ARMIDALE Outlaws made their return to Tamworth first grade baseball a wet but winning one while Gunnedah Giants might have created a little bit of club history when they drew against defending premiers Warriors when the first round of Tamworth first grade baseball began at Tamworth’s Field Of Dreams last Saturday.
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Tamworth Baseball Association (TBA) officials couldn’t remember the last time first grade matches had been called off midway through their Saturday afternoon games.
A Monday night meeting was needed to delve into the official TBA rules to find that the matches were, in fact, legal.
Called off at 4.05pm on Saturday because of the rain, it meant 1hr 25mins of play was possible.
1hr 15mins constitutes a legal game so the two matches became legal, delivering Armidale Outlaws an 8-3 first-up success over Cougars and a 4-all draw between Warriors and Gunnedah Giants.
“The Giants were up 4-3 at one stage when we came off the first time,” Warriors stalwart Robert Chandler said of the Mitch Holt-Chris Dyson- coached defending premiers.
“But we went back on and scored another run before the rain came back and finished it.
“We aren’t sure but it looks like that might be the first time Gunnedah has ever drawn with us.
“We don’t think they have ever beaten us either.
“But they have a couple of handy Koreans.
“One of them, Jeter, pitched.
“He’s a handy left-hander.
“And ‘Bruce’ also hit the ball well for them.”
Jamie Eveleigh has been an outstanding Giant over a number of years and he was helped to coach the side on Saturday by TBA stalwart Dave King.
“It’s fantastic, awesome having a fourth team,” Chandler said of the debut of the Outlaws and the fact the Korean brigade will help make the Giants competitive.
“Brodie Cleal was also pretty good for Gunnedah,” he said.
“And Kingie is going to be a great help for them.”
Warriors are being coached by Holt and Dyson and boosted by the addition of Port Macquarie’s Mark Gallagher.
“He played in the Country Under 18s with Johnnie Warren way back,” Chandler said.
“He goes all right and had a couple of good hits.
“Mick (Martin) also had a couple.”
Armidale Outlaws coach Mick Alldis was delighted just to start a new Outlaws tradition let alone win.
“It was a tough day too with the weather,” Alldis said.
“We got away with one big inning, they made a few errors and we got a few hits and jumped away to a 7-nil lead.
“It was going to end up a real good game though (until the rain interfered).
“Brock Ridgewell pitched very well for them.
“As did Josh (Shaw) for us.”
Shaw was one of the best for the Outlaws, along with Jeremy Bird.
“Jeremy was playing against his old side and his brother (Kris) and came up with a couple of big hits for us,” Alldis said. “He’d played and pitched second grade earlier too.
“But Josh did pitch very well.
“It was a good day one for us.”
For the record, Brad Smith scored the first run for the new Outlaws club who tackle Warriors in Tamworth this weekend while Gunnedah and Cougars match up in the other A Grade game.
