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 Series Info |
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Series Info 2005
VICTORIAN MASTERS BASEBALL CARNIVAL
Geelong, 1 – 3 April 2005
1. VENUE.
All games will be played at the Geelong Baseball Centre, Waurn Ponds, and the Saints Baseball Club (immediately to the south of the centre). For Draw purposes, Diamond 1 will be the main stadium. Diamond 2 will be the ground to the Colac side and Diamond 3 the ground to the Melbourne side of the stadium. Diamond 4 will be the Saints main ground and Diamond 5 the Saints outer ground.
2. DRAW AND FORMAT.
As mentioned in the covering letter, the Draw will be confirmed shortly before the series. If there are any changes, they should be minimal. There are two age divisions – 40 plus and 35 plus.
40 plus comprises team entries from Coburg, Melbourne, Diggers, Ormond Hunters, Newport Rams and Fitzroy. With six teams, each will play each other once and finals will be played on the Sunday afternoon (first vs second, third vs fourth).
35 plus comprises teams from Saints, Valley Power, Ormond Hunters, Brownsocks and Bacchus Marsh. The uneven number of teams again creates a scheduling challenge and we have decided to go with the following. 35 plus teams will play each other once on the Friday and Saturday. After Saturday games a ladder will be drawn up. The side currently standing fifth (after all have played four) will be drawn to play an “All Star” team in a “Spirit of the Game” Final on Sunday. The “All Star” team will be the side standing sixth in 40 plus after the preliminary rounds, although it may draw upon players from the fifth-placed team or from “Celebrities” available if it wishes. This guarantees all sides at least five games whilst giving players the opportunity to be involved in a fun contest (perhaps for some liquid motivation!).
The “Spirit of the Game” Final is optional for the fifth-placed side.
The first-placed 35 plus side after Saturday will play the fourth-placed, whilst second plays third in the Qualifying Finals (Sunday morning). The two winners will play off for gold/silver and the two losers for bronze.
Where possible, double-headers have been scheduled to create the minimal break between games. However, the standard break will usually be 45 minutes, to allow for team relocation. Efforts have been made to have all teams playing on several of the grounds. We have sought to balance the number of “home” and “away” games. For finals matches, the higher finishers will be “home” teams, occupying third base dugout and fielding first.
3. TOURNAMENT RULES.
These have not changed much from previous years. They are intended to be in keeping with accepted Masters rules, in which participation, safety and healthy competitiveness are the underpinning principles. Team Managers should ensure that their players are aware of particular modifications (IE extra batter rule, Tie Breaker, pitching limitations, Courtesy Runners, games required to qualify for finals etc). The “less 3” differential rule for aluminium bats has been introduced this year.
Umpires have been asked to familiarise themselves with Tournament Rules.
4. PLAYER ENTRY AND REGISTRATION.
Cost per player is $ 40.00, to help cover running costs, Friday Night snacks and Happy Hour.
Team Managers are asked to provide a final player list to organisers prior to playing their first game. Late additions can be accepted prior to a team’s first game, but there should be no alteration or “exchange” after a team’s first game unless approved.
5. SCORERS AND UMPIRES.
Each entered team is expected to supply its own scorer. Umpires are being appointed by the Geelong Umpires’ Coordinator. It is hoped that two will officiate at each Preliminary and Qualifying game and three in each of the Gold Medal games.
6. PLAYER FEED AND HAPPY HOUR.
**** AT SAINTS GROUND, FRIDAY 1 APRIL ****
Players, supporters and officials all encouraged to attend
This will follow the afternoon matches on Friday 1 April. Finger foods and snacks will be provided free for entered players (a small donation will be requested of accompanying persons). During the Friday “Happy Hour” (5.15 – 6.15 approx), entered players will receive free beer, wine and soft drinks. Spirits will be at half listed price. For accompanying families, supporters and officials, all drinks will be charged at half listed price during the Happy Hour.
The Saints Club will be delighted to have its guests kick on afterwards. Alternatively, local watering holes can be recommended – especially the Grovedale Hotel (see enclosed menu), which actively supported the series in 2003 and 2004.
7. THURSDAY PRE-DRINKS.
Should demand be there, the Saints clubrooms may be open on the Thursday evening for early arrivals wanting to discuss strategy over a few cold ones. A good idea to ring the club beforehand on 52 432811. Alternatively, the Grovedale is just down the road and serves meals until around 8 pm on Thursday.
8. CATERING AND PLAYER BREAKFASTS.
The Guild Club will be running all catering at the Geelong Baseball Complex and the Saints Club at its own ground. Both will be open from early until closing each day, offering the usual range of hot and cold drinks, fast foods and snacks. A Main Meal Barbecue will be available at both venues during game times.
If required, Player Breakfasts will be available at both venues on the Saturday and Sunday, around an hour to an hour and a half prior to the morning games. The breakfasts are always very popular, offering players a substantial – albeit unctuous - heart-starting feed.
9. TWILIGHT GAME.
It is proposed to play a Saturday twilight game at the main stadium (5.30 – 7.30). The game will be promoted in Geelong, is expected to draw a deal of interest and should offer everyone the chance of a fun baseball evening. Teams are invited to support the game.
Catering will be provided by the Guild Baseball Club.
10. FUND-RAISING.
The Victorian Masters Baseball Carnival is basically self-funding, although over the years it has received much-appreciated support from local council, Baseball Victoria and business interests. The City of Greater Geelong has been a wonderful supporter of Masters baseball before and during the World Masters Games. Any financial or in-kind support received from the Geelong district will be suitably acknowledged.
The Saints and Guild clubs have been invited to conduct Special Effort Raffles over the weekend, with a likely involvement of juniors and their families. Consistent with Carnival principles, the clubs have undertaken to direct clear profit derived towards their junior and broader club development programmes.
11. TROPHIES, THE SPOILS OF VICTORY, PARTICIPATION.
We have again decided not to award medals as such this year. Because of an unanticipated increase in overheads, we have also opted not to provide complimentary Event Caps (as planned) rather than to increase Entry or compromise the Friday “Happy Hour”.
A Golddiggers Perpetual Shield will be presented to the first-placed team in each division for its safekeeping over the ensuing twelve months.
12. FIRST-AID.
While Carnival organisers will be aiming to have qualified First-Aid personnel on hand at all times during scheduled games, we are seeking the assistance of teams to help us in this regard.
If teams have currently accredited Level 2 or higher First-Aid persons, we ask that those persons consider being listed as contact persons in case of emergency or mishap.
13. COMMENTARY.
We have again invited Geelong’s “Voices of Baseball”, Mark and Terry Southall, to provide us with commentary of selected games on the main ground. Mark is always on the lookout for stories, anecdotes, trivia and general baseball nonsense that he can incorporate into his commentary. Managers are invited to provide any such material that they deem fit.
14. SOCIAL.
Players previously involved in Masters in Geelong might already have ideas about where to go and what to do as they while away the hours before dawn. Apart from the Friday and Saturday evening baseball activities, we will be aiming to offer a list of local attractions. Alternatively, you may find suggestions to left of Carnival website (www.eteamz.com/golddiggers/).
15. CONTACTS.
For information prior to and during the series, the following can be contacted:
Kingsley Collins (Golddiggers) 03 53 329202 0407 523195
Barry Stokes (Saints) 03 52 440837 (home) 03 52 432811 (club)
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