Baseball Queensland
Encyclopedia
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
within Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Baseball Queensland is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation
Australian Baseball Federation
The Australian Baseball Federation is the national governing body of Baseball in Australia. Baseball is played in all the mainland states and territories, but it struggles for popularity due to the popularity of many other sports, including the comparable sport of cricket, in which Australia has...
. It is located in Milton, Queensland
Milton, Queensland
Milton is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located approximately west of Brisbane's central business district. The suburb is a mixture of light industry, warehouses, commercial offices, retail and single and multiple occupancy residences...
and run by chief executive officer Col Dick.
It is also the governing bodies that picks the Queensland Rams
Queensland Rams
Queensland Rams compete in the Claxton Shield Baseball Championship in Australia. The Rams were one of the founding teams of the Claxton Shield in 1934 and competed as Queensland until 1988. Between 1988 and 1999, the Claxton Shield was awarded to the winner of the Australian Baseball League...
team that competes in the Claxton Shield
Claxton Shield
The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team...
. It also picks U14, U16 and U18 state teams and Greater Brisbane League
Greater Brisbane League
The Greater Brisbane League or formerly the Greater Brisbane Baseball Board league is the largest baseball league in the Australian state of Queensland and covers all teams from Brisbane North, South, West, Metro as well as two Gold Coast teams. These are from age groups Little League through to...
All-Star teams, the largest competition in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It runs all regional bodies in Queensland and the far north coast of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and also controls the Queensland Umpires, Scorers and Coaches associations.
Controversy
In November 2008, the Pine Rivers RapidsPine Rivers Rapids
The Pine Rivers Rapids Baseball Club is a baseball club located in Lawnton, Queensland, that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and the Brisbane North competition....
club announced their interest in a breakaway league from the Greater Brisbane League
Greater Brisbane League
The Greater Brisbane League or formerly the Greater Brisbane Baseball Board league is the largest baseball league in the Australian state of Queensland and covers all teams from Brisbane North, South, West, Metro as well as two Gold Coast teams. These are from age groups Little League through to...
that Baseball Queensland runs. The controversy arose before the start of the 2008-2009 season when Pine Rivers amongst other high profile clubs, were warned that they are in danger of not meeting GBL Major League criteria which enables them to have a team in the top three divisions of Queensland baseball. The 'mutiny' is led by club committee members, Derek Harvey and Peter Dutton, father of Australian baseballer Brad Dutton.
The push for a breakaway league as of December, 2008 seems to have died off with all big Greater Brisbane League
Greater Brisbane League
The Greater Brisbane League or formerly the Greater Brisbane Baseball Board league is the largest baseball league in the Australian state of Queensland and covers all teams from Brisbane North, South, West, Metro as well as two Gold Coast teams. These are from age groups Little League through to...
clubs declaring their support for Baseball Queensland including Redcliffe Padres
Redcliffe Padres
The Redcliffe Leagues Padres Baseball Club, also known as Peninsula Padres Baseball Club is a baseball club located in Redcliffe, Queensland that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and Brisbane North Region competition...
, Narangba Demons, Redlands Baseball Club
Redlands Baseball Club
The Redlands Baseball Club is a baseball club that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and the Brisbane South competition.-History:...
and Pine Hills Lightning
Pine Hills Lightning
The Pine Hills Lightning Baseball Club is a baseball club that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and Brisbane Metropolitan Region competition...
. On 31 November 2008, Rapids forfeited their 3rd Major B game of the season which according to GBL breach of forfeit rules:
- 1st breach - notified more than 48 hours $50.00
- 1st breach - not notified $100.00
- 2nd breach $200.00
- 3rd breach Removed from competition
And without a team in Major A, B and C, a club cannot qualify for Major League criteria (see GBL Major League Criteria). This left Baseball Queensland in a compromising position whether to kick Major A leaders, Pine Rivers Rapids out of Major League or continue to be criticised by other clubs for not following through with GBL By-Laws.
Regions
- North Queensland
- Sunshine Coast*
- Brisbane North
- Brisbane Metro
- Brisbane West
- Brisbane South
- Gold Coast
- Far North Coast
*All clubs in the Sunshine Coast region have been defunct since 2006
Awards
On 9 December 2008, the Australian Baseball FederationAustralian Baseball Federation
The Australian Baseball Federation is the national governing body of Baseball in Australia. Baseball is played in all the mainland states and territories, but it struggles for popularity due to the popularity of many other sports, including the comparable sport of cricket, in which Australia has...
announced the 2009 Baseball Australia Diamond Awards with Baseball Queensland picking up:
- Club of the Year: Redcliffe PadresRedcliffe PadresThe Redcliffe Leagues Padres Baseball Club, also known as Peninsula Padres Baseball Club is a baseball club located in Redcliffe, Queensland that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and Brisbane North Region competition...
- Official of the Year: Mal MacKay - Umpire
- Volunteer of the Year: Louise Paewai - Pine Hills LightningPine Hills LightningThe Pine Hills Lightning Baseball Club is a baseball club that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and Brisbane Metropolitan Region competition...
- Player of the Year (Youth): James Linger - Windsor RoyalsWindsor RoyalsThe Windsor Royals, originally known simply as Windsor baseball club and formerly the Windsor Engineers is a baseball club that participates in the Greater Brisbane League competition and Brisbane Metro Baseball competition.-History:...
Awards will be presented 21 February 2009 in Melbourne, Victoria.