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(No, not that Chronicle – the “Toowoomba Chronicle”, down under.)

Dodgers plan to douse Firebirds
Dodger Andy Blackshaw in action.

photo by Dave Noonan

DODGERS men will need to win without star pitcher Andy Blackshaw when they face USQ Firebirds in Toowoomba A Grade men’s softball fixtures tonight.

Blackshaw will be in Canberra participating in the ActewAGL Canberra Skins Tournament where Australia’s elite male softballers compete for $20,000 in team prize money.

Blackshaw has a remarkable softball portfolio that has international and national honours.

He has played in the local Toowoomba competition for the past four years and also plays in Redlands.

For three months of this year he travelled to the United States to participate in a tournament league that resulted in participation in the International Softball Congress World Titles.

He was acknowledged as the “Rookie of the Year” and intends to return in 2010.

This year he also made the Australian Open Men’s squad and participates in the New South Wales state league every second or third week in the latter half of each year.

Last weekend, Blackshaw led Redlands (Green) to victory in the Open Men’s state titles.

It was not surprising then that Blackshaw was a finalist for the Junior Male Athlete of the Year for Softball Australia recently and that he was selected in the Queensland Open Men’s softball team.

This is Blackshaw’s second selection into the Queensland side.

“It is an honour to represent the State and the second time means just as much,” Blackshaw said.

When asked why he adds Toowoomba to his long list of softball commitments he said he enjoyed the atmosphere.

“I love coming to Toowoomba every year, it’s a good competition to play and it’s competitive. There are great people playing here,” he said.

The Dodgers v Aces game is at 7pm.

In other A grade softball matches today, Warriors (Green) women will face Aces at 3.15pm and USQ Firebirds men will play the first of their double-header at 5pm against Warriors.

All Stars women will face Dodgers at 5pm, today with both going into the game undefeated it is anticipated to be an exciting match.

Editor’s note: Readers will remember Andy’s debut on the world stage at this year’s Monkton tournament, as the #2 for The Farm, alongside ace Frank Cox, filling in admirably for the then-injured Darryl Tilley.

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By TREVOR ROWSE

CLOSE CALL: Howick senior men’s team catcher Hayden Wildbore looks to tag-out a Roosters batter sliding in at home base. Times photo Wayne Martin.• Howick and Pakuranga Times

A CLASSY softball victory was followed by a loss as Howick’s senior men’s batters showed their skills and the side’s youthful potential last Saturday.

Although North Harbour side Roosters managed nine runs at Meadowland Reserve, Howick’s 13 hits ensured a comprehensive 17-9 win as every player managed at least one safe hit, with Rhys Mau and Todd Wilson leading the way with home runs.

Hayden Wildbore, Troy Pirie and Yoshi Suzuki had two hits each with youngster Josh Miller hitting a triple and gaining a walk. Wilson also hit a two-base shot to show the way to the less experienced players.

Allowing batters to walk gave Roosters too many chances, giving the losers five runs.

The joy of the win for Howick faded later on Saturday against Auckland Fastpitch Championship leaders Waitakere Bears, with the Bears attacking right from the start, scoring three in the first turn at bat and seven in the second inning to go on to an 11-2 victory.

Howick’s batters lost their composure, despite valiant efforts from Pirie, who maintained his recent form with another two hits, including a three-base shot. Wilson also managed another hit with Simon Edwards gaining the side’s fourth.

Edwards and Mau shared the pitching duties.

Howick travels to Glenora this Saturday for a game that should be an easier assignment.

Meanwhile, Howick’s senior women’s team had a stirring battle against Hibiscus Coast last Sunday, taking the game all the way only to lose 9-8, with Louise Mullin poised on third base when the last batter went out.

Both sides struggled for hits despite the high score, but Coast’s batters had longer shots. Mullin, Breanna Gibson and Heidi Leathart showed patience and batting skills for Howick.

However, deflated after the loss, they had to face the powerful Bears right after.

It was a one-way match, with Bears pitchers allowing no hits and just three well-separated walks to Howick in their 12-0 win. There were 12 Bears hits against Howick’s three pitchers.

This Saturday, the Howick senior women’s team travels to Otahuhu’s Sturges Park to play the strong local side there and will have to start in style to have a chance. Otahuhu lost its unbeaten record to the Bears in a 9-0 loss last Sunday.

Auckland Fastpitch Softball Championships

Senior men’s points: Waitakere Bears 16 (8 games), United 14 (7), Ramblers 10 (7), Eden Roskill 8 (7), Marist 8 (7), Northcote 6 (6), Hibiscus Coast 4 (6), Howick 4 (7), Glenora Bears 2 (7), Roosters 2 (9).

Senior women’s points: Ramblers 14 (7 games), Otahuhu 14 (8), Waitakere Bears 14 (9), Marist 10 (9), Hibiscus 6 (8), Western Magpies 6 (9), Howick 4 (9), Metro 0 (9).

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[Australia] – BY VERA BERTOLA

WHILE the older age groups have dropped off, softball among younger children in the Macarthur area is enjoying a resurgence.

Both Campbelltown and Macarthur softball associations hit off their 2009/10 seasons in late October/early November and officials have been pleased with the increase in registrations from the younger age groups.

Both associations, like many across the state, have struggled in recent years with declining numbers, but this season have reported the tide seems to be turning.

A Campbelltown association spokeswoman said numbers were low in the teenage age groups.

“We couldn’t get an under-16 or under-19 competition up, but we’ve accommodated those players in an under-23 competition,” she said.

The Macarthur association is also enjoying a revival with both its under-19 men’s and under-12 boys’ representative teams winning NSW championships this year

From our friend at www.softballnewsla.com, Martin Jorge:

(click banner to visit Martin’s site, en Espanol)

Source: First Time – Photo: Ramon Luis Vazquez

(Translation by Google, the reason it reads a little funny at times)

New Zealander Paul Algar tossed a no-hitter in a day of softball at the top of Guaynabo Conquistadores that secured the first branch and the legendary Emilio “Millit” Navarro made history by having one at-bat places in the record book of world sport.

Algar, who is challenged by the Oilers claiming Peñuelas is not eligible to compete in the top softball, striking out 12 of the 15 batters he faced to lead the Ponce Lions to victory in the second game of the heroes of Barranquitas 8-0 in game shortened to five innings by the rule of knockout.

It was the eighth victory without a defeat for Algar, who lives in Cabo Rojo and the spread to 98 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.

However, it could break the mark of 110 strikeouts for the Lions another pitcher, Carlos “The Legendary” Veláquez, who established in 1967.

Edward Gonzalez was the best hitter in the 3-4 Lions to connect.

Peñuelas claims that Algar is ineligible “because he has six months of residence in the country to play softball higher as the regulations say, but Softball Federation rejected the approach and the Oilers went on appeal to the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee.

On Monday held an administrative hearing on this issue.

The game, held at the sports complex Ponce Francisco Colón Alers, lost Edrick Lopez.

In the first game, Barranquitas won by 17-6, leaning on the batting Aranzamendi Huey, who hit of 4-4, with two homers and six RBIs.

“Millit” Navarro, a former second baseman for the Ponce Lions in professional baseball, was base on balls to put the team as a leadoff hitter jungle.

The Lions said that a representative of the Guinness record book was present at the stadium and dozens of fans was certified by the event to be recognized as a world record determination that Navarro is the oldest person who occupies a turn at bat in a sporting event .

Previously the record was held by the Cuban Orestes “Minnie” Minoso, who in 1993 at age 77, went to bat for the team Chicago White Sox in an American League game.

Ponce finished the qualifying round in first place in the southwest section 10-2, the two losses to Barranquitas, who was second with a 7-5 record.

In the northeast section, Guaynabo finished first with a 10-2 victory yesterday at twice to Corozal Plantain 10-6 and 10-1, with wins for pitchers and Sammy Lara Andres Carrasquillo.

Editor’s note: “Ponce”, the name on Algar’s jersey in the photo above, is a city in Puerto Rico, across the island from San Juan.

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