• It was certainly a big bullet that we dodged on Saturday. Despite the amount of rain that fell on Friday the only semi final games that were ‘washed out’ were the two Youth League games scheduled for Friday evening.

To get the 8.30 games underway on time last Saturday must have taken some extremely hard work by a small band of volunteers. Thanks is really insufficient to acknowledge the work that was achieved on Friday and Saturday- hopefully those volunteers accept our simple but sincere Thanks for a job very well done.

• The Champion of Champions should be renamed. BNSW or at least the lack of leadership in the JLSC has made an almighty mess of the proposal.

From the word go the concept of playing midweek games during Association’s Final Series was fatally flawed with the need of imposing restrictions on pitchers and player shortages as NSW Schools are in the phase of School Camps.

We have gone from being told the ‘mood’ among Associations was that it would not be held; only to have BNSW issue Rules for the competition the very next day. Next step was ‘Lets have a vote’ as to whether Associations wanted to play the competition. This was even to the point that if you do not vote then it will be interpreted as a vote to abandon the tournament. 

Hills voted to abandon the concept for the year- only then to find that was interpreted as you forfeit!  Hills, Manly, Central Coast and Ryde all were considered as forfeiting and the Championship was to be played among Cronulla, Macarthur, Bankstown and Greater West.

BNSW stepped it and sensibly cancelled the tournament – only then to have the JLSC Chairman state he was misunderstood and the tournament could be played as a South Western Championship.

To me there was no misunderstanding – another big Brother approach of saying you disagree – then forfeit! You can follow the saga with a copy of emails in the Correspondence.

• We need to decide on the Winter Competitions. It is not so much the competitions – rather the ages of the competitions that need to be confirmed. Are the Under 12, 14 and 16/17 ages as at 31 December, 2010 or 2009? If we cannot attract Under 12 Club teams – then we should build upon the Minor League Competition in January and offer a Holiday style Competition in the age group.

•  Amazing how quick Clubs are prepared to allow the standards to fall.

In Mod Ball Umpires are required to officiate from behind home plate. This was deliberate rule to reduce the number of people situated around the pitcher’s plate. Sorry to report that this is not happening- but why isn’t?

• There was a judiciary conducted during the last month after an Under 12 Leonard Coach was ejected for abusing the umpire in a game at Quakers Hill.

The coach had not been previously ejected in Hills- but his behaviour this Season was known to the Association. The coach, Paul Treanor was suspended for four weeks.

The Coach’s Club had taken action before the Judiciary was held and mutually agreed on a parting of the ways with the coach.

There was also a parting of the ways at Baulkham Hills with a Coach ‘being asked to leave’.

Unfortunately the incident, plus another in a Senior Game saw Todd Clapson resign as President of Rouse Hill. Yes it was a tough call for Todd – but he felt devastated by the behaviour of ‘some members of his Club both at Junior and Senior Level’.

For Todd to ‘walk away’ from the Club that he was so passionate about certainly indicates the level of frustration/ disappointment that Todd felt.

Hills thanks him for his efforts, he certainly has a lot to feel proud about in what he achieved at Rouse Hill – only to have the dream shattered by a few imbeciles. We share his disappointment as it reflects on our image as well. We would rather keep one Todd Clapson and lose 20 or so imbeciles, whether they be players, officials or spectators. I am certain at some point or another you have found yourself in a similar place to Todd.

There is another Judiciary to be organized as a result of Fred Balzke being ejected in a game at Corbin.

• It is proposed that we further expand the Winter Development Program. It is suggested that we offer programs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in winter. Monday and Tuesdays will be Under 11 and 12 programs – Thursday being aimed at this year’s Under 12 players, plus other players who have already approached me expressing an interest in receiving a higher degree of instruction.

Really the best available Development is for players to be involved in a NSWJBL Touring team. The coaches of these teams are the best teaching coaches available to Hills

Same deal as last year – players will have to chose whether they wish to be involved in Hills or BNSW Programs – just cannot do both. We won’t be offended if you chose to go elsewhere. It affords someone else an opportunity.

Certainly the programs on Monday and Tuesday will be by invitation. We need to concentrate on Under 11 and 12 as the playing standard is not as high as previous years.

• The commencement time of the games have been put back on Saturday to 9am and 10.45am. This has been done to allow the heavy dew that occurs at this time of the year to be removed from the ground. This change has a ‘roll on’ effect to the starting time of the late game.

• I have an issue with the manner in which young Umpires are being appointed to games. Yes Hills are supporters of the Yellow Vest Programs encouraging young Umpires ‘protection’ in games as they gain experience. However, it is a two way Street where clubs have an absolute responsibility to ensure that the Umpire has sufficient competence to Umpire the game he is appointed to. From what I see Clubs have to be much more vigilant in the games they appoint these Umpires to officiate in.

There are ways to encourage and developing Umpires without appointing them to absolute ‘crunch games’ in competitions with very congested Competition Standings.

I am not suggesting that the Umpire did anything wrong however one of the games resulted in a Protest that could affect who will be the Premiers in a Mod Ball Competition.

That situation is unfair to both the teams and the Umpires – We have to eliminate the phrase ‘It is only T Ball or Modball’.  Under 12 Leonard Competitions are actually easier to Umpire than Modball and T Ball.

The other one is where I am cranky with myself as I queried the appointment when it was suggested yet never forced the changed.  Unfortunately-.in this instance first thought has been proven to be best thoughts.

 • Remember the Dispensations Policy you voted in at the end of last season?

I guess the answer is No. To seek approval to play a player in an older age group in the Finals, actually requires an application and paperwork for Dispensation and an assessment. There is no automatic dispensation process to allow a player to play up a year. Clubs are just reacting to the fact that the team is short who can we get.

• Little League will be held at Samuel Marsden Reserve. We are waiting for the draw to be issued.

• Grand Final and Presentation Day remains scheduled for Bensons. There will be nine Grand Finals played – the Under 14 and 17 Hay and Shipley Leagues scheduled for Kellyville on Friday 19th March.

• There is a misunderstanding with the Playing Rules for the Final Series. The Home team is the Final will be the team finishing highest in the competition. It has choice of dugout. Teams will toss to determine the order of batting.

• The Girls Competition was badly disrupted by the wet weather. The Under 16 Girls were very competitive. The Under 13 struggled for players at times and particularly pitchers and as a result struggled at times. From memory they won one game, drew one and lost two.

We were disappointed in the organization of the competition. I would not like Hills to commit to Under 13 competition next year as the player numbers and depth especially pitching and catching is not there. The Under 16 would be achievable.

It was pleasing that both teams trained midweek. The coaches and parents saw the improvement that came from the training. Playing without training will never improve the standard. Our thanks to Vicki and Joe Galea and to Dennis Grogan and Zack Shepherd for their efforts with the girls.

• We did not get all the replays played but we achieved most of the games that were important. The teams were good, co operating to play the games even though they may have safely ‘been in the four’ or just could not qualify.

In Youth League we cancelled two outstanding games involving Quakers Hill- as it had reached the stage where it had to play four games in five days.

Difficult to understand some teams, for example Blacktown in Street South failed to qualify for the final series by one point yet failed to play three games during the season. Similarly Hawkesbury did not play three of its games in Cashmore North and ‘missed the semis’ by three points.

It is obvious that Clubs are not overseeing the teams in various competitions; rather they leave it up to the individual coaches. When the coach is ‘slack’ then that is where we get into trouble. We still have teams who do nothing to organize a replay because they are the ‘away’ team.

There are examples where incorrect results have been posted and remained that way for weeks. Byes not claimed are common place. This week I have a strong suspicion that Clubs did not advise Wendy that games were washed out in Petroff and Catt Leagues.

The drop dead’ date was washed out games prior to last Saturday at Centenary is 11th March –Blacktown’s Vigenser League needs to ‘get a move on’ if it is to play its outstanding game.

• Castle Hills’ entry into Rookies Cup never eventuated. Rain prevented the competition from being played when originally scheduled. The team was told that the competition was ‘deferred indefinitely’.  Then there was a note on BNSW website the next week advising the tournament was on the following week at a different venue. Hills were not the only association not be advised. BNSW communication is almost non existent- just another example!

Actions required:

• Decide upon age groups in Winter. This will really be determined by teams that Clubs consider that they can field.

• A commitment to the enhanced Winter Development Program

In addition to the written report Mr. Yard advised that

• Hills had accepted an invitation to play in an IBA Tournament in Melbourne between 27th – 31st March, 2010.

• Trent Oeltjen has suffered a hand injury at Brewers Spring Training which has restricted his playing.

• Mr. Yard also commented on the position of Chairman of the JLSC.  He stated that he cannot understand why Hills would continue to support the incumbent.

The Secretary’s report was accepted.

Mr. Schmidt reported on the February meeting.

The agenda was mainly confined to the trials for Overseas tours and the Presentation of the BNSW Blueprint

There was no report from the February meeting nor were there any Minutes for that meeting.

• Mr. Schmidt advised that the Chairman, Terry Johnson, was resigning but now he isn’t. There appears to have been a change to the By Laws requiring that the Chairman to be a delegate to JLSC (T. Johnson is no longer the Manly delegate)

• Mark Farrell has not resigned from the Rules Committee.

• Tomorrow night’s meeting of the JLSC will be a discussion on rules..

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

Mod Ball – Mr. Brown asked what can be done to improve this competition.  The parents are not able to throw strikes.

Mr. Yard replied that clubs continue to ignore the fact that teams need a competent pitcher.  The harder they throw the better.  Each year we suggest that teams use Under 14 players as pitchers however it never happens.

Clubs generally leave the running of their teams to individual coaches.

Ashley Brown  -  Mr. Blundell advised that Kings Langley is intending to make alterations to Ashley Brown following successful negotiations to have soccer to ‘switch fields’ to the cricket field. The alteration will include the establishment of a second senior diamond (diagonally opposite the existing main diamond)

Rouse Hill  -  Mr. Power advised that there has been a change in the leadership of Rouse Hill, brought about by the resignation of Todd Clapson. The clubs’ AGM is scheduled in approximately four weeks. Mr. Power also advised that Council has agreed to ‘fast track’ the construction of Baseball Diamonds on northern side of Windsor Road (near the Ettamogah Hotel)

Mod Ball Protest  -  Mr. Power (Carlingford) asked the progress in the Protest in Mod Ball Game, Castle Hill v Carlingford. He added that there may be a breach of Code of Conduct by Castle Hill coach.

Mr. Yard advised that the protest remains pending.  Mr. Yard stated that he was disappointed that the club chose to have a very young and inexperienced umpire in control of such an important game.

Good Sports meeting -  As a follow up to a Good Sports meeting that Mr. Catt attended, Baulkham Hills Council now wishes to make a presentation to a Hills meeting. It was agreed to invite a representative to the April meeting.

Winter Competitions  -  It was agreed that the Winter Competition would be conducted in age groups of Under 11 (distance 42’ x 60’):  Under 13 (distances 48’ x 70’):  Under 15 (Distance 57’ x 90’).  Ages as at 31st December, 2010.

Development  -  It was confirmed that the Development Program in Winter would be a minimum of three nights per week.

Baseball NSW Blueprint meeting  -  Mr. Schmidt reported on the meeting.

Mr. Schmidt stated he left the meeting 10 minutes after the scheduled completion time.  The meeting was followed by an ‘informal Car Park Meeting’. The meeting consisted of a two hour presentation by BNSW.  The questions from the floor were not productive.  A number of questions remained unanswered. There were many people who were ‘not up to speed’ with what is being proposed. The meeting was never going to resolve the issue and it resolved nothing.  The net outcome was nothing was voted on and nothing was agreed.

Mr. Niemi stated that there were a lot of question marks with the presentation.  It does leave an indication of what can happen.  He believes there is an acceptance that some thing will happen.

Mr. Schmidt asked Mr. Pigram what Major League think of the proposal.  Mr. Pigram stated “that they are dead set against it, the proposal needs “nuts and bolts”.

There was a comment that BNSW were too busy patting themselves on the back.  The meeting was a waste of time.

Mr. Yard stated that the proposal needs ‘a lot more meat on the bones’ before it can be considered.  Mr. Yard added that his main concern is why any Junior Organization would be interested in the incurring considerable expenditure to be involved in what will be a second rate Major League competition once the National League is established.  The Major League competition has never recovered from the previous National League competition.

Mr. Schmidt noted that the figures quoted that are to be raised from the franchise fee do not make sense. The equation is the income is $200,000 and the aim is increasing the playing strength by 1,300 players – that equals $800 per player.