JEFF Chandler heads into this weekend’s June Baseball Carnival in Tamworth with a major win already.
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Chandler’s wife Julie gave birth to a seven pound 11 ounce baby boy, Henry, earlier this week.
Both mother and son are doing well, the bouncing young Henry a brother to three-year-old Maximilian and a glittering reason for Chandler to throw some strong stuff on the mound for his Tamworth side in this weekend’s carnival.
There are two baseballing prizes awaiting Chandler and the Tamworth team he co-manages with Scott Hurn.
Not only is an elusive June Carnival A Division trophy awaiting them but also a Country Championship.
Country Baseball NSW has melded the open Country Championship into the June Carnival A Division.
That means whoever finishes highest on the June Carnival table between Tamworth, Newcastle and Central Coast wins a Country Championship, Chandler said.
“It would be nice to knock off both.
“We’ll be trying and going hard but it’s going to be a tough A Division with Newcastle and Central Coast as well as Interport Masters who are always strong.
“Wenty are also supposed to be bringing a strong team and then you have Dead Stars as well.
“We’ve been pretty close the last few carnivals. Hopefully we take it up a cog or two here.”
Tamworth have named a strong side under Chandler and Hurn.
“We’ve got some good pitching and have plenty of versatility in the infield and a solid outfield with the likes of Mitch and Joe Holt, Brian Hopton and Wes Kranenburg, a Canadian exchange teacher,” Chandler said.
Teenager Brock Ridgewell also makes his senior Tamworth debut.
“He’s been playing in the high level junior stuff,” Chandler said.
“Brock gets his chance for us this weekend.
“He been very solid at the local level.
“And everyone bats too.
“Kris Bird and Mick Martin are always reliable, Simon Norvill is solid and James (Psarakis) is very good in the infield and has been hitting pretty well too.
“Chris Dyson has also been playing in Newcastle with Joey (Holt) and they’ll help make it a good side.”
TAMWORTH: Kris Bird, Jeff Chandler, Chris Dyson, Andrew Ferris, Joe Holt, Mitch Holt, Brian Hopton, Scott Hurn, Wesley Kranenburg, Michael Martin, Simon Norvill, James Psarakis, Brock Ridgewell, Grant Sippel, John Warren.
