| Author: |
Groucho |
| Dated: |
Monday, April 09 2007 @ 02:37 AM |
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830 times |
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 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
By Barry O’Brien (a member of the over 65 squad)
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
By Barry O’Brien (a member of the over 65 squad)
It is said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but for baseballers, diamonds can be forever.
Ever dreamed of representing Australia in a sporting competition but thought that time had passed you by? Think again.
If you can play – or would like to play baseball and are 45 years old or more, the Aussie Aces Baseball Club is heading to the World Series in Phoenix, Arizona in October and is looking for players. Four teams will be fielded -over 45, over 50, over 60 and over 65. There are vacancies in each grade.
“This is the trip of a lifetime for baseball enthusiasts”, said Aces organiser Mal Sporne this week. “The World Series is played in Phoenix Arizona on the spring training grounds of the Major League teams and the Aussie Aces will be representing
Australia with pride. Even the teams from Chicago and New York look forward to the Series because they never get to play on Major League standard grounds in their local Leagues,” Sporne added.
“Players have been recruited from every mainland State except WA. We can use players from the USA to bolster the teams, but would rather have Australians,” said Sporne.
The Australian Aces were formed in 1993 for the Australian Masters Games in Perth and mature age teams have competed at Masters competitions every year since.
This year will be the first for an over 65 group.
“When we were in Edmonton, Canada for the World Masters in 2005, there was a 79 year old pitcher chucking to an 80 year old catcher,” said Sporne. “Part of the beauty of the Aces is you don’t have to be a great player. We’ve had guys come along who have never played a game of baseball, but they’ve had a ball. As long as a player attains a level of fitness and… there’s always plenty of first aid staff on hand” he added with a chuckle.
“Adrian Pearce, Ron Russ and Murray Young who are in the over 65 squad, were household names when night baseball was at its peak in the 1950s and 60s, but the rest of us are just Joe Blows who love the game.”
Mal Sporne can be contacted at 61 08 8226 9177 or 61 08 8382 8009 or groucho@bettanet.net.au
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