AUSTRALIAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
WHAT'S NEW?

  

It is intended that this page will bring you news and/or interesting developments about Australian major league baseball, including any relevant new information about Flintoff & Dunn's products. 

** BOOKMARK this page NOW (and REFRESH) as it will be changed periodically.

From time to time we will "archive" our NEWS items from this page.
 You can find our old news items on this page... just click the button at left.

About Flintoff & Dunn's AUSTRALIAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - 2002 Edition (3 JANUARY 2003)

2003 Edition JUST $20 FOR SUBSCRIBERS... OUT NOW! 
OUT NOW!... the 2003 Edition of 'Flintoff & Dunn's AUSTRALIAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL' will be supplied on order to our subscribers for the very modest price of $20 per copy. We have contacted our subscribers via e-mail and a mail-out, however, if you want to secure your copy then don't wait to be asked... just use our e-mail contacts below!

Our 2003 Edition includes some NEW and, we think, very exciting features so please don't be inclined to think that you already have everything you need to know about Australian Major League Baseball from our previous editions.

Orders can be lodged by forwarding a coupon from our promotion sheet... click here. Or by direct e-mail to either of us as below... Click these to contact Adrian Dunn or Peter Flintoff

For other back issues of our publications, click here.

 
    

  

PAGE LAST UPDATED 23 DEC 2003

  
  
23 DEC 2003 - ROAD TO ATHENS SOON FOR 'AROOS'
Australia's road to the 2004 Athens Olympic games baseball competition starts soon after the Claxton Shield competition has concluded. SADLY, there is no need to mention where these top baseball competitions will be held... Baseball Australia knows no other place than Blacktown Olympic Park!


OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIP – January 28-31.

A place at the Olympics is on the line for the Aussie baseball team and you can see them in action in the first stage of their Olympic Qualifiers right here at BOP. Australia will take on Guam in a best of 5 series, beginning January 28 with matches on the 29th, 30th (and 31st if needed). 

Matches from the 29-30th will be at 7:30pm with a double header at 3pm & 7:30pm on the 31st.

OCEANIA v AFRICA OLYMPIC QUALIFIER - February 5-9

Australia will host this 5 game series that will see South Africa play either Australia or Guam (depending on results from a pre Olympic Qualifier).

The winner of that event will then play against South Africa for the eighth and final place in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Those teams who have qualified already are Japan, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands & Greece. 

  

  
  
12 DEC 2003 - BOSOX SIGN VICT RHYS TAYLOR

18yo Shepparton teenager RHYS TAYLOR is Australia's latest product to sign a US professional baseball contract. 

The hard-throwing right-hand pitcher will be joining the famous Boston Red Sox organisation after being signed by their Australian scout, none other than 'Flintoff & Dunn' Hall-of-Famer Jon Deeble.

Here is some text transposed incomplete from the media release:


Rhys Taylor

Last week, the 18-year-old was plucked from country baseball obscurity to be signed by American Major League Baseball club the Boston Red Sox. More than 70 Australians are signed with major league teams, with a few such as Kansas City Royals pitcher Graeme Lloyd, a former Geelong player, actually forging a long career in the big league. But what makes Taylor's signing extraordinary is that he has not been part of any elite training programs at either the Victorian Institute of Sport or its national counterpart.

Having made the under-14 Victorian team aged 11, he chose to play for the Shepparton Colts in the Goulburn Valley Baseball League and during the summer for Preston, then Fitzroy. "I'm still coming to grips with it, it still hasn't hit me yet," Taylor said yesterday from his family's home in Kialla, just outside Shepparton. "This time last week, I was just a pitcher, playing in the ones for Fitzroy, hoping that I would get a chance to be signed. "I thought I had a couple of years to go and try to prove myself. I had no idea I would be signed."

According to the man who signed Taylor, Jon Deeble - the Australian Olympic baseball coach who is also the director of Pacific Rim scouting for the Red Sox - Taylor is potentially one of the best pitching talents Australia has produced in some time. "There might be a few kids around who could throw as fast as him, but there would be none who are faster," Deeble said yesterday.

What impressed Deeble was obviously Taylor's fast ball, but also the fact that at only 17, he already stood 187 centimetres and was likely to grow more. "Back then, he was 81 to 83 miles per hour (130-134 km/h) and now he is up into the high 80s and we see him filling out nicely in the body," Deeble said. "He's six three now (191 centimetres) and only 154 pounds (70 kilograms) and we see him getting a bit taller and being 224 pounds (102 kilograms). "I just think he has got a good arm and good free lose delivery. Obviously, he's a project for us, but hopefully he can add a bit of muscle and I think he can throw in the mid-90s (150 km/h), which is a good above average major league fast ball."

  

  
  
11 NOV 2003 - NSW TIM AUTY SIGNS WITH SEATTLE

TIM AUTY has always dreamed of playing professional baseball. The 17yr old took a big first step to the Majors when he agreed to sign a pro contract to play for the Seattle Mariners Baseball Club.

The Hills Grammar Yr 12 student has been on the Seattle "watch" list since they first saw him play for Australia in the U17 AA team which played in the World Youth championships in Mexico two years ago when he stole the most bases in the tournament. He was a hard throwing outfielder with a good hitting technique and the Seattle Director of Pacific Rim Scouting, Ted Heid, further noted his potential at the U18 Championships in Melbourne last year.

Local Mariner's scout Barry Holland had the opportunity to watch Tim's progress closely and  made the decision to offer him a contract after he saw the improvement in his play following  his attendance at this year's MLB/ABF Academy in Queensland.   

"We like his outfield work  and his strong arm and once we were satisfied that he could make the adjustments with his  hitting that would be necessary to get him through the minor leagues we made our move and contacted his agent', said Holland from Sydney.

 TIM AUTY is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

  

  
  
11 NOV 2003 - BASEBALL WORLD CUP?
'Flintoff & Dunn' read with interest this latest news from the "world of baseball"... could it be that baseball, like professional soccer, rugby, cricket and other such sports will choose to develop its own WORLD CUP?... this would be even more likely in the event that baseball could be dumped from the summer Olympic games at some time in the future!

He are some quotes attributed to various baseball spokesmen:

Major League baseball is planning to organise a World Cup in 2005.

Baseball's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, said he expected to be able to confirm the idea within 60 days. "We're very optimistic that we can get it all accomplished and start a World Cup in the spring of 2005 - that's our current goal," said DuPuy. The tournament would include between eight and 16 national teams and be played during March 2005 in between four and eight US stadiums. Talks between Dupuy and players' union boss Donald Fehr have already begun.

"That's a goal we share, and with a reasonable amount of luck, I think we will get there," Fehr said.

Management and the union envisage the World Cup teams being comprised of top stars - the USA were eliminated from Olympic qualifying on Friday with a team stocked mainly with minor league players. Nevertheless, the loss has shocked many major league baseball officials - Canada and Cuba will represent the Americas in Athens next year.

"I'm sure that's going to get people's attention and could lead to further discussion on a World Cup and the Olympics, as well," said Paul Archey, senior vice-president of Major League Baseball International.

The commissioner's office and the union are working on several international events for the 2004 season.

  

  
  
20 OCT 2003 - HOOKER SIGNS MORE AUSSIES FOR PHILLIES!

Our friend KEVIN HOOKER, best known to many of you as the Western Australia (Heelers) State coach, has alerted us to some other recent professional signings of young Australian players that we had not heard about! How would he know?... Well, in his other life, Kevin is also the Philadelphia Phillies scout in Australia and he was responsible for signing young Aussie stars GRANT KARLSEN and BRAD HARMON in recent deals. We suggested to Kevin that he was establishing Philadelphia as the challenger to Minnesota to become the "home" of Aussie prospects!? Here are Kevin's latest signings...

TOBY BARNETT - Catcher from Western Australia who we signed as a free agent after playing in the US College System.  Toby played this year in Rookie ball on the Gulf Coast League Team. 

SCOTT MITCHINSON - Pitcher from Western Australia who attended the MLB Academy in Queensland. 

JOEL McNAUGHTON - Catcher from Queensland who we signed to a 2004 contract and will attend the MLB Academy next year.

TIM KENNELLY - 3rd Base/Outfielder from Western Australia who we signed to a 2004 contract and will attend the MLB Academy next year.

MITCH GRAHAM - Shortstop form Western Australia who attended the MLB Academy in Queensland.

  

  
  
10 OCT 2003 - VALE ROSS STRAW
'Flintoff & Dunn' join in sending our condolences to the Straw family for the passing of Ross Straw. To be honest, our time in baseball is relatively recent and we cannot claim to be familiar with all of the contributions (or history) of the Straw family in Australian baseball. However, as Victorian baseball devotees, it could not escape our attention that our traditional "home" of baseball in Melbourne for many years was the venue 'Ross Straw Field'... this tells us enough to realise what kind of position he held in baseball circles before our time!
The text below is transposed from the BASEBALL VICTORIA web site, for this and more information about Ross Straw, please visit their new site at http://www.baseballvictoria.com.au/

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of an icon in both Victorian and Australian Baseball. Ross Straw died on Tuesday night after a long and tough battle with cancer. It was a tough fight but Ross was always positive in his attitude and determination to ensure that he won the game. However, surrounded by family the end came.

To those of us who have been around the sport of baseball for a while the Straw name is synonymous with our sport. Ross and his brother Lyn were both outstanding players in their time who both went on to be great coaches.  Lyn with Coburg and both the Victorian and Australian under 18 teams, whilst Ross worked with a number of Clubs predominately Essendon, as well as the Victorian Claxton Shield team and the Australian Senior team. Sadly Lyn passed away last year.

 

Ross was a strong right hand pitcher who in the late forties was invited to tryout for the Boston Red Sox. Fortunately for us he did not go but stayed in Australian where he became the passionate person about coaching and baseball we all knew.  When he was not pitching he played first base.  
 

Funeral Details - Monday Oct 13th - 12 noon - Wesley Uniting Church - Yarra St,  Geelong

  

  
  
8 OCT 2003 - KYLE EDLICH OUR LATEST AUSSIE TWIN!
Perhaps ready to follow in the footsteps of another famous left-hand pitcher from Geelong in GRAEME LLOYD is teenage star KYLE EDLICH who has just signed a professional contract with the Minnesota Twins. Let's hope that Kyle can emulate Lloyd and raise Australia's baseball profile, while collecting a couple of World Series rings along the way!
We at 'Flintoff and Dunn' wish his the best of luck and good health with his career ahead...


Kyle Edlich

Victorian left-hand pitcher KYLE EDLICH has signed with the Minnesota Twins joining their other Aussie leftie Brad Thomas from Sydney. His 6 figure bonus is the highest for a LHP for many years and indicates the Twin's belief that in him they have a definite Major League prospect. Kyle, who started playing tee ball at the age of 9 with the Geelong Baseball Club in summer and pitch ball for the Deakin Club at the U10's, has been one of the mainstays of the Victorian pitching from his 1st rep' selection in the U14 team through to this year's victorious U18 side.

Agent David Balfour of BJS Player Management was retained to negotiate for Kyle who was headed at that time for his 2nd stint at the MLB/ABF Aademy in Queensland. "Kyle was considered to be one of the outstanding pitchers of the Canberra Series and we were determined that his contract should reflect that", said Balfour, whose own son, Grant, is a Major Leaguer with the Twins.

 KYLE EDLICH is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Howie Norsetter, the Twins scout in Australia had been watching Kyle for some time. "He was a player we especially wanted - not only was he a LHP but he was the outstanding athlete in the junior ranks at present," said Howie from his Melbourne home. "Kyle is a multi sport athlete [he was a middle distance runner at school - also competing in the long jump and javelin as well as AFL where he played ruck/wing] and he has a good strong body, can run and throws hard for his age and is a definite Major League prospect," enthused Howie. "We are absolutely delighted to sign him."

As a baseballer Kyle is an experienced elite competitor having played in the Geelong teams in U12, U14, U16, U18 in the VBA seasons and also at the U14 & U16 Victorian Provincial Championships representing Geelong as well as representing Victoria at the Australian Underage Championships.

The Twins have been the most active Major League club in recruiting Australians and have been rewarded with the success of seeing New South Welshmen Grant Balfour & Brad Thomas and Victorian Michael Nakamura all reach "The Show". Kyle intends to be another of those success stories.
  

  

  
  
2 OCT 2003 - 2004 CLAXTON SHIELD TICKETS ON SALE!

Tickets for the 2004 Claxton Shield National Baseball Championships to be held at Blacktown Olympic Park (Sydney) from Jan 18 – 24, 2004 will be on sale this month and can be purchased by contacting Baseball NSW on 02 9675 4522 or log onto www.baseballnsw.com.au

Tickets prices:

Platinum Pass: access to all matches, reserved seating & tournament program. Adults $150, Children $90

*Early bird bookings Adults $125, Children $75 – up until December 31, 2003

Session tickets: (2 sessions per day) Adults $10, Children $5, Family Pass $25 (2 Adults & 3 kids or 1 Adult & 4 kids).

Semi Finals: Adults $15, Children $7. (Note: child = 15 and under) Family Pass Semis/Finals - $40.00 

  

  
  
4 SEPT 2003 - TRAVIS BLACKLEY TEXAS LEAGUE PITCHER OF YEAR!


Travis Blackley

Victorian LHP TRAVIS BLACKLEY has broken a 25yr old record in the Texas League [AA] and in the process has been named as the 'Pitcher of the Year' for the League.

Travis 20, finished the regular season 17-3 with a 2.62 ERA (162.1 IP, 47 ER) in 27 games with San Antonio. His 17 wins is the most by a Texas League pitcher since Jeff Reardon of the Jackson Mets in 1978. He is second in the league in ERA, second with 144 strikeouts and is among the league leaders with a 162.1 innings pitched. Travis has won his last eight decisions. He pitched for the World Team at the 2003 MLB Future's Game in Chicago and was also a member of the 2003 Texas League All-Star Team. He signed as a non-drafted free agent October 29, 2000 after the Mariners Jim Colborn [now the Dodgers pitching coach] saw him pitch for Australia in the AAA tournament in Canada. 

 Travis Blackley is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

  

  
  
25 JULY 2003 - LEIGH NEUAGE DIES IN TRAGIC FALL!


Leigh Neuage
Tragic Loss

Tragic news for Australian baseball this week with the death of promising South Australian pitcher LEIGH NEUAGELeigh had been a devotee of our web site and often e-mailed us with items of interest about Australian baseballers in the US minor leagues.

20yo Neuage, who had been playing with the famous Los Angeles Dodgers in their minor league team South Georgia Waves, lost his life when he fell 15 storeys to his death at the Homebush Bay Novotel in Sydney's west. A groundsman found Leigh's body about 5am last Saturday and notified police.

We have it on good authority that there may be NO CONNECTION between Leigh's accident and the breakup of his relationship with Australian Idol  Contestant Veronica Stewart. Our information is that this was more of a coincidence and we would all do well to accept the official report of "no suspicious circumstances". In fact, we are assured that Leigh was in "high spirits" and he had every intention of returning soon to the USA to further progress his career in the sport he loved... BASEBALL!

We send our condolences to the family and friends of Leigh... Australian baseball can hardly afford to lose any player of his talent!

MEMORIAL: 
There will be a memorial for Leigh Neuage on Thursday, 28th August from 7 PM at the Southern Districts Baseball Club, Peregrine Park, Flaxmill Rd, Christie Downs, South Australia. Clubroom tel. 8384 3733. 
Team mates, friends, family and the public are invited to honour Leigh at this informal gathering.

Leigh's father has set up a guestbook for his friends and team mates to sign on a page for him at http://se.unisa.edu.au/leigh.html

  

  
  
24 JULY 2003 - NSW CATCHER TRENT D'ANTONIO JOINS 'FISH'!


Trent D'Antonio

Figtree High School student and Canterbury Club catcher 18yr old Trent D'Antonio has signed a professional contract with the Florida Marlins Baseball Club.

The former Illawarra T-Baller and NSW Junior first attracted the attention of the Marlin's scout, Craig Stoves when he saw him play for NSW in the U18 National  Championships in Melbourne and again this year in Canberra. Craig commenced negotiations with Trent's agent , Trevor Jarrett, shortly after the completion of the U18's in Canberra. 

Following lengthy discussions with the Marlins Trent was sent to Florida for two weeks to work out before the Marlins Vice President Fred Ferreira who then confirmed an offer.

 Trent D'Antonio was managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

  

  
  
16 AUGUST 2003 - NEW BLACKTOWN WEB SITE!
The new look Blacktown Olympic Park website is up and running! You can access the site at 
         
http://www.blacktownolympicpark.com.au/

THE NEW LOOK WEBSITE INCLUDES UPDATED INFORMATION ON NEWS & EVENTS, CALENDAR, INFORMATION ABOUT US, OUR LOCATION, VENUE HIRE INFORMATION, UPDATED FACILITIES, SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION, LINKS TO OUR STAKEHOLDER SPORTS AND AFFILIATES AND UPDATED IMAGES OF THE VENUE AND ITS THREE SPORTING PRECINCTS.

  

  
  
20 JULY 2003 - DONAVON HENDRICKS A BRAVE!


Donavon
Hendricks

From the prolific Waverley Baseball Club in Melbourne, outstanding young pitching prospect DONAVON HENDRICKS becomes Australia's latest player to sign a professional baseball contract with the "pitching rich" Atlanta Braves. It would not surprise too many in Victoria, especially at Waverley, that young 'Donnie' has attracted great interest after the still U18 eligible player anchored the Waverley Wildcats senior Division One team in the 2003 VBA finals. Hendricks did an outstanding job after original starter Peter Tautor was required to report to the US after being signed by the Minnesota Twins.

Currently on the Gold Coast participating in the Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP), Donovan was presented with his contract by Atlanta Braves scout, Neil Burke. Hendricks is the 15th player to sign out of the MLBAAP since its inception three years ago. 

  

  
  
2 JULY 2003 - CLAXTON TO STAY AT BLACKTOWN 04 & 05!
From the latest edition of the Blacktown Olympic Park Newsletter comes news (to us) that had obviously sneaked under our guard when announced by Baseball Australia in mid-June... that Australia's Claxton Shield tournaments for the next TWO years will AGAIN be conducted at the Sydney venue.

While we at 'Flintoff & Dunn' are yet to establish the reasons behind the decision, and allowing for the possibility that nobody else was prepared to host the event, we can only express our disappointment that our premier NATIONAL baseball event has been allowed to become monopolised by one state, city or venue. One of the fundamental traditions of the Claxton Shield was its "shared status" around Australia that enabled promotion of the sport in each state.

Oh, and what of Baseball Australia's aim to revive National League baseball in Australia from 2004... we can only assume that the announcement about the 2005 Claxton Shield is their "not so subtle" way of announcing that this is now likely to be shoved yet further towards the back of their stove!!

We have nothing against the Blacktown venue, fine facility that it is, but there is nothing so special about it or the ability for Sydney to attract fans or promote baseball that our Claxton Shield should be retained there for THREE straight years, having already hosted the event this past summer. Until we hear more, we will make no further comment... stay tuned!

Reproduced below is the text from the Blacktown Olympic Park Newsletter:

The Australian Baseball Federation has announced that Blacktown Olympic Park will once again be the venue for the Claxton Shield National Baseball Championships and will host the competition for the next two seasons (2004, 2005).

The Claxton Shield will be played at Blacktown Olympic Park, commencing on Sunday 18th January 2004 and concluding on Saturday 24th January 2004. The Claxton Shield is the premier baseball competition in Australia and will hold particular importance in 2004 as part of the Australian team selection process in the lead up to the Olympic Games in Athens.

The 2004 Championships will represent 70 years since the tournaments inception and will see the Queensland team looking to retain the title against strong interstate competition.   Once again NSW Baseball will host the event with Neil Barrowcliff returning as the Tournament Director. NSWBL will be looking for volunteers to assist in hosting the Championships, with the aim of improving on this year’s highly successful event. For more information on volunteering please call NSWBL on 9675 4522.

Updates and news on the event will feature in the monthly Blacktown Olympic Park Newsletter and on the following websites http://www.blacktownolympicpark.com/, http://www.isport.com.au/ or www.isport.com.au/baseball/nswbl  

  

  
  
30 JUNE 2003 - AUSTRALIAN PROVINCIAL 3rd IN PRAGUE

For those who may not be aware, some of Australia's underrated baseball talent are currently flying the Aussie flag on the AUSTRALIAN PROVINCIAL TOUR OF EUROPE. Under the guidance of stalwart Provincials' manager Allan Parrott, our Australian Provincial team (comprising several of our recent Claxton Shield reps) finished 3rd at the Czech Tournament in Prague.
To keep track of the boys on tour visit their web site... click here!

  

  
  
11 JUNE 2003 - SIX AUSSIES IN FIRST-YEAR DRAFT!



Last year Australia boasted only recent Milwaukee signing (Victorian pitcher) SIMON BERESFORD as our sole Australian selected in the US First Year Player Draft, but this year we can boast an unprecedented six draftees!!
Those selected were Ryan Flavell (Colorado Rockies), Andrew Graham (Detroit Tigers), Grant Reynolds (Oakland A's), Benjamin Rowe (Texas Rangers), Tom Vincent (San Diego Padres) and David Welch (New York Yankees).



  

  
  
28 MAY 2003 - BERESFORD & HARMON SIGN!


S
i Beresford

Highly rated Victorian pitching prospect SIMON BERESFORD has agreed to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers. The big hard-throwing right-hander from the Waverley Wildcats in Melbourne has been pitching for Texarkana College, helping them to a recent appearance at the Region XIV Junior College Finals tournament. The Brewers decided to exercise their exclusive rights to the 20yo having selected him in the First Year Player Draft last June. Beresford has been assigned to start his professional baseball career with one of the Brewers' Rookie teams, the Helena Brewers based in Montana, and he will report there in the next week for pre-season training.

Also signing with the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday was 17yo Victorian infielder BRAD HARMON who has been making steady progress with the Upwey Ferntree Gully club. He was also a late cut from the Victoria Aces team for the 2003 Claxton Shield carnival. Harmon is small in stature but big on talent and determination.

'Flintoff & Dunn' wish both boys every success for their professional baseball futures!


Brad Harmon

  

  
 
26 MAY 2003 - AUSSIES AMONG TOP 2003 PROSPECTS


Travis Blackley

 


Adam Morrissey



Jarad Mangioni

From highly respected US baseball publishers "TOP PROSPECT ALERT" is some interesting news about some Australian players who are rated among the top prospects in the minor leagues for their respective clubs. 

Currently featured among the TOP PROSPECTS in the whole of the US minors is Victorian pitcher TRAVIS BLACKLEY who is part of a web site survey... we think that you should log on to their site and vote for Travis at http://www.topprospectalert.com/
... and in the latest edition of "Baseball America" this is what they had to say about Blackley who is currently playing with Seattle Mariners' 'AA' San Antonio Missions:
"
has great presence on the mound and three quality pitches to choose from, including what some think is the best breaking ball in the Mariners system."

On the subject of "TOP PROSPECT ALERT" here is some belated news involving Australian players from their club by club prospect Top 10 assessments:

As part of the Montreal Expos organisation before being traded on to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Queensland's BRETT RONEBERG was rated No.7 for the Expos:
7) Brett Roneberg, OF, 24yo  (OBA:0.70, LWP:0.08, EYE:0.59)
Acquired in a trade from the Marlins, Roneberg once again posted solid, yet unspectacular numbers in 2002. Defensively he can play adequately at either outfield corner, as well as 1B. His plate discipline is good, but he lacks true power. 2003 should find him in AAA, with an upside of eventually being a major league role player.

Similarly, NSW Country player ADAM MORRISSEY was rated at No.8 at the Oakland A's organisation. Not making the Top 10 at the A's was Queensland pitcher CHRIS MOWDAY who was mentioned among their "other top prospects".
8) Adam Morrissey, 2B, 22yo  (OBA:0.01, LWP:-0.71, EYE:0.26)
This Aussie regressed a bit during 2002, but by the end of the season and into the AFL schedule he was starting to show the previous skills that put him on this list in the first place.  I still don’t know where he will play defensively, but I know he can hit well enough at the big league level.

Also not listed in their Top 10 but mentioned as among "other top prospects" for the Toronto Blue Jays was NSW outfielder JARAD MANGIONI.

 

 

 

 

 



Brett Roneberg


Chris Mowday

 Travis Blackley article brought to you courtesy of Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

  

  

28 APR 2003 - AUSTRALIA BEATS GUAM 3-1 IN BCO SERIES

Congratulations to Australian National Team (minus any professional players) representing Australia in our campaign at the BCO Qualification series in Guam. 

Australia clinched victory in the Series 3-1

Game 1: 12-1

Game 2: 12-1

Game 3: 2-8

Game 4: 5-1

Our Australian squad is:

Matthew Bennett NSW LHP, Shayne Bennett SA RHP, Daniel Berg VIC Infield/Outfield, Adam Blight NSW Infield/Outfield, John Challinor SA RHP, Calvin Chipperfield SA RHP, Brad Dutton QLD Infield/Outfield, Todd Fairbrother QLD Infield/Outfield, Darren Fidge SA RHP, Gavin Fingleson NSW Infield/Outfield, Daniel Floyd WA Infield/Outfield, Matt Gahan NSW RHP, Brendan Kingman NSW Infield/Outfield, Andy Kyle WA Infield/Outfield, James Ramshaw ACT LHP, Brendon Thomas WA LHP, David Thorne NSW RHP, Sam Tibbits SA Catcher, Andy Utting QLD Catcher, Jon Veitch QLD RHP, Darren White SA Infield/Outfield, Ben Wigmore SA Catcher.

  

  

22 APR 2003 - VICTORIA WINS AUST PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to the Victoria Provincial team that won the 2003 Australian Provincial Championships that were held from 13-20 April 2003 at Hourglass Reserve, Cooloongup, WA.

On the final day: VicP 2 d ACT 1, NZ 4 d CNSW 3, NT 13 d WA 5

Here is the final table for the Cjhampionships:
State  P   W   D   L   F   A   D   Pt 
 Victoria Provincial 8 7 0 1 77 35 42 28
 ACT Baseball 8 5 0 3 67 79 -12 20
 Country Baseball NSW 8 4 0 4 65 47 18 16
 New Zealand Baseball 8 4 0 4 69 76 -7 16
 Western Australia 8 2 0 6 61 69 -8 8
 Northern Territory 8 2 0 6 57 90 -33 8

  

  
19 MAR 2003 - MIKE YOUNG AT CRICKET WORLD CUP!

Like many baseball fans who are also cricket fans, we couldn't help but notice the attention given to the "Ground Fielding and Throwing Coach" who is touring with the all-conquering Australian cricket team at the current World Cup in South Africa... none other than former Australian baseball coach and ex-patriot American MIKE YOUNG.

Mike would be best known to Australian baseball fans as the former coach of the Perth Heat and TV commentator during ABL days who moved on to become the head coach of Australia's gold medal winning team at the 1999 Intercontinental Cup in Sydney. These days Mike Young is involved with Queensland baseball, but he obviously still knows how to find a "great gig"... teaching Australian cricketers who to field and throw in South Africa for six weeks... I ask you!?

  

  
  
15 MAR 2003 - NILSSON AWARD INTRODUCED
Following recent news that Australia's greatest baseballer DAVID NILSSON has decided to draw the curtain on his major league (professional) career as a player comes the ABF's announcement of a new award to be named in his honour.

The DAVID NILSSON AWARD will provide recognition for the Australian professional baseball player who makes the greatest improvement during the course of the professional baseball season.

Here is a report that came with the announcement:


David Nilsson last week announced his retirement from the professional ranks. Fox Sports reported on their website that the 33-year-old is still undecided on whether he'll make the commitment to be  available for Australian selection for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Following his recent retirement  from professional baseball, David Nilsson has been honoured by the Australian Baseball Federation with the naming of an annual award that carries his name. The David Nilsson Award will recognise and acknowledge the Australian professional baseball player who makes the greatest improvement during the course of the professional baseball season.

All of the approximately 80 Australian players playing professionally in the  United States each year will be eligible for the award. Based on performances throughout the season, the Australian Baseball Federation will make recommendations to the award selection committee (comprised of David Nilsson and a representative of  both the Australian Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball) for the final decision.

14 years after commencement of his  Major League career, David recently announced his retirement from professional baseball. Easily Australia's highest profile and successful  baseball player, David has always acted as an ambassador for the sport in Australia, filling various playing, coaching, administrative and ownership roles. The creation of the David Nilsson Award serves to recognise not  only his on field but also his off field contributions to the sport of baseball  in Australia.

The President of the Australian Baseball Federation, Ron Finlay, said: "The ABF is extremely grateful for the contribution of David Nilsson to Australian Baseball. No one has contributed more on and off the field than David and it is a fitting tribute that this award will be named after David. 

"David continues to contribute to Australian baseball through his participation as a coach in the MLB Australian Baseball Academy and as Coaching Co-ordinator of Baseball in Queensland. David also successfully coached Queensland to the 2003 National Claxton Shield Championships at Blacktown in January. We expect to have an ongoing association with David on the promotion of Baseball in Australia".

The David Nilsson Award, to be given annually, will serve to provide motivation and inspiration to all aspiring Australian  professional players, those of which share the same dream David once did, of representing his country on a world stage and playing in the Major Leagues.

  

  
  
16 FEB 2003 - QLD 17YO LUKE THWAITES SIGNS WITH TWINS


Queensland U18 pitcher, 17yr old LUKE THWAITES, has signed a professional contract with the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club. Thwaites caught the attention of scouts at the recent National U18 Championships in Canberra.

The 6’4” former T-Baller and  Windsor Club A grader first attracted the attention of the professional scouts when they saw him play in the Area Code games in Long Beach California last August. Six Twins scouts saw him pitch and sent in their reports to the Twins Director of Scouting who passed them on to their Australian based scout, Howie Norsetter. He then watched Luke pitch for Queensland at the U18 National Tournament in Canberra and liked what he saw. "He has a good pitcher's body and was throwing consistently in the mid 80's", said Norsetter from his Melbourne base, "and we were able to project him to be a 90+ pitcher when he fills out that long lanky body."

 This article brought to you courtesy of Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

  

  
  
20 JANUARY 2003 - FLETCHER & LYSAUGHT JOIN TWINS



Simon Fletcher

NSW U18 players SIMON FLETCHER and MICHAEL LYSAUGHT are the latest signings by the Minnesota Twins. 

Simon and Michael were members of the NSW team that competed last week in Canberra and were both so impressive that the Twins had contacted their agent, Trevor Jarrett of BJS Player Management before the Tournament was over. 

"We have 9 of our clients now with the Twins", said Jarrett, "so we were quickly able to finalise contracts with both players receiving good bonuses and the opportunity to finish their HSC before reporting to Fort Myers next year."


Michael Lysaught

 This article brought to you courtesy of Australia's No.1 Player Agents
BJS Player Management.
Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

  

  
  
26 DEC 2002 - MORE VICTORIANS SIGN WITH US CLUBS


Teenage Waverley catcher GRANT KARLSEN signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, describing the experience as a "dream come true". Karlsen was a member of the 2003 National Championship-winning U18 Victorian team, batting 0.410 for the tournament. Grant began playing tee-ball with the Waverley Baseball Club at the age of 6 and has worked hard to progress through the senior ranks at Waverley. He has been a regular feature in Australian junior teams for last three years, as well as being part of the Victorian Institute of Sport Baseball Academy. He will continue to train with the VIS, before leaving on March 10th for Spring Training.

 

Twenty-one-year-old Waverley pitcher PETER TAUTOR recently returned to Australia after a two-year stint with the Hill College Fighting Rebels baseball program in Texas, USA. "I went to the States looking for a life experience, but also with the aim of furthering my baseball career and getting signed", the right-hand pitcher said. He attracted the attention of scouts whilst commanding the mound for the Waverley Wildcats, signing with the Minnesota Twins. He will play Rookie Ball for the Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League after Spring Training... but first he hopes to help Victoria defend its Claxton Shield title this week in Sydney.

 

Cheltenham's U18 star pitcher ADAM BLACKLEY has divided the Major League alliances of his parents, signing with the Boston Red Sox. Older brother Travis is already top ten Seattle Mariners prospect. Adam started playing tee-ball as a six-year-old with the Cheltenham Rustlers Baseball Club. He pitched his first game of baseball the following summer season at age 8 in the Under 12 competition. Adam has represented Victoria each of his junior years, and has twice been the winning pitcher in a National Championships final - as an Under 14 team member and more recently in the 2003 final in Canberra. Adam also represented Victoria at senior level, as a member of the winning 2002 Claxton Shield team.

 

Claxton Shield team mate and former Twins player JOHN EDWARDS was this week picked up by the Colorado Rockies as a pitcher. Edwards, 24, a current Victoria Aces star, was originally signed as an outfielder, has been a solid contributor and leader for the Essendon Baseball Club this season.

Current Claxton Shield Victorian and former Arizona Diamondback and Pittsburgh Pirate minor league outfielder PAUL WEICHARD has also been signed as a pitcher by Atlanta Braves.

Best wishes to all Victorian and Australian players for their assault on the Major Leagues.

  

  
  
22 DEC 2002 - VICTORIAN JOSH DAVIES SIGNED BY ANGELS!



Josh Davies

Victorian junior player JOSH DAVIES signed a professional contract this week with World Series champions, the Anaheim Angels. The 17 year old from Bendigo represented the Victoria Provincial team in the recent Under 18 National Championships in Canberra. Angels scout Grant Weir was so impressed with Davies' performance at the Championships that he contacted the office in California and proceeded to offer the six-foot four shortstop a coveted professional contract.

During the two week Australian Under 18 Championships, Josh played every game for the Provincial team and was the leading hitter in the tournament with an average of .485. His defence was almost flawless, making just two errors in the two weeks of play.

Josh began playing for Essendon Club in the VBA at the age of 12 in the Under 14 league. He has since advanced through the ranks and is currently the starting shortstop in the Senior first nine. 

Josh will most likely finish year 12 at Bendigo Senior Secondary College this year and begin his professional career in March 2004.

  

  
  
19 DEC 2002 - BURTON RETIRES AFTER STEROID BAN!


Adam Burton

It is with a great deal of disappointment that we bring devastating news from Victorian baseball that one of Australia's most popular and greatest modern day players ADAM BURTON has brought down the curtain on his illustrious career after testing positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. While he would only be facing a two-year suspension as a first time user, Burton considered it better at this stage of his career to permanently retire from the game.

Not only will his presence be missed by the Victoria Aces in the short term, but the news also puts a most disappointing footnote to an otherwise magnificent career in Australian baseball. An Olympian and a permanent fixture in Victorian teams, maybe his performances in the now defunct Australian Baseball League during his prime were the pinnacle of his career. 

In a National League comprising the very greatest Australian players and a host of US imports who were to become major league stars, the relatively young Adam Burton was a "standout" performer. 
A dual-Championship player with the Waverley / Melbourne Reds, who also played briefly with the Brisbane Bandits, 'AB' was also a two-time ABL Batting Champion and the 1999 ABL Most Valuable Player. Also blessed with base speed and home run power, there is little argument that Burton was the most potent offensive force over the decade of the Australian Baseball League.

While 'Flintoff & Dunn' would not seek to make excuses for our very own AMLB Hall-Of-Famer and (unashamedly) one of our all-time favourite players, let us give Adam a couple of small votes in his favour during this terrible time:

  • Let it be recorded that Adam Burton has become the FIRST EVER high profile sportsman to actually admit that he took steroids to enhance his performance... or, more to the point, he did not try to offer the usual platitudes and excuses about injuries that we most often hear!
  • Let it also be recorded that Adam Burton has been one of the most frequently drug tested Australian baseballers EVER and any suggestion that he has been a long-term user of steroids should be regarded as very unfair to a man who has ALWAYS been a gifted player!
  

  
  
12 DEC 2002 - MELBOURNE MONARCHS REUNION!
Bringing back memories from those great ABL days is news that the 1992/93 ABL Champion MELBOURNE MONARCHS have organised a reunion of their 'fairytale' victory. Here is some edited text from the VBA web site...



Player / Manager
Jon Deeble

The Melbourne Monarchs Championship Team from 1992/1993 are reuniting to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their Australian Baseball League victory.

The Monarchs commenced in 1989 and then were out of the league for the 1990/1991 and 1991/1992 seasons, before being reinstated under the ownership of the Footscray Football Club for the 1992/1993 season. It was in the first season of reinstatement that the Monarchs won the Australian Baseball League Championship, defeating the Perth Heat in Perth to win the title.

There will be memorabilia on display on the night, such as the Championship Trophy, as well as an Auction, including Olympic memorabilia donated by Jon Deeble, clothing items and baseball goods.

The reunion will take place on Saturday 22nd February 2003 at the Footscray Football Club, in Melbourne, commencing at 7.00pm. Tickets can be purchased by downloading a ticket order form from the VBA Web Site (click here), or by contacting Cameron Richardson during business hours on 9399 7399. RSVP is required by 24th January 2003, with a maximum of 200 seats available.

  

  
  
7 DEC 2002 - ABF's NOVEMBER E-NEWS!
Below are edited samples of recent news from the Australian Baseball Federation's NOVEMBER E-NEWS.
To view the entire publication on the ABF web site, click here.

New ABF Life Member: TREVOR JARRETT 

At the Annual General Meeting the ABF’s Board and Council elected Trevor Jarrett as a Life Member of the Australian Baseball Federation. 

We at 'Flintoff & Dunn' have long admired the devotion and support that Trevor has given to the sport of baseball in Australia. We know that he has been involved with the game in many different capacities, but we know him best as one of the key supporters of the sadly now defunct Australian Baseball League and, in particular, for his contributions to the Sydney Blues / Storm ABL team.

More recently Trevor has continued his contributions to Australian baseball as Australia's No.1 Baseball Agent.

A sincere CONGRATULATIONS from us Trevor... and as a token of our respect, a small "plug" for your business...

New ABF Life Member TREVOR JARRETT is a director and representative of Australia's No.1 Player Agents 
BJS Player Management
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CLAXTON SHIELD 2003 - BLACKTOWN OLYMPIC PARK

Tickets are now on sale for the 2003 Claxton Shield competition at Blacktown Olympic Park. Contact your local club, or Baseball NSW by clicking here.

They are also seeking volunteers for various jobs relating to the staging of the Claxton Shield for specific information about this use the link provided for the ABF's E-NEWS.

The IBAF Executive Committee meeting, chaired by IBAF President Aldo Notari, took place at the Palco Hotel in Havana, CUB.  During the meeting the Netherlands was elected as the host country for the 2006 XXXVI Baseball World Cup.  The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association was named the host of the 2004 “AAA” World Junior Championship and the 2006 Intercontinental Cup.  In addition, the Cuban Baseball Federation was granted the right to host the 2006 “AAA” World Junior Championship.
  

  
  
2 DEC 2002 - OLYMPIC BASEBALL STAYS... FOR NOW!
Some relief in news today that baseball will not be dumped from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and that its status as an Olympic sport could be preserved for at least the rest of this decade. Transposed incomplete below from the Major League Baseball web site is some heartening information... but we are not out of the woods entirely!


Team USA at Sydney Olympics

Olympic vote on baseball delayed. 

Game preserved at least until after the 2004 games!

A vote on whether to eliminate baseball as a gold medal sport in the Summer Olympics was tabled until after the 2004 games in Athens, Greece, at the earliest, perhaps preserving the status of the sport into the next decade.

The International Olympic Committee, which had promised to take a vote on the future of three sports -- baseball, women's softball and the modern pentathlon -- changed course Friday at a meeting of the ruling body in Mexico City. No Summer Olympic sport has been dropped since polo in 1936.

The act of deferring the vote ostensibly moves any further decision into 2005, said Sandy Alderson, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of baseball operations. The IOC determined earlier in the week that all the sports in question would be re-evaluated by the Olympic Program Commission every four years after the Summer Olympics. In addition, the IOC will also determine what city will host the 2012 Summer Olympics in 2005. New York has been nominated by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the U.S. city to host those games.

"This is good," said Alderson, MLB's point man on the Summer Olympic question. "The biggest additional factor that will come into play in 2005 is the award of the 2012 Olympics. I would doubt that if New York was awarded the Olympics that baseball and softball would be eliminated."

Friday's decision immediately ends what has been a burgeoning international controversy which began when the IOC recommended last summer to drop baseball as a gold medal sport. Since then, MLB has lobbied Olympic delegates from around the world. In part, that resulted in none of the 39 speakers during Friday's debate favoring the elimination of baseball.

"I think a lot of the members were unhappy with the whole process," said Bob DuPuy, MLB's president and chief operating officer. The IOC argued last August that building baseball facilities in each venue was too expensive and that the constraints of each Major League season, coming during the Summer Olympics, made it impractical for baseball to send its best players.

To read more about this on the MLB web site, click here.