SPORT

Hobart Baseball League season pitches off

From left, umpire Sam Morrison and Blue Jays catcher Steven Harris look on as White Sox A batter Casey Moore hits out. Photo credit: David Searle. THE Hobart Baseball League has kicked officially off for all teams, with patron Kristie Johnston throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

With the first Sunday round of the competition washed out, the division one teams got their first taste of action in round two with reigning premiers, Banjos Orioles, taking on the new team, the Pirates.

The Orioles came out swinging with the bat, highlighted by Rob Newham hitting the league’s first home run of the season, and they overwhelmed the Pirates 15 to three. Jason Don batted well for the Orioles recording five hits from five at bats, while pitchers Ryan Douglas and Jason Baurycza caused headaches for the opponents. Matt Little and Adam McGregor from the Launceston Baseball League made their debuts for the Pirates, but other recruit Josh Baker was the star player for the Pirates by recording two hits from three at bats. The second division one game of the day saw the Eastern Athletics take on the Visionary Carpentry Blue Jays. The Athletics held an early two to one lead, but the Blue Jays scored three in the third innings to gain a break. A crucial error in the fifth innings led to three unearned runs for the Jays and while the Athletics scored two runs of their own in the innings, the margin was too great and the Jays won seven to four. The highly anticipated clash between two of the division two title favourites, the Visionary Carpentry Grey Jays and White Sox A, rounded off the day. A four run first innings, coupled with sound pitching from Terry McCulloch and Pete Yu, saw the White Sox come out as comfortable 10 to four winners. The second round for division two continued a couple of days later with the Eastern Athletics taking on the Nipaluna Pirates. The Athletics led early on, but Nipaluna tied it up in the fourth innings. However, late in the fourth innings, the Athletics came alive with the bat and scored seven runs to run out 10 to six winners. Hamish Maitland had two hits for the Athletics, as did Ben Hodge for Nipaluna. New division two team, White Sox B, lined up against the Pirates on back-to-back weeks.

After a close 12 to nine victory to the White Sox the first time these two met, this game was much more comfortable for the Sox.

With some great team batting and pitching from Nick O’Rourke, the White Sox were able to win 15 to two.

Clinton Pearce, Shaun Gilmore, Bryce McMurtrie, Johnny Noonan and David Searle all had two hits for the White Sox.

Round three began with the undefeated White Sox A taking on the Pirates.

David Humphries led the way with three safe hits and Jason Featherstone, Matt Fox, Matt Drumm, Casey Moore and Andrew Fox all had two safe hits as the White Sox beat the Pirates 18 to five.

The round concluded with the Blue Jays taking on the Eastern Athletics in another division two clash.

Jordan Edwards had two safe hits from three at bats for the Athletics as they overwhelmed the Blue Jays 16 to four.

Neil raises his bowl

NORTH Hobart Bowls and Community Centre have bowled themselves into a new season, with one member celebrating a special milestone year with the club.

Club stalwart Neil Eiszele marked the start of the 2021/22 pennant bowls season by putting down the first bowl of the season at the club’s open day in early October.

Turning 90 in early 2022, Neil Eiszele started lawn bowls in 1972 and recently entered his 50th year with the now named North Hobart Bowls Club.

A much-loved member by all, Mr Eiszele played bowls in conjunction with cricket at the United Cricket Club in the City Association – cricket in the morning, bowls in the afternoon.

However, Mr Eiszele advised the cricket club that if he made the top division in bowls, he would retire from cricket.

This happened in only his second year of playing bowls.

During his bowls career, Mr Eiszele won every club championship in both A and B grade, and also won the Master Pairs at the Derwent City Club with Bill Rankin one year.

He is a Life Member of the club, as well as a Life Member of the United Cricket Club and of the Sandy Bay Football Club.

Mr Eiszele has also been president of the club when it was known as Derwent City Bowls Club and has been the club’s maintenance carpenter for many years.

“Bowls keeps the body and mind active,” Mr Eiszele said.

“It provides companionship, exercise and stops everything from seizing up.”

North Hobart Bowls and Community Centre patron Madeleine Ogilvie also joined club members at the opening day, with people playing a few ends of bowls before gathering for a barbecue and refreshments.

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BOATS HIT THE WATER

FOR START OF SAILING SEASON

Frontline, owned by Steve Chau, passes Her Excellency the Honourable Governor Barbara Baker on board the ML Egeria as part of the traditional ‘sail-by’. Photo credit, Penny Conacher.

ABOUT 150 boats took to the River Derwent last month for the official launch of the 2021/22 sailing season, including the traditional ‘sail-by’ event that has been held annually for the past 138 years. Boats from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Derwent Sailing Squadron, Bellerive Yacht Club, Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania, Geilston Bay Boat Club and Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania gathered near the Tasman Bridge before sailing single-file into Sullivans Cove.

There, crews gave their official salute as they went past the ML Egeria. Onboard was the Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker, who reciprocated the salutes. Boats then continued onto Nutgrove Beach for a nautical picnic.

Some of the upcoming sailing events planned for this season include the Combined Clubs pennant, the Crown Series at Bellerive Yacht Club, the Maria Island Race on 13 November and the Not the Nations event at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

The Derwent will come to life at the end of the year with the return of the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with boats set to depart Sydney on Boxing Day.