President's Report

As the Southern Mariners Senior league team heads home from the Philippines with the Asia Pacific title in their keeping and a shot at the World Series,in two weeks as a result of that win, the achievement is now starting to be realized.
From the time the committee of the Southern Mariners were advised that there would be a Senior League Division the objective was to regather the talent from previous Southern Mariners Little League teams of 2012 and 2013 where both teams qualified for the National Championships in Queensland and mould a team.

Added to this group were players from Berwick baseball club who had joined the Mariners charter late when they became disenfranchised from the former Rangers team as a result of realignment of Little League boundaries with the introduction of "charter baseball" in Victoria plus a number of other talented players from clubs who now came under the Mariners charter umbrella.

Those involved were confident that if all were available for selection the Mariners would have a team,worthy of the State Championship.

A coach was then sought and Jack Larner was identified by the committee as a suitable choice and approached to submit an application for the position as head coach.
Tryouts commenced late October after mandatory attendance at registration a pre requisite for selection in the team.
Jack was appointed coach by John Carlile ( Development Coach) and a sub committee of the Southern Mariners committee ....the team selected and assistant coaches appointed along with admin staff and the team played together for the first time at the State Championship held in Geelong Australia Day, (January) 2016.
Our next journey was to the National Senior League tournament to be held in Lismore in May.
Unfortunately for Jack, the possibility of him missing this tournament due to cancer that had formed after the State Championship, and the subsequent treatment to his leg as a result of the growth was a real possibility.
Thankfully Jack was able to join the team and travel to Lismore to complete the second leg of this journey.
The Southern Mariners were outstanding in Lismore sweeping all before them becoming National Champions and now had an opportunity to represent Australia at the Asia Pacific Region Championship to be held in the Philippines.
This was to be another challenge.

Some players had never travelled overseas previously and the thought of extreme heat,mosquitos,extreme humidity as well as possible gastroenteritis warnings and foreign conditions and living conditions hardly made the trip sound enticing.
Jack Larner was unable to make the trip given he was in recovery after surgery and the team headed off with the prospect of him rejoining the team if they were successful in the Philippines.
The team arrived late at night in the Phillipines and settled in after midnight after traveling for some 16-18 hours from door to door.

We weren't disappointed as the contrast from Melbourne weather to Philippine weather was dramatic.
Games were played from 8.00am to be completed prior to the daily monsoonal afternoon rains....and yes, mosquitoes,toads(frogs)a diet that comprised mostly of rice morning and night,gastro for some,games played in 85% humidity,living in units with 7 or 8 other team members plus 4 other determined Asia Pacific teams who also wanted a shot at the World Series.

The Australian team was fantastic..and emphatically won the final 10-0 against Guam who we had defeated 2-1 2 days earlier.
So now the team stand on the cusp of Australian Baseball history,with a realistic chance in Maine after already being the first Victorian Baseball team to qualify for a World Series,the first Australian Senior League team to qualify for the World Series and the first Australian team to qualify through the Asia Pacific Region.

There are many people who have had an input to this team success so far.

To all the clubs that these players come from..credit goes to your past and current coaches,to those within the the Academy programs who further develop some of these players,to the parents who have supported your child's desire to play this sport and to the current Southern Mariners committee who have worked wonderfully well together not only with this team however with all the junior teams The Southern Mariners put on the field.
This is a team that all our coaches can use to promote the possibilities that are available if you continue to be the best you can be in life.

To John Carlile who has made a significant contribution to the Little League program for a number of years, along with Al Tanner and Simon Myles my thanks as president for your commitment to the cause.Your influence on various members of this group has certainly assisted in their development.

To Ben Fierenzi and Declan Croker who have been selected in the Australian U15 team to Japan and cannot make the U.S good luck you will be missed by the Mariners.

Finally to Jack Larner(who at time of issue is seeking medical clearance to travel with the team to U.S), Brendan Wilson and Russell Ferguson good luck...and to the players of the Southern Mariners....I know it seems hard to believe however I truly believe it is possible for you to be World Champions!

Rick Wills 
President 
Southern Mariners