Archive for December, 2008

From all of the Viking Family!!!!

Click this link for senior statndings http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pOYUfc8mjrt_MNr-jkvnhCw

A social golf day will be held by the Vikings Colts Baseball Team.

Venue: Goolabri Country Estate  Federal Highway (just north of eagle hawk)

Date: Monday 22nd Tee Off 9-00am

Cost: $20 includes ground fees, hotdog & drink.

Transport is being arranged  from Vikings Park at 8-15 am, if you want to come along be at Viking Park no later the 8-10am

Only bring along a driver, iron and putter  if you are taking the provided transport.

Don’t worry if you don’t have clubs, they will be provided.

If you are making your own way to Goolabri you can take your own golf equipment, bag, clubs, trolley etc.

Call Gary Page for more information 62947550

On Thursday this week, the 18th December, Vikings will play an A grade game against Eagles at Narrabundah.

The Eagles club  have decided to dedicate this game to the memory of Ralph Dries and field a “family” team of players, all of whom have  been coached by Ralph at some stage or other. 

The Vikings Baseball club consider it an honour to be participating in this game.

Friday, the 12th December, marked the first anniversary of the death of special Eagles member Ralph Dries. Ralph believed that the family was the most important thing in life, and spent his life dedicated to helping his family succeed at home, at work, at school and at play.

At play meant playing baseball with the Eagles.

Ralph loved baseball, and spent many hours either coaching, as an administrator, or just helping out with his other family. The Eagles family.

The Eagles family is made up of many other families, some have been around our club since it’s inception over 40 years ago. Some are relatively new and have only just joined, but to Ralph they were all a part of the “Eagles family”, and therefore they needed and deserved his help.

The Ralph Dries Eagles Memorial Team 2008  

Adam Warner

Ben Dries

Brent Owen

Cameron Warner

Damon Owen

Sam Thornton

David Dries

Ben Warner

Chris Thornton

Managers

Greg Thornton

Steve Warner

Paul Owen

Travis Dries

We believe that this team will be unique in ACTBA history as the first A Grade team fielded entirely from only 4 families, and we would like all of you who can to come out and share the night with the Eagles.

It will be special for these players, Ralph’s family and friends and I know will mean a lot to Jenny. I hope to see you all there for the first pitch at 7.00pm.

Due to ground conditions todays Colts game is cancelled.

• Volunteers needed still for gate duties each night (6pm to 7:30pm), to assist with collecting the gold coin donation that adults may wish to make for entry (kids are absolutely free), as well as
• Volunteers needed to assist with clean up duties of the grandstand at games end (10ish each night)

• must be in full Club uniform (pants, top and hat)
• must be advised to the Office no later than 12 noon on Thursday, on a first come first in basis.  This will then enable me to confirm with you as to whether your particular players are needed in this promotion.  It is anticipated we will gather the players at 6:45 pm in the area of the Grandstand, and they should be finished after the National Anthem at 7pm 
• all junior players who are in first and walk out with the senior players will be provided with a baseball for autographing by their particular buddy Claxton league player 

Just a reminder that, due to the unavailability of Hawker on Saturday 13
December;

All T-BALL and ZOOKA BALL games have been relocated to Nth Curtin oval,
and

All LITTLE LEAGUE games have been relocated to Aranda.

The mighty colts team got back into the winning circle in a very close game against the Eagles side. In a game dominated by good pitching from both sides as well as solid defence, the Vikings young guns came out on top 2-1 after 7 innings of play. Our pitching staff performed well with Caleb Albrecht, Jordon Arley, James Burdin and Dylan McLaughlin shutting down the potent Eagles offense and our bats doing just enough to win the game. The stars of the game with the bat were young David Hunt who laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt (his second of the season) moving runners up to third and second one of whom scored on a ball hit by Dan Eagan. Caleb picked up two hits and scored our first run on a double by Jordon. The boys also played very well in the field committing only one error in the game. We also made some heads up plays catching a few Eagles runners on the bases in tight situations. Ryan Page made the play of the game running down a hard hit ball in left centre for a great catch stopping any rally by the opposition. We still have some work to do on our game and will continue to do so at our Monday training sessions. The boys will also need to strap on their thinking hats when it comes to picking up our signs while on the base paths and in the batters box!

The coaching staff are organising a golf day for the team on the 22 of December and I hope that as many as possible can attend even if you have never played before. Looks like a nine hole mini tournament and should be a great day for all that can make it. I will be handing out flyers at the next game explaining the day.

Our last game before the break will be next Saturday at Viking park against the Ainslie Bears, so it would be great to see as many as possible come out and cheer the boys on.

Heading into the final round before the Christmas break here is another instalment of one of my favourite baseball quotes.

There are three things in my life which I really love:  God, my family, and baseball.  The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit.  ~Al Gallagher, 1971

The last two weekends have proven to be the best all year for the U/13 Grey team despite losing both games against the two undefeated Eagles teams. Against Eagles Red, our kids played three innings of scoreless baseball before giving up a 7 run inning which proved to be the difference in a 10 - 2 ball game. In the other game against Eagles Black our kids held a 3 -1 lead after three innings but were run down late, losing 12 - 3. Leonardo Kaczmarek has been outstanding with the bat and the ball, crushing the fastest pitching we have seen so far, all over the yard scoring runs and throwing strikes. Jake and Josh Mulrooney continue to improve week after week in offence and in defence. Jake started both games from the mound while brother Josh is looking more and more like a catcher every week. Alex and Joe McCready, our utility twins are proving to be valuble for us with their enthusiasim on the bases and standout performances late in the game, pitching and catching. Mitch Kinsman, Josh Anderson and Scott Penton are also contributing with some oustanding, disciplined at bats. Mitch hit his first triple the other week and continues show improvement while Josh and Scott give us costant base runners by picking up walks. Scott Penton made a great catch at Second against the Black team and continues to show improvement week after week. Emma McIntyre has been strong at first base for us over the course of the season and it’s easy to see why. She has made some excellent plays in the last few weeks in the field and is another of our consistant base runners. The last two weeks have seen the return of Jared Mclachlan after breaking his collar bone. Easing Jared back into his duties has been difficult with his enthusiasm to be involved and is swinging the bat very well.

The team has made a considerable  improvement this year to the point where we are not just competing but looking to scare the top of the table teams. Other coaches in the league have also commented on the kids efforts so far proving that we are being noticed as a threat and treated as such. Coaching this years team of first and second year players has been an honor and to see such an improvement and to see the kids playing the game and having fun has just been awsome to say the least. I could not have been prouder of them over the past month, they are great kids and the future of the club is looking good!!