1981 PREMIERSHIP - A SLICE OF HISTORY

1981 COACH'S REPORT
By Head Coach - Dick Mason

Waverley won the First Division premiership because it was the best team in the competition.

We had the best pitching heading up a tight defence, and our batting was strong and consistent. We also used another asset; speed, to our advantage, in both the field and on the base paths. To underline those points with statistics, our pitchers surrendered 109 runs for the season, of which 72 were earned, establishing an earned run average of 2.50.

In layman's terms, there was an average of 2. 5 runs scored against us every nine innings, that is runs for which the pitching staff was held to be responsible. The other runs scored as a result of misplays or were assisted to score by errors. Our batting average for the entire season was a splendid. 304, gained from a total of 301 safe hits -- 228 singles, 52 doubles, 6 triples and 15 home runs. We stole a total of 102 bases, with. Andrew Ferguson, Mike Klinger and Matthew Sheldon-Collins pilfering 64 between them. The team fielding average was .954, or if you like, we handled 95% of the fielding chances which came our way without error. David Clarkson, our catcher and Club Champion, made 233 put-outs and assists with only one error, while first baseman Andrew Ferguson handled 330 chances with three mistakes, two of which were committed while he was fielding at second base in the two games immediately post-New Year. Mike Klinger at left field played error-less baseball in accepting 33 chances.

But statistics alone don't tell you the success story of the Waverley first team in season 1980-81. They merely serve to underline the high points of a season- long effort. Planning started at the end of the previous season when we finished a dismal 10th. Players and coaches were asked to contribute their ideas on the mistakes of 1979-80, and their hopes for the new season. These contributions were collated and formed the basis of an attack on the problems of the previous season. There were changes made, some drastic, but who could now deny the success of those changes which unified a club that had been deeply divided, in fact polarised. It was realised that the major effort would have to be made by the pitching staff and they accepted the challenge of training four times per week, starting the first week in August.

Len Sharp's appointment as the pitchers' training supervisor was of great benefit, both to me and to the pitchers as far down as the under 17-age group. The fact that Phillip Dale and Mark Murphy were selected in the Claxton Shield team was a direct result of that training, and I believe David Thiele should have been given far greater attention by the State selectors than he was. He would have given better service in Adelaide than one or two who went and helped win the Claxton Shield.

From the foregoing, it must be obvious that my concentration was on defence, headed by the best pitching staff in First Division. We were joined by Lee Foster from Cheltenham who, after he settled down into our style of play, made a valuable contribution on the field, and particularly off the field. Waverley is a difficult club for outsiders to receive acceptance, and although he had a head start with prior friendships, Lee soon became one of us.

Perhaps the biggest plus for us in our team effort was the "return" of Geoff Paice. After being in the thirds in the previous season, at times being wrongly denied promotion, we discovered later, Geoff re-established himself in rightfield, collecting 28 safe hits from the lead-off spot and being a big part of our drive to the four and the flag. With the best leftfielder in Victoria, Mike Klinger, flanked by Lee Foster in centrefield and then Geoff Paice in rightfield, our outfield defence was almost impregnable. For the entire season, only 20 opposition safe hits got through or over for doubles or triples, compared to Waverley 58 of the same order. Lee Foster started at third base until Richard Sisson proved he was ready to handle the "hot corner" where he made just six errors in 80 plays - not bad for 17 years of age in that standard of competition.

Matthew Sheldon-Collins at shortstop and David Buckthorpe at second base were the best keystone combination in the State. David’s play at second, and particularly his batting, visibly matured during the season and his eight hits in the finals at a .381 average, together with his immaculate fielding of 30 chances, were a superb contribution. Matthew, 17-years-old for all but the last week of the season, was sensational. He took up where he had left off last season, and led the club in safe hits for the entire season, collecting a total of 42. At one stage of the season he was batting exactly. 500 (18 for 36) to finish the fixture at a splendid . 356. His ground fielding was very good and his coverage to both sides at shortstop was nothing short of amazing. Matthew has a great future.

Andrew Ferguson continued his excellent form at first base, making just one error in about 325 plays. He was our best base runner, and his batting hovered around a splendid. 300 all season, finishing at .317. I’m sure no Waverley supporter will ever forget his triple down the rightfield line which sent Phillip Dale home with the winning run against Melbourne in the preliminary final. I must pay tribute to catcher David Clarkson whose "calling" of the game for his pitchers is mature beyond his years. Together with Mike Klinger, he was our co-captain and was our fielding leader from his position behind the mask, but it was his batting which drew particular attention. David hit five home runs and included in his season, one memorable game against Doncaster during which he hit the "cycle" - a single, double, triple and a home run - the first in Waverley's First Division history. His final batting average of .377 from 40 safe hits topped the team's average. David was a worthy Club Champion.

I have previously paid tribute to the work the pitchers did leading up to the Christmas break. Next season, they must continue this work for the entire year, and it's something I know they already realise. Mark Murphy and David Thiele, who between then pitched 106 innings, will have to bear the entire load with Phillip Dale playing college baseball at Georgia Southern for the next four years. I'm sure they'll respond to the biggest challenge they've yet faced in their baseball careers. Phillip Dale was our number one pitcher. In total, he threw 144 innings and conceded only 28 earned runs for an E.R.A. of 1.75, while his won - lost record was 13-2 with two saves. He had a great first half of the season, culminating in a superb performance against Melbourne immediately before Christmas when he surrendered only two safe hits. After his return from the Claxton Shield, he thrilled Victorian baseball fans with a sensational International debut against Japan at Straw Field in February. During the finals, after our loss to Melbourne, he was given some coaching by Ross Straw, which got him back on the right path.

Phillip went from strength to strength during the rest of the finals, pitching two shut-outs against Preston in the Grand Finals, giving up five hits the first week and just three the second game. It was the best performance in a Grand Final for many years, certainly the best since World War 2. Waverley will miss "Fred" in the years to come, but we wish him every success in his college baseball and academic careers.

Other players apart from those mentioned made contributions to the Firsts during the season.

Bill Dockrey, Mark Thiele, Mark Ratican, Len Sharp and Steve Noske played in some games, and during the finals our bench was swollen by Andrew Smith, Geoff Dunn and the B. P. brigade - David Binzer, Shaun Casemore, Ricky Sharp, Greg Ford and Tim Smith. Anthony Bownds collected bats and helmets during the season while adding to both his baseball knowledge and vocabulary while his mother, Margaret, our scorer, added to her knowledge of that art, and added a few words to my vocabulary.

Keith Sheldon-Collins was our batting coach and to him must go credit for the club's hitting, particularly that of the firsts whose average of .304 was a further increase of 20 points on last season. Keith has added 40 points to the Waverley first team's batting in his two seasons as batting coach, and that in itself is quite remarkable. Keith also directed traffic through third base in true military style and I can't recall him sending anyone I'd have held up.

I have already conveyed my thanks publicly to Tony Peek for his efforts as Team Manager and for his personal loyalty to me during a very trying period in Waverley's history. His contribution to the Premiership cannot be measured because he concentrated on the psychological aspects and motivation factors which are all-important to a team's mental outlook on the game. If ever Robinsons Orange Barley needs an endorsement from baseball players, our Firsts will be keen to give it, providing Tony can make the stuff week in and week out as he did.

Having spent the majority of this report dealing with the Firsts, I cannot dismiss the rest of the Club shortly.

It is part of our history that we also won the Club Championship for the first time, and that takes a fine effort from all teams, not just the Firsts. That effort stretches back as far as the Under 17's, many of whom played two full games each week to help us keep our standards at Championship level. After the third round, Mike Phillips took over the unenviable task of captaining the Seconds. With a very young team, Mike just missed making the finals, but during the season, his team administered a notable thrashing to the eventual premiers, Sandringham. Mike received great Support from Bill Dockrey who deservedly won the Best Team Man trophy for the Seconds. Gordon Dunn as team manager did a first rate job.

Gary McGrady, Phillip Paice and David Binzer, together with team manager Graham Smith, all had a hand in running the Thirds. This young group finished fourth and played some very good baseball during the season, and were most enthusiastic about their training. Steve O'Neill showed great improvement, both in his play and team attitude, to win the Best Team Man award.

John Norman took on the task of captaining the Fourths with Clive Ford as team manager. Between them, they handled the job in a most capable manner, having the team right near the top of the ladder for three- quarters of the season only to fall back when the finals approached. Like the thirds, this team was comprised of young players, gaining experience against senior players. Mark Linden, at the end of a very consistent season, was adjudged by his team-mates to be the Fourths Best Team Man.

Tim Sheldon-Collins, who started in the Fourths, and worked his way up to the Seconds during the season, performing well at all levels, was selected as the Club Most Improved Player. Tim, who is still an under 17 next season, could follow his older brother, Matthew, into the firsts before long.

The Fifths - Dad's Army - could not repeat the successes of their two previous seasons, but in true mature style, didn't mind at all seeing Waverley win the Club Championship and First Division Premiership.

Some of their number played in Waverley D Grade and C Grade premiership. and, I suspect, got just as big a thrill out of the Firsts winning as they did years ago.

These "elder statesmen" remain an object lesson to the younger members of the club by the example they set in their sheer enjoyment and love of the game of baseball, and their loyalty to Waverley.

John Coffin capped off a top year by being named Best Team Man of Dad's Army.

Further down to the Under 17's, particularly the Wildcats who won yet another Coca-Cola State Championship - Waverley is the only name on that trophy in its five-year history - and to the other Under 17 and Under 15 teams who had a lot of fun and played a lot of good baseball.

And finally the Pee Wees, with whom I managed to spend a very few pleasant hours. Coaching correct fundamentals at this age ensures the future of the Club - that's part of the reason for our 1981 success - we did a good job with the pee wees from the late 1960' s through the mid- 1970 's and later, and now these young men have received a reward for their personal excellence.

On a personal note, it was a dream of mine sane years ago that I would coach Waverley one day to a First Division premiership. I thank all the people through the years who have helped make that dream a reality.

Dick Mason,
Club Coach.

THE HISTORIC 1981 PREMIERSHIP SCORESHEET