Softball Champions Decided Today

They won their first playoff game 7-3 over the Victoria team, then played the 2nd place team Queensland, and again came from behind to win 5-3. With a 20 minute break they were back on the field to face tournament favorites New South Wales. They played very well and came from behind to tie the game 5-5 but in the end New South Wales pitching was just to strong, and the score ended up 8-5.
In the girls division the big and powerful New South Wales girls dominated, and won easily over Queensland, in the finals in a game that was called in the 6th inning by the mercy rule.
The awards will be handed out tonight at the final night dinner, and I am sure there will be some surprize individual awards.

Tonight they are busy preparing diamonds, as 52 teams arrived in Canberra today, to be ready to start tomorrow, to play in our Annual Australia day tournament. These teams range from 12 and under to 19 and under, both boys and girls.

Another big weekend at the ballpark.

Some Unhappy Teams

Hot humid day in Canberra, but our softball grounds have dried out, and after losing 8 games we have started right into the playoffs. Our local ACT teams boys and girls have missed out on the playoffs due to the shortened round. Both teams still had a mathematical chance to make the playoffs. I have did some costings for our players to play in this tournament over 6 days, and it roughly cost each player $2500.00 to compete, which includes uniform, travel, food and accomodation. Also most parents travelled to watch their sons or daughters play, gate costs food and accomodation. When you consider that some teams only got to play 6 or 7 games, this means that it cost player's over $300.00 each per game, to represent their state. I feel teams should of been consulted on this matter, as one of the reason for the shortened round was teams would have to play an extra game going into the playoffs  These boys and girls came to play ball, not to let a board room official make the decision with out any consoltation with teams.
There was no room for what if's, only this is it. Anyway I hope to see some good playoff games today,and I know the Grand Final will be a good one tomorrow.

Rain Stops Play

Just home from softball. Lucky to get 6 games in as a heavy rain storm came through, and washed all play out for the day.It means some teams will not get all there games in so only the points from the first round will be counted. The playoffs start tomorrow night, and our boys team went down to New South Wales 10 -4, and will not make the play offs.
Today you could pick out the  players, who did not have the best fitness level, a lot of injuries are starting to appear, and three or four players are lost for the rest of the tournament. In the boys competition it is very even amongst the top 4.
The good thing is that their is so many good players to choose from, that Australia should have a very strong U/19 team at the next worlds.
Tomorrow is another day and it is calling for more rain, so everything will be left up to mother nature.
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Thrilling Games Day 2 Softball 2015

Softball Coach's Report

Our Under 17 boy's and girl's attracted good crowds, as 9 games were played today in the National Softball Championships.

Western Australia could be the surprize team, they defeated last years champions New South Wales boys 8-7 in a real marathon that lasted 2 hours and 57 minutes. They then lost in a real thriller to Victoria 3-2.

Western Australia getting pep talk from coach, but still lost to Victoria 3-2.

The opening ceromonies were delayed by 1 1/2 hours due to the long game. I had the honour of receiving the trophy from last years champion's, and officially declare the tournament open.

Receiving the trophy from last years champions New South Wales.  

The highlight of the opening ceromonies, was hearing a young girl sing the National Anthem. No music just walked out and sang, and got a standing ovation.

The feature game of the night was our local boys, taking on the powerful Queenslander's. Queensland started off with a bang as they scored 8 runs in the first inning. With a change of pitchers, ACT held Queensland for 3 innings and managed to score 3 runs, and prevented the Mercy rule. The game went the full 7 innings and our local boys, went down 11-6. 

I was very proud of my grandson, who got a hit and a walk, and played very well defensively in his first game.

My grandson Mathew playing in his first U/17 tournament.

Mom's, Dad's and followers of both teams were on the edge of there seats, especially in the last two innings.

Moms ready for game and rugged up as it got very cold.

Our girls split there two games losing to South Australia 7-1, then bounced back and beat Tasmania 4-2.

ACT in blue with a runner on second. Went on to win 4-2.

There will be a lot of tough decisions when we try and pick a team for Singapore.

Hope you enjoy todays photos and the results of some the games.

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Week 1 2015

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SOFTBALL COACH'S 2015 SEASON UNDERWAY

First of all, I will be retiring from coaching at the international level in July, when we finish the Men's World Championships in Canada. I can not think of a better place to retire, in Canada where my career, all facts and data all started. 

I have been very fortunate to coach at such an elite level for so long, and must say I enjoyed every minute of it. In 2001 I took over the Australian Men,s program, and now my son is getting ready to step into my shoes.

This will be my 53rd straight year of coaching, and now players come up to me and say you coached my mom or dad, and now I am coaching some players grand kids.

My first event for the year. I was asked by Tasmania if I would help coach in the U/19 boy's National Championships, which were held in Sydney.

Our players waiting to march in for the opening ceremonie, and also watching the umpires checking their bats to see if they met the rules. We lost 2 bats from 16.Umpires checking the bats.

Tasmania is our smallest state and relies on some pickup players from other states, to have enough players so they can compete.

I never hesitate to help them out, the boy's want to learn and improve. They never won a game, scored a few runs but in the long run they improved, and went home with a lot of self satisfaction.

Each day our pitcher's improved and in there last game, they held the powerful New South Wales to an 8-2 score, there best game of the tournament.

We had a few injuries, mostly heat related as the Tasmanian boy's never have the heat or humidity, that they faced in Sydney.

Shez and Brenda, who had a duel role of coach and manager, and did they do a good job. Some days they would start at 6 a.m and crawl into bed after midnight. Seventeen uniforms washed dried and sorted for next days play. Work out lineup with myself for next days play. Always made sure players had enough food, water and ice for injuries.

 Brenda and Shez in our outdoor kitchen area preparing food for the boy's. They also drove our two vans to and from the games.

The food was unbelievable, some of the parents who stayed at the camp sight, prepared some of the best pasta dish's I have ever ate.

One of the players sister is a sports trainer and offered to help us out for the week. With all the injuries she was one busy lady, but I am sure she got enjoyment out of timing their recovery time, in the ice baths. 

Boys in the ice bath, and our trainer looking at her watch, making sure everyone completed their time.

I was sorry to miss the last day, as I had two funerals of close friends, to attend to.

Back to my own ACT state, and watched our U/17 girls play last night. All this week I will be at the ball park, and we will also be selecting a boy's and girl's team to go on a Singapore invitational tour of which I am coordinating.

ACT facing Queensland in the first day of the championships, great game and Queensland won 9-6 in a real thriller.

Hope you enjoy my coching write ups for 2015 and please leave a review

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Coach's and players at our Friendship Series

Coach's and players at our Friendship Series

Another Week of The Coach

Another Week Of The Coach

Posted by Robert Allan Harrow on May 14, 2014 at 10:45pm in Week of a Coach with Bob Harrow

PRIMARY SCHOOL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

by Power User Bob Harrow on May 09, 2014

 

PRIMARY SCHOOL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

IT IS A DAY I ALWAYS ENJOY AS IT LETS YOU ENJOY THE GAME PLAYED FOR FUN BY YOUNG CHILDREN

A group photo with 100 players and coach's and below one of our young boys coming into bat.

       Today was a day of self satisfaction. One hundred u/12 year old players and there coach's left the park with a smile on there face. All teams played 4 games and with the 6 run rule in effect, no team got embarassed, and most games were very close. It was a great feeling to have young players and coach's come up and say thanks for organizing our day.

Our two youngest players in action, and both are very talented.

Our youngest umpire who is just 13, and is one of our up and coming players who also is the fourth fastest boy in Australia for the 100 meter sprint

     Fathers and Mothers that i coached 25 years ago, as players, were now here helping coach their sons or daughters.

Wayne {Cookie} Cook a player i coached for many years and coached the winning boys team today.

       It was great to hear their school songs, and the many chants that they used, to tell everyone how they were going to win.

      Woden won the boys competition, and were the only team to go through undefeated. Belconnen were a powerhouse in the girls division but suffered a shock loss to a very young team from South weston.

 

Sally an icon in Australian womens softball presents the ribbons to our winning teams.

       This is where a lot of our players start their career in softball, and in three years time, it will be interesting to see how many of these players represent their state.

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