The 2009 Women’s program commenced with a series of scrimmage games that enabled players to establish reference points with respect to their playing ability and the team’s coaching staff to get an early assessment of the potentially available players. These games were valuable from a player development perspective and should be incorporated in future programs.

Trials for the women’s team were held in July with 18 players attending at least one of the two trial sessions. Several other players expressed interest in playing but bid not trial and consequently were not included in the squad. Ultimately 16 players were selected in the squad but 2 withdrew due to injury. The final team that played at Illawarra was:

• Tegan Asquith (Maitland)
• Kristen Clay (White Sox)
• Chantelle Cornick (pick up player)
• Kristy Field (University)
• Kristy Frame (University)
• Stephanie Gaynor (Boomerangs)
• Krystal Grant (Toronto)
• Kirra Hamilton (Boomerangs)
• Cindel Harvey (Toronto)
• Brittany Hepburn (Boomerangs)
• Katrina Lilly (Nelson Bay)
• Kirstine Metcalfe (Nelson Bay)
• Sally Roberts (Phoenix)
• Leeanne Sharpe (Toronto)
• Samantha Simmonds (Maitland)

The collective view of the coaching staff was that this team had a good chance of making the final, which we ultimately did via a technicality. Originally we were to play 6 games over two days with the teams rated 1 and 2 from these games progressing to the final. The inclement weather prevented 3 of those games being played with them being replaced by a short sudden death game on the Sunday. We won this game via protest and then played the final, losing the game by 1 run in the bottom of the 7th innings.

The pleasing aspect of this tournament was that we demonstrated that we are a force to be reckoned with in the Country Baseball Women’s tournament. We competed in every game that we played but we need to learn to play harder to become successful. It was a disappointment that the weather shortened our program which impacted on player participation. Seven players were selected in the Country Baseball NSW Open Women’s team squad. There are Tegan Asquith, Kristen Clay, Chantelle Cornick, Krystal Grant, Kirra Hamilton, Brittany Hepburn and Samantha Simmonds. We wish them success in the selection process. Stephanie Gaynor has elected to try out for the NSW Metropolitan team and we wish her success there.

My thanks go to Lynda Gilmour who did an excellent job as EO. Thanks also to Greg Hall (Assistant Coach), Glenn Gaynor (Pitching Coach) and Trish Hall (Scorer).

This program is now presenting some very real opportunities to women players in Newcastle baseball. In November there will be a Junior Girls program run mid-week where the Open Women’s players will be getting coaching opportunities and in January we have entered a team in the Sydney Invitational Women’s Tournament which will provide us with a great opportunity to develop our players for the future. Hopefully we will be regular participants in the Country final in future.