Playing Coach – Neil Phillips 39 Games as Coach Regular Season: 24 Wins – 8 Losses – 3 Draws Finals: 3 Wins – 1 Loss Winning Percentage 0.692 Coach of

Playing Coach – Neil Phillips

39 Games as CoachRegular Season: 24 Wins – 8 Losses – 3 Draws

Finals: 3 Wins – 1 LossWinning Percentage 0.692

Coach of 1997 Premiership Team188 PA’s, 160 AB’s

51 Runs, 50 Hits, 9 2B’s, 1 3B, 2 HR’s, 42 RBI’s0.388 Batting Average, 0.436 On Base %

1990

• Club President – Peter Ritchie• Club Secretary – Mark Davies• Club Treasurer – Bob Pringle• Senior Coach(s) – Peter Ritchie (?)

Ted Barkmeyer (?)

• Dodgers pick up ex players Cameron Bell and Gary Ahdore as well as Gerard O’Dowd and Scott Burton in May as Cubs Baseball Club implodes. All go on to successfully shape the club over the coming years.

• In August, the Strathfieldsaye Shire completes the Strathfieldsaye Sports Complex.

• In discussions with the Shire Manager Barry Edwards, Ted Barkmeyer makes enquiries as to the possibility of a baseball field within the new complex.

• Indications were that there may be a suitable area and dimensions were roughly stepped out and the foundations of our Field of Dreams looked excellent.

• Many meetings and quotes were obtained for the fencing, sand, excavating and other jobs.

• The first of many working bees was arranged to burn the long grass and bushes before grading.

• The levelling of the ground took place when Brian Keogh removed the top soil.

• In consultation with engineer Alistair Stirling, the sprinkler system and drainage was designed.

• It looked as if we might have grass sown before Christmas.

• It wasn’t to be due to an engineering cock-up, bloody engineers, and 1991 was upon us.

• In better news for the Cruse family, current A – Grader Jason Cruse is born.

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 5 Wins – 6 Losses• Finals, 1st Semi Final, Dodgers 13 – Falcons 3

Preliminary Final, Scots 11 – Dodgers 3

1991

• Club President – Peter Ritchie• Club Secretary – Graham Wells• Club Treasurer – Christine Ritchie• Senior Coach(s) – Peter Ritchie (?)

Ted Barkmeyer (?)

• The ground continued to take shape in early 1991.

• 5 trenches for drainage of the infield from shortstop to the first base line are begun.

• A new member to the club and his 2 boys spent one of the hottest days of the summer digging a metre square hole which happened to be the hardest clay soil on the field.

• The sprinkler layout was marked and dug out by machine and cleaned out by shovel.

• The following weekend was another scorcher but the attendance at the working bee was terrific and the jobs completed after an 8am-7pm working day, the ground had water!

• The field was top dressed and sowed and the ground was taking shape.

• Time for the fence.• We had great difficulty negotiating the outfield

curve but eventually it was solved.• A team of 7 club members put up the 7, 24 foot

back net poles by hand.• Ex. Club member Scott Hall did a terrific job

constructing the dugouts in very trying conditions.

• The base paths were excavated and packed with a special sand mix of 11 herbs and spices.

• By the end of 1991 the Field of Dreams was ready.

• Some ‘91 Babies include current players Geoff Holland and Nick Whatley.

• A Grade are competitive but drop a classic tussle 16-15 to Scots in the semi final in 11 digs.

Dodgers A - Grade

Pitcher – Cail Tuckerman

45 (68) Games25 Wins – 9 Losses – 2 Saves

14-0 in 1997Winning Pitcher in 1997 Grand Final

Batting Average – 0.318

Catcher – Cameron ‘Billy’ Bell

51 (69) Games199 Plate Appearances

177 At Bats47 Runs

44 Hits, 15 Doubles, 2 Triples, 3 Home Runs33 RBI’s

Batting Average – 0.362On Base % - 0.417

1992

• Club President – Peter Ritchie• Club Secretary – Barry Sessions• Club Treasurer – Leigh Monro• Senior Coach(s) – Peter Ritchie

Ted Barkmeyer

• In a season of change, Dodgers not only have a new home ground, but the Dodgers Dugout makes a long awaited comeback under the tutelage of chief editor, Robert Pringle.

• Dodgers play their first game at Strathfieldsaye, dropping an exhibition game vs Dandenong Valley 11-3.

1992 Ground Opening Ceremony

• A Grade is pummelled 19-0 by Bendigo East prompting coaches Peter Ritchie and Ted Barkmeyer to stand aside in favour of Peter Lewis and Gary Ahdore in an attempt to try and improve the A Grade team.

• It seemed to work temporarily, as after opening the season 0-5, A Grade beat Scots.

• We all know it was cold and we all rush around to keep warm, but do we all race off and leave our wife & daughter without a ride? To answer this, just ask any member of the Skipper family!

• Leigh Cassidy has a nasty altercation with the soccer goal posts in a warm up for A Grade.

• 10 Dodger players ventured to KF health centre recently to see how fit they were. From one account the boys had a terrific time checking out the scenery (perving), but they found out they had muscles they hadnt even used and they werent too fit either!!

• Best wishes were extended to Rose Davies after she slipped at work and dislocated her shoulder! Ouch

• Overheard on the bench during a C Grade game in Shepparton as a Divvie van pulled up: Here comes your A Grade side Louis. It was one of those years!

• Whilst A Grade missed the finals, B Grade and C Grade were premiership contenders.

• The ‘Dream Team’ of C Grade broke the clubs 13 year premiership drought by winning the C grade title 16-9 over Bendigo East.

• B grade weren’t so lucky dropping a heart breaker to Bendigo East in 9 innings!

• The after match celebrations at Rothos place was a night to remember, especially for Graham Wells who fell in love with Rotho’s dog Brodie for some particular reason.

• And just who was it, after a very hard day of catching, then a harder night of drinking, dropped his trousers and gave a three arm wave after getting a lift home from a demure lady of the club?

• Club Champion – Gary Ahdore• A Grade MVP – Luke Barkmeyer• A Grade Batting Title – Gerard O’Dowd

Dodgers A - Grade

It was a season to forget for A Grade.

• Regular Season, 3 Wins – 12 Losses • No Finals!!!

1993

• Club President – Ivan Merrick• Club Secretary – Brett Eastwood• Club Treasurer – Ian Trevorah• Senior Coach – Peter Lewis • Severe floods in November 1992 caused most

of the diamond to be washed away and a total rebuild was required.

• The club was embroiled in an on going saga to have the ground partially lit for night training. The first light pole was put up in February.

• In a now annual occurrence, Dodgers loose to Dandenong Valley in a preseason game.

• It was noted that very few senior players appear to have learnt anything from the pre-season training with only 1 senior and 1 junior team winning the first game of the season.

• In a sign that the move to Strathfieldsaye was worth it, as well as fielding a Sunday U/12 team the club also has a 4 team Saturday U/12 competition.

• Some notable U/12’s included Stuart Ritchie, Mark Stewart, Josh Davies, Jacoby McDonald, Boyd Dellwo, Craig Eeles, Luke Oxlade and David Jamieson.

• Similar to 1992, A Grade open the season 0-5 before beating Falcons. We did actually win 1 game but it was by forfeit which doesn’t really count!

• Gerard O’Dowd is ejected for using foul language on third strike call in a game vs Scots.

• Jethro ‘Dont Call me Keith’ Lamb nearly sends Rod Moon into orbit with a patented linebacker move at home plate at the Hen House. Hopefully he took note of the ‘you gotta get off the tracks when the trains coming through’ in his semi conscious state. Jethro repeated the feat later in the season vs an Eaglehawk catcher.

• Trent Blackwell finally is cleared to Dodgers after a lengthy delay in getting a clearance from Eaglehawk.

• Who was the well known A Grade pitcher seen getting in plenty of practice for Sunday, having a good chuck 10.30pm Friday night? GA?

• A highlight of a particular C Grade game had Roger Dellwo performing a hook slide into home plate, there was be a demonstration replay at practice the following week.

• The club mourns the passing of ex President and great club man Arthur Kilcullen.

• B Grade follow up the success of the C graders from 1992 by winning the premiership over Bendigo East.

• In a another lamentable season A Grade don’t play finals!

• Club Champion – Stuart Ritchie• A Grade MVP – Luke Barkmeyer• A Grade Batting Title – Greg Rothenberger• A Grade Best Team Player – Leigh Monro

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 2 Wins – 12 Losses – 1 Draw • No Finals!!!

****

First Base – Greg Rothenberger

55 Games211 Plate Appearances, 189 At Bats

43 Runs, 66 Hits, 17 Doubles, 3 Triples, 58 RBI’sBatting Average – 0.450

On Base % - 0.475Pitching

5 Wins – 10 Losses – 4 Saves

Second Base – Brett Ritchie57 (67) Games

280 Plate Appearances, 210 At Bats80 Runs, 65 Hits, 11 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 HR, 44 RBI’s

59 WalksBatting Average – 0.371


4 Wins – 0 Losses Member of 1997 & 1999 Premiership Teams

Third Base – Danny Whittle

78 (100) Games381 Plate Appearances, 295 At Bats

99 Runs, 74 Hits, 21 Doubles, 2 Triples, 55 RBI’s58 Walks, 21 Hit By Pitched Balls

24 Stolen BasesBatting Average – 0.329

On Base % - 0.462Member of 1997 & 1999 Premiership Teams

Short Stop – Stuart Ritchie


73 Runs, 65 Hits, 12 Doubles, 4 Triples, 1 HR, 56 RBI’sBatting Average – 0.363


5 Wins – 4 Losses – 1 Save Member of 1997 & 1999 Premiership Teams

1994

• Club President – Peter Ritchie• Club Secretary – Brett Eastwood• Club Treasurer – Bob Pringle• Senior Coach – Ron Sharp

• 4 New Life Members are elected in Pat & Elaine

Murphy, Bob Pringle & Christine Ritchie.

• Heavy rain again washes away the diamond, requiring another re-building effort.

• Dandenong Valley continue to own us, winning the preseason game 19-7.

• In a shock move, A Grade stalwart Greg Rothenberger requests and is granted a clearance to Bendigo East.

• The Saturday U/12 comp is expanded to 5 teams including the Cannonballs, Lakers, White Sox, Giants and Peter Lewis’s very own Poobars.

• Andrew McKinley, Mark Eeles & Corey Hague are among the new players.

• The storage shed is completed mid year.

• The new A Grade coach phoned new bridegroom to be on the morning of his wedding to congratulate him. He was surprised to hear another Dodger player answer the phone and that it was ok, he had phone the right number and the prospective bridegroom was in bed with him! That’s taking the best man role a bit too far but what a bucks night!!!

• Murph brought his dog Gus along to a game for a bit of an outing. Ferret didnt notice that Gus had used his breast plate as a toilet and peed all over it! Gus thought Ferret didnt mind so he used his warm up jacket later on for the same job! Was ferret upset?? Of course not!!

• Some notable games:• Bendigo East 22 – Dodgers 19 in 8 innings. Greg

Rothenberger’s 4 hits including a homerun and 4 RBI’s don’t help our cause.

• Dodgers triumph 45 - 0 over Eaglehawk in 6 innings against 8 players including 3 girls!

• A decent 5-2 start for A Grade slowly deteriorated but they still made the finals.

• After defeating Scots 16 – 6, A Grade succumb to Shepparton 17-6, with Gary Ahdore and Mark Davies getting yellow card! Tut tut.

• B Grade are Premiers again beating Bendigo East 7-4 in a hard fought scrap.

1994 B Grade Premiers

• Club Champion – Danny Whittle• A Grade MVP – Luke Barkmeyer• A Grade Batting Title – Gary Ahdore• A Grade Best Team Player – Trent Blackwell• The club introduces a new award at seasons end,

the Dummy Spitters Award.• Inaugarel winners include Luke Barkmeyer, Trent

Blackwell, Gary Ahdore, Cameron Pringle, Peter Lewis, John Skipper, Geoff Shaw, Ron Sharp, Danny Whittle, Chris Murphy and the father of modern Dummy Spits, Mark Davies.

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 9 Wins – 11 Losses • Finals, 1st Semi Final, Dodgers 16 – Scots 6• Preliminary Final, Shepparton 17 – Dodgers 6

1995

• Club President – Mark Davies• Club Secretary – Ted Barkmeyer• Club Treasurer – Marree McKinley• Senior Coach – Peter Ritchie

• The Pithie’s welcome their first child, with ‘big boy, oh boy, wow weee’ Timothy Colin being born at 9lb 3 oz.

• A Grade’s Josh Cruse is also born.

• Cail Tuckerman is cleared to Dodgers from Falcons.• The BBA makes a proactive move by bringing in

Saturday/Sunday doubleheaders. Dodgers first was in Shepparton where we lost 7-5 on the Saturday, went boozing in Shepp on the Saturday night and came out and smashed the Suns 16-6 on the Sunday.

• Work progresses on the batting tunnel.• Scott Burton gets a yellow card after being called

out on strikes and an innings later is ejected after again being called out on strikes!

• Jason Gallagher & John Petri (Shepparton) are both ejected for shenanigans.

• Scott Burton gets another yellow a week later vs Falcons for equipment abuse.

• Aaron Crawford gets a yellow card for cross bow abuse vs Bendigo East.

• A great night out was held at the pokies at Rich River. Apparently a ‘bloke’ at the club said something unkind to Shane Burns who grabbed him by the throat and was about to reply to his comments with a closed fist, when Teddles stepped in to quieten things down. As Ted turned around to leave this ‘bloke’ touched Ted on the behind and tried to make a date. Ted declined the offer!

• Harry was seen on the dance floor swaying to the music and having a good time. When asked later about his prowess on the dance floor, Harry commented, ‘what dancing? I had too many and was just trying to cross the floor’.

• A Grade finally beats Bendigo East at Strath after 4 seasons!

• A Grade also play a memorable match with Bendigo East, tying the score in the bottom of the 9th, 7-7.

• Ted Barkmeyer clocks up 40 years in baseball. Ted still gets the same haircut as he did in the 50’s, short and neat, number 2.

• Club Champion – Cameron Bell• A Grade MVP – Cameron Bell• A Grade Batting Title – Cameron Bell• A Grade Best Team Player – Danny Whittle• The Dummy Spitter award is the star attraction at

the Senior vote count. Illustrious winners include Scott Burton, Col Pithie, Peter Ritchie, Graham Wells, Gary Ahdore, Cameron Pringle, Kevin Harrison, Peter Lewis, Cameron Bell and most surprisingly NOT Mark Davies!

• Cail Tuckerman scoops the bum licking award by winning the A Grade Association Umpires Award!

• Falcons knock an improving A Grade out of the finals, comprehensively winning 10-3.

• B Grade continue to dominate the league by picking up a hat trick of premierships by beating perennial bridesmaid Bendigo East, 7-3.

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 6 Wins – 8 Losses – 1 Draw • Finals, 1st Semi Final, Falcons 10 – Dodgers 3

****

Left Field – Scott Burton


157 Runs, 88 Hits, 45 Doubles, 17 Triples7 HR, 108 RBI’s

64 Walks, 72 Strike Outs, 75 Stolen BasesBatting Average – 0.355


Center Field – Luke Barkmeyer



111 Walks, 100 Stolen Bases, 15 SacsBatting Average – 0.363

On Base % - 0.488Member of 1997 Premiership Team

Right Field – Craig Gladman53 (61) Games

202 Plate Appearances, 160 At Bats48 Runs, 37 Hits, 11 Doubles, 3 Triples

5 HR, 48 RBI’sBatting Average – 0.350


1 Wins – 2 LossesMember of 1997 & 1999 Premiership Teams

1996

• Club President – Neil Whittle• Club Secretary – Ted Barkmeyer• Club Treasurer – Marree McKinley• Senior Coach – Peter Ritchie• For the 9th season in a row, Dandenong

Valley/Lyndale beat A Grade in the pre-season, this time 12-7. There will be no 10th anniversary beating as Dandy Valley fold during the year!!!

• Pitching coach at an U/12 pitching clinic was heard to say ‘OK guys, line up in a circle!’ To which the youngsters stood dumbfounded. Guess who? All answers to Gary Ahdore.

• The dugout celebrates its 100th Edition.

• Congratulations to Craig Eeles who in his first 3 games has had 8 hits from 9 at bats which gives him a 0.888 batting average. Sadly it’s the last hit he gets until July 2009

• The club mourns the passing of Trevor Steele, ex player & coach of the club during the 70’s & 80’s. Trevor was elected as a player in the Team of the 70’s and as coach of the Team of the 80’s.

• A Grade go on a 7 game winning streak but lose in the finals 13-8 to Scots.

• B Grade & C Grade advance to Grand Finals. Results Unknown.

• In other good news, Colin & Gillian Pithie are pregnant with their second child and Shane Burns and Minnette are expecting their first child

• Kevin Harrison & Sue McCormack announce their surprise engagement in December.

• It’s A Grade’s first winning season in at least 10 years and the pieces in the premiership puzzle were falling into place.

• Club Champion – Scott Burton• A Grade MVP – Cameron Bell• A Grade Batting Title – Scott Burton• A Grade Best Team Player – Luke Barkmeyer

• The dummy spitters were presented this year by life members Ted Barkmeyer, Mark Davies and Neil Whittle and winners included Phil Murley, Kurt Lackovic, Cail Tuckerman, Peter Ritchie, Gary Ahdore, Joan Whittle, Colin Pithie, Graham Wells, Mr & Mr Jones and Joe Jones (Falcons)

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 10 Wins – 5 Losses • Finals, 1st Semi Final, Scots 13 – Dodgers 8

1997

• Club President – Neil Whittle• Club Secretary – Ruth Barkmeyer• Club Treasurer – Marree McKinley• Senior Coach – Neil Phillips• In a shock move reigning A Grade MVP Cameron

Bell requests and is granted a clearance to Scots.• Editor in Chief of the Dugout, Bobcat (Jimmy or

Phil Krakouer?) Pringle retires to concentrate on keeping Ferret in check in the C Grade and Frank McKinley takes ownership of producing the Dugout.

• The formatting is questionable and the layout haphazard but it does the job! Not sure about all the motivation quotes though…..

• The club appoints an ‘outsider’ Neil Phillips as coach for the first time in living memory.

• His arrival creates seismic change in the way the club approaches the game, prepared itself and presented itself. A level of professionalism is demanded and given that is unheard of in Bendigo Baseball.

• Even the new editor was impressed by reporting that ‘the feeling around the club is very positive. Comments have been made from outside the club of the team discipline shown and the way in which we play the game. The effort from the A’s have made them role models in the BBA!!’

• Yes, Strath Dodgers are leaders, showing the way!!

• A Grade, with a mixture of youthful exuberance and steady veterans embrace the change and reel off 7 straight wins to start the year.

• 7-8-9 is the new mantra.• The run is broken by an epic 2-2 tie with Falcons

in 9 innings. The teams produce a 4-4 tie later in the season.

• Another memorable game is a 36-4 drubbing of the Bendigo Bulls.

• Current A Grader Zac Cruse is born as well as Maggie Pithie.

• U/12 phenom Joshua Davies is selected in the Australian team to tour Japan to contest the U/12 World Championship.

• Sam Longford debuts in A Grade taking a great catch at centrefield, reports were you could see his glove shaking with fear from the bench…..fair to say nothings changed!

• Adam Dellwo wins the VicHealth/Herald Sun achiever of the week, with the club pocketing $250 of sporting equipment.

• Adam follows it up by quietly achieving a yellow card for dissent after being rung up on strikes in a game vs Scots.

• The Dummy Spitters continue to throw up the same old faces as well as some up and comers: Graeme Wells, Ted Barkmeyer, Brett Ritchie, Geoff Shaw, Scott Burton x2, Phil Murley, Adam Dellwo, Karl Mannes, Cail Tuckerman, Greg Reeves, Bob Pringle, Stuart Ritchie, Neil Phillips, Luke Barkmeyer & Neil Whittle

• Club Champion – Cail Tuckerman• A Grade MVP – Adam Dellwo• A Grade Batting Title – Scott Burton• A Grade Best Team Player – Phil Murley

• The A’s win 14 games and draw 2 before dropping the final regular season game.

• Grand Final day is a shocker but the weather holds early allowing both C Grade and B Grade to win premierships. With every age group of the juniors winning premierships, the pressure is on the A’s to clean up.

• One thing that we couldn’t control was the weather and after 3 rain delays the game is called at 5.13pm with Dodgers up a run after 3 innings.

• A Grades date with destiny is delayed a week.• Didnt stop tempers flaring in the scorers hut

though! With Neil Whittle having a little to-do!

• Sunday 21st of September 1997 was a peach of a day, perfect for baseball, and our judgement day.

• Dodgers hadn’t featured in an A Grade decider for 11 years. On that occasion, Bendigo East handed us a sorry beating 36-4.

• We’d paid our dues, it was time.• A large, vocal, passionate crowd, heavily

favouring us was on hand. Dodgers home support had been immense all season long and today was no exception.

• The game was as good a contest as you would ever want to see.

• Dodgers scored 3 in 2nd and 4 in the 4th to lead 7-2.• East rallied for 2 then 1 to close it up to 7-5 after 6

innings.• A critical triple by Scott Burton in the top of 7

scored Luke Barkmeyer & Karl Mannes to leave some breathing space but East countered in the bottom half with a run to make it 9-6.

• We went quietly in the 8th but East, just kept on coming scoring 2 off a tiring Cail Tuckerman.

• Coach Phillips went to the bull pen and pulled a Skipper out of his hat. Cometh the hour, cometh the man!

• 17 yr old Steven Skipper had never thrown a pitch in A Grade until now. No Pressure!!

• Facing the heart of the East order, Skip went to work. He retired Kenan Jack and Greg Evans to end the 8th.

• With the 9th to play, it was 9-8 Dodgers.• Luke lead off the 9th with his 3rd hit of the game and

moved to 3rd on a double by Neil Phillips. A walk to Scotto loaded the bases with 1 out but Craig Gladman struck out. With 2 outs a critical error by the first baseman allowed a run to score and we were ahead 10-8 going to the bottom half of the 9th.

• Dodgers were 3 outs away from ending 26 years of heartache.

• Col Thomas the greatest Dodger killer of them all, bats, grounds out. 1 away. A hit, a walk and just as quickly the tying run is at the plate.

• No bother says Skip, as he rings him up on 7 pitches. 2 away.

• Another walk........bases loaded, 2 down, East down by a couple.

• Called strike, ball, called strike, East down to their last strike.

• Pitch is away, ground ball to 2nd base......

• Brett Ritchie is there…. Dodgers are nearly there…. smooth glove, flat throw, gratefully accepted at first by Karlos, DODGERS ARE THERE!!!

• 26 years of emotion is let loose and many ghosts of seasons past are put to rest.

• Karl Mannes is awarded player of the match.• In an unprecedented feat, Dodgers win premierships

at every level in 1997.• The nights celebrations are long and emotional. • Whilst things become a blur for some, Ted & Chris

have great memories of celebrating with Sth Bendigo Footy club…..celebrating or wanting to punch on with….best ask Ted!

1997 A Grade Grand Final

Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Skipper

1st Base, 1971 – Right Field 1997

Dodgers A - Grade• Regular Season, 14 Wins – 1 Loss – 2 Draws • Preliminary Final, Dodgers 15 – Falcons 9• Grand Final, first game washed out after Dodgers

lead Bendigo East 1-0 after 3 innings.• Grand Final, Dodgers 10 – Bendigo East 8• For the first time in 26 years, Dodgers are

A GRADE PREMIERS***

Designated Hitter – Phil Murley



Batting Average – 0.380On Base % - 0.433

Member of 1997 Premiership Team

Relief Pitcher – Gary Ahdore


48 Runs, 60 Hits, 10 Doubles, 2 Triples, 42 RBI’s Batting Average – 0.348


11 Wins – 21 LossesMember of 1997 Premiership Team

1998

• Club President – David Stewart• Club Secretary – Beryl Dellwo• Club Treasurer – Marree McKinley/Chris Pollard• Senior Coach – Neil Phillips• Plenty happening in the off season as Peter Patrick

Murphy is born to Chris & Kelly. Kevin Harrison & Sue Trebilcock also welcome a son, Jack Phillip.

• Tim Dellwo is selected to play in the Australian Rubber ball team to play in Japan.

• Bob Pringle is back on board as Dugout Editor and the format is returned to normal, thanks Frank) Still maybe there was something in those motivational quotes in 1997….premierships in all grades

• After midweek training one young A grader was seen pulling a few donuts in the car park. The club doesnt mind our fellas having a bit of fun but his father informed us that he would probably get the job of fixing any damage to the car.

• Neil Shaw & Sharon MacIntosh announce their engagement.

• Nicholas Whatley debuts in the U/10 T-ballers.• The U/10’s win one game for the year, curiously

enough without Nicholas Whatley!• Ted gives the club a spray in the Dugout, grumpy

old German!

• It’s a tough opening to season before A Grade rallies for 6 wins in a row.

• One run games are our undoing as we drop 3 of 6 one run games.

• Gladders wins a slab for hitting the scoreboard at Strath with a mighty wallop.

• Falcons also continue to frustrate us as we draw with them 6-6 in 12 epic innings.

• Scott Burton feels the umpires wrath with a Yellow card for equipment abuse in the semi final vs Falcons and is then ejected for dissent.

• The preliminary final is another corker of a game with Bendigo East.

• Trailing 10-9 in the top of 9th with the bases loaded and 1 out, Brett Ritchie unfortunately grounds into a double play to end the game and Dodgers chances of defending the A Grade title are gone.

• The Mighty Ducks win the C Grade premiership beating Bulls 8-3.

• B Grade also make it to another Grand Final.• (Possibly their 7th in a row?) Result unknown.

• Phil Murley is awarded a Life Membership to the Dummy Spitters CLub.

• Club Champion – Danny Whittle• A Grade MVP – Stuart Ritchie• A Grade Batting Title – Mark Stewart• A Grade Best Team Player – Brett Ritchie

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 10 Wins – 7 Losses – 1 Draw• Finals, 1st Semi Final, Falcons 16 – Dodgers 10

1999

• Club President – David Stewart• Club Secretary – Gary Schroeder• Club Treasurer – Chris Pollard• Senior Coach – Geoff Rome

• C grade match reports rule the Dugout!• C Grade gave Greg Reeves a big welcome back to

‘the Big Show’. Reevesy came to the mound to watch in awe as the mighty C Grade infield allowed runners on base with basic errors. Greg this is C Grade!

• Highlights of C Grade vs Scots include Ferret clearing home plate. All enquiries to Ted Barkmeyer in relation to this!

• Late arrivals allow C Graders John Skipper and Greg Reeves a chance to represent the club in A Grade which they did and saved A Grade from despair.

• Reevesy taking one of the catches of the year before rolling from deep second base to the right field fence!

• With no umpire available in C Grade, Alan ‘Hammie’ Gladman took to the mound behind the pitcher. The rumour is he wont be asked back, something about a small strike zone, smaller than Ted and another known umpire put together!

• John Skipper was reminded that he is a senior member of the C Grade instead of trying out for the Olympics by running 2 bases on an error.

• The club welcomes 2 more babies in Brad Murphy and Daisy Pithie.

• With new coach Geoff Rome on board, Dodgers A Grade become the most powerful team in the league. Regularly smashing the opposition by double digit scores.

• Stuart ‘Boy Wonder’ Ritchie has a 7 RBI innings! Coming to the plate with the bases loaded twice in 1 innings, Stuart hits a Grand Slam, then follows up with a bases clearing double!

• A 12- 12 draw & a 2-2 draw with Falcons marks the 6th time in the decade that the two teams could not be separated.

• The team wins 11 games before dropping the final game of the season 13-9 to Falcons. It is the second time in the decade that Dodgers only lose 1 game in the regular season.

• In the final A Grade game vs Falcons, Mark Davies is very unsubtley hit by a pitch leading to tempers getting out of hand. 2 Cox’s were ejected but continued to needle from outside the fence resulting in Stuart Ritchie also getting the hook.

• The Mighty Ducks bow out of the C grade race.• B Grade make the Grand Final winning the first

game but dropping the next 2 by a run each time.

• It’s a big year for the Dummy Spitters with perennial favourite Ted Barkmeyer getting a dummy. Mark Davies doesn’t disappoint either and other recipients include Scott Burton, the Ritchie brothers, Phil Murley, Cameron Pringle, Neil Shaw, Peter Lewis, Greg Reeves & Bob Pringle.

• In a magnanimous move, Coach Geoff Rome excludes himself from all awards.

• Club Champion – Alan Gladman• A Grade MVP – Mark Stewart• A Grade Batting Title – Mark Stewart• A Grade Best Team Player – Scott Burton

• It’s A Grade’s time to shine again in the Grand Final.....

• Game 1 vs Bendigo East was a rout with Dodgers using faultless hitting and top defence to win 26-4

• Game 2 was a little closer but Dodgers were too powerful, putting on an awesome display of hitting to score 11 in the first innings against a demoralised opposition. It ended 19-6 and Dodgers had their second premiership in 3 years.

• Mark Stewart is awarded player of the finals.

• Geoff Rome win the Alby Jack Award for the Most Valuable Player of the BBA.

• Stuart Ritchie is runner – up.• Romey also wins the batting average and John

Newman pitching award!• Gold gloves to go to Brett Ritchie for 3B,

Stuart Ritchie for short stop and Craig Gladman for right field.

• Mark Stewart wins the Leigh Tuckerman Rising Star Award.

Dodgers A - Grade

• Regular Season, 11 Wins – 1 Loss – 2 Draws • 1st Grand Final, Dodgers 26 – Bendigo East 4• 2nd Grand Final, Dodgers 19 – Bendigo East 6• For the 2nd time in 3 years, Dodgers are

A GRADE PREMIERS

****

Utility – Mark Stewart37 Games

170 Plate Appearances, 158 At Bats45 Runs, 52 Hits, 15 Doubles, 4 Triples

1 HR, 57 RBI’s Batting Average – 0.456


5 Wins – 0 LossesMember of 1999 Premiership Team

Utility – Karl Mannes



30 Walks Batting Average – 0.354


Utility – Geoff Rome15 Games

79 Plate Appearances, 64 At Bats32 Runs, 22 Hits, 7 Doubles

10 HR, 46 RBI’s Batting Average – 0.609


6 Wins – 0 LossesPlaying Coach of 1999 Premiership Team

Dodgers A - Grade• At least 73 Players played an A Grade innings in the 90’s• Regular Season, 79 Wins – 73 Losses – 8 Draws

1990 – 1995, 34 Wins – 59 Losses – 3 Draws Winning Percentage – 0.3541996 – 1999, 45 Wins – 14 Losses – 5 Draws Winning Percentage – 0.703

• Post Season, 7 Wins – 5 Losses• 2 Grand Final Appearances• 2 Premierships

Documents

Playing Coach – Neil Phillips 39 Games as Coach Regular Season: 24 Wins – 8 Losses – 3 Draws Finals: 3 Wins – 1 Loss Winning Percentage 0.692 Coach of