Really it would only lead to complaints for no real benefit.

If $5,000 is all BNSW was to receive for staging the tournament in Shellharbour they have ‘sold themselves short’ given the added expense parents will be ‘up for’.

• It is has been a sad time for the Baseball fraternity with five deaths since late December.

• Andre Desjardines passed away after a long battle with Cancer. Andre was in charge of the Institute squad after coming to NSW via similar positions with Baseball Victoria and ACT Baseball.

• Phillip Marchant also succumbed to a long battle with cancer. Phillip was a coach with Castle Hill and a Manager of Hills and NSW teams.

• Jack Janmaat who was ill for a long time has also passed away. Jack was involved with many clubs including Winston Hills and Baulkham Hills.

• Brad Sampson a Manly Junior representative player passed away suddenly.

• The latest death was Ross O’Shannassy of the Carlingford Club. In the days before Ross suffered a major Heart Attack he was assisting his son by umpiring a Little League game. Ross’ funeral will be held at 11.15am on Wednesday, 10 February at Palm Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium, North Ryde.

We extend our sympathy to all those families. 

• Right on Christmas BNSW ‘dropped’ the Girls Competition in our lap. It is a representative style competition to be played in February, for Under 16 and Under 13 girls. There is no Final Series.

The competition is being conducted by Girls Development Sub Committee of the Womens League. We would much prefer that the competition be conducted under the banner of the JLSC and it be the responsibility of Junior Associations not the Womens Committee. Having said that we nominated teams as it offered an opportunity for our players

Whether the venture will be a success is very much up in the air. The Under 13 are required to play double headers. That will stretch the pitching resources beyond breaking point. There are five teams in the Under 13 age group. The response to Under 16 was extremely poor with only three teams nominating, one of which is a combined Central Coast and Ryde team.

With a number of players away and no competition being played where we could contact possible players it was always going to be difficult. It was not until late January that we were really assured of an Under 16 team but the Under 13 was always fragile. With the support of the Rouse Hill club we were eventually able to attract 11 girls for the Under 13. The number in Under 16 varied almost on a day to day basis.

There were no selection ‘cuts’, rather we took the players who attended the two training sessions that were necessary to actually determine who actually wanted to play. The timing was not ideal but we had no option.

The teams are:

Under 13 

Georgia Bricknell, Laura Caller, Gemma Douglass, Rachel East, Amber McMahon, Paige Unitt, Maria Simic, Allana Smith, Emily Smith, Olivia Shepherd and Tegan Whichello

Coach is Dennis Grogan

Under 16

Samantha Barone, Emily Black, Sally Elmer, Samantha Galea, Courtney Forbes, Emma Jurukovski, Stephanie Lozier, Pani Moanaroa- Taylor, Courtney Potts, Tayla Roberti, Bianca van Vlimmeren, Paige Whichello and Rhiann Wynne.

Coaches are Vicki and Joe Galea. 

• NSWJBL has advertised its program for the over seas tours in 2010. Details can be found on  www.nswjuniorbaseball.com.au

• The washout on Friday and Saturday will have an impact on the competition, especially as the weather forecast for this weekend is not promising.

There are a number of Midweek games that have to be played by 19th February which I have to say is unlikely to be achieved as Councils have already closed its grounds.

When the grounds are re opened Clubs will be faced with fields with very long grass.

As in every year I struggle to understand why clubs do not play these games earlier. When the draw is issued in September, February looks a looks a long way away and ‘we have plenty of time’. In fact it takes only one spell of wet weather to place those plans in total disarray.

The down turn to this is that it is possible that the Minor Premiership (and entry to Champion of Champions in both Shipley and Douglass Leagues) will be determined without these games being replayed. Preference in organizing replays should be given to those games affecting the ‘battles’ for fourth place.

It is probable that no replays will be able to be played this week. Hills may well have to assume responsibility of which games are replayed to ensure all teams in contention are treated equally.

• Baulkham Hills Council as well as Blacktown Council, in conjunction with NSW Sport and Recreation, are conducting a Sports Development Program.

• Hills again declined to enter a team in the Rookies Cup. This has been our policy for a number of years as we see no benefit in Representative baseball for nine year olds.

Having decided that Hills would not offer a representative team, we offered participation in the competition to Castle Hill. The basis of the decision was that it leads the Petroff Competition when the competition ceased in December. The offer was conditional that players can only be Castle Hill players registered in either Petroff or Daisley Leagues.

Had Castle Hill declined the offer the offer would have been made under the same conditions to the second placed team in the competition (Winston Hills).

This will become the Hills’ policy in future years. It will be tested next season when I expect Hills to be required to host the series.

• In the Correspondence is an article which names Chris Adamson (a Kings Langley Junior and Hills Representative player) as one of six players awarded NCAA Division 11 2010 Pre Season All Americans. During the 2009 season Chris hit a record breaking 28 game hitting streak.

• BNSW All Star Day is scheduled for 21st February at Gilchrist.

This year, more than ever, it was difficult to determine which players to nominate. Basically the decision was left to Representative Coaches. In keeping with other decisions made this season it was decided to afford the opportunity to as many players as possible. That in mind a decision was made not to nominate any of the ‘two year’ players as those players will be eligible again next season.

The nominees were:

• Under 12: Liam Gilchrist, Patrick Holm, Tom Roberts, James Sammes, Isaac Whatson and Dylan Wiggins

• Under 14: Bryce Clarke, Justin Dawson, Joel Dyer, Cameron Power, Michael Robinson and Mika Zammit

• Under 16: Jake Austin, Jake Bohan, Edan Cattell, Josh Guyer, Matthew Olson, Dominic Woodward.

We did ask whether it was possible to extend the nominations in Under 12 but were refused. Realistically we could have nominated any one of nine players in that age group.

It is hard to be enthusiastic over the All Star Day when places are basically equally divided among Associations. To allocate places in Under 12 to the Convenor’s team (which were players who were not selected for their own Association’s Representative team) and to Central Coast (who took no part in the Competition) we considered to be ridiculous.

No doubt we will ‘cop some stick’ over the All Star day. The Under 14 coaching staff has declined to be involved as has the Under 12 Coach. Also we are ‘chasing’ Scorers.

• Grand Final day will be at Bensons as previously advised. The exceptions will be both Hay and Shipley Leagues which will be played as night games at the same venue on Friday 19th March.

A slight complication will be whether Bensons can accommodate nine games on Saturday morning, obviously means utilizing a fifth diamond.

We received no feed back re the Douglass League so the plan is that the competition will be split into two with top three (Castle Hill x 2 and Baulkham Hills)  and bottom three (Kellyville, Winston Hills and Hawkesbury)- as planned. The final series will be a three game round robin series, with best two teams in each competition qualifying for the Grand Final. The two teams with the best record in this series will qualify for the Grand Final. It is the same format as we used for the Hay League finals last season.

It will mean that both competitions will play a midweek game on either the Tuesday or Wednesday (9th or 10th March)

• Time to start thinking about the Winter Competition. At this stage the thinking is to offer competition for Under 12, 14 and 16 age groups. Ages as at 31 December, 2010

An alternative is maybe to offer a Holiday style Competition for Under 12 if Clubs cannot form teams of the correct age.

The playing distances suggested are 42’x60’ (Under 12), 50’x80’ (Under 14) and 57’ x 90’ (Under 16). We would consider Dispensations for Under 16 although the same rules will apply to over age players playing in Sydney Winter or Metro type competitions.

Players from other Associations will be required to pay the $11 Hills’ registration fee. For teams outside Hills, this figure will be incorporated in the entry fee.

Tentative commencement date would be either the 11th or 18th April. There is no intention of playing Anzac Day.

In addition to the written report, Mr. Yard reported that Victoria defeated South Australia in the Final of the Claxton Shield and that the All Star teams are named on the website.

The Secretary’s report was accepted.

Mr. Schmidt reported on the January meeting.

• Documents for the overseas tours are available on the NSWJBL web site

• Applications for coaches close on 19th February, 2010.

Mr. Whatson reported on the December meeting .

• There is to be a Girls Representative competition for Under 13 and Under 16 age groups.

• Associations are being asked to consider Mark Wiggins for the Rules Committee.  Mr. Schmidt advised that Mark Farrell has not stepped down from the Rules Committee: as such a vacancy may not exist.

• The Champion of Champions will be conducted, looking to play midweek on 10th, 17th or18th and 28th March.  Threatens to be a schmozzle as Hills will need three grounds with lights.

• All Star Game is 21st February but really too many players in the team.  They are supposed to play in Association uniforms.

• Little League is no longer being held at Shellharbour.  No replacement venue has been announced. 

• Mr. Johnson is resigning as Chairman of JLSC.

• Mr. Yard advised that the Under 12 and Under 16 uniforms have been issued to the Girls’ team.

• It was agreed that ‘due process’ should take place for the election of the Rules Committee and Expressions of Interest be invited.

• Mr. Catt requested that BNSW provide a copy of the Coaches Selection Policy.

BNSW Blueprint:

Mr. Schmidt had prepared a document with what he believed the Blueprint would contain. The actual document has not been distributed. Mr. Schmidt acknowledged his draft contained an error in Page 2, as to which clubs would be affected by the required number of players and teams.

Mr. Schmidt stated that Hills has three Major League clubs in its catchment area.  As it was explained to him, Baulkham Hills would not necessarily be a Major League Club.

Mr. Schmidt advised that –

• the first problem would be how to ‘manage’ the merging of Juniors and Seniors

• allegedly RSO, as they will be known, are only allowed to consist of 10 Junior Clubs, we have 12.

It was said that to affiliate clubs, the clubs need to have 5 or 6 teams and a total of 60 players.  Included in this number, clubs are to have an Under 12, 14, 16 and a girls team.  Some of our clubs have enough teams, but not enough players and vice versa. The proposal ignores the important role that small clubs play in the development of the sport. They ‘cover’ a geographical area – once they cease to exist, the area becomes ‘lost’ to the sport.  Look at the demise of Cumberland.

Junior Associations are to total 750 players.  Mr. Schmidt considers that the optimum number should be approximately 1200 players to allow Associations to conduct three graded competitions in live ball age groups.

Three Major League teams will ‘disappear’ from the Major League competition.

The coast to buy a RSO franchise is $25,000.  In addition it is estimated to cost a further $25,000 to field Major League teams. Money may not be as big an issue in Hills as it maybe in other areas. The income will be spent on employing four Development Officers.

The next step is to wait until the Blueprint is released, see where it matches the ‘rumours’.  Hopefully we will be able to make a recommendation to the clubs.  We will distribute a copy to Club Presidents and Delegates.

Mr. Blundell asked why would BNSW want to eliminate small clubs?  Mr. Yard stated that it is all about control- the larger the body the easier it is to control – there is more to ‘lose’.

The ABF/BNSW have long held beliefs that it has to control clubs/players, including direct registrations (Clubs have to understand how dangerous that can be). The Blueprint is the start of the end of Associations.

• Statement of Financial Position was presented.
• Payments were approved.
• Debtors and liabilities were disclosed.

Graduation Tournament - Mr. Niemi thanked clubs for their support of its Under 10 Graduation Tournament.  The tournament was won by Rouse Hill.

Break In  -  Mr. Blundell advised that the canteen at Ashley Brown was broken into.  Mr. Yard advised that Rouse Hill had its BBQ stolen a few weeks ago.