2016 event program - u16 national youth championship

WELCOME FROM BASEBALL AUSTRALIA

It is with great pleasure that I welcome all players, coaches, managers, officials, families and friends to the 2016 Rawlings Under 16 National Youth Championship. Congratulations to all players on selection to represent your State or Territory, it is a great achievement and one that I know you have all worked hard for. We are looking forward to seeing a high level of competition from these teams. I would like to thank Baseball New South Wales, Sydney Blue Sox and Blacktown Venue Management for hosting the Championship and continuing to support our efforts to deliver quality events for our players. Preparing events of this calibre requires the hard work and dedication from a large group of people; many who are volunteers. To the organising committee, I would like to sincerely thank you for your commitment and support over the past months in preparation for delivering this great event. I would like to extend our appreciation to the Blacktown City Council for accommodating us in your local area and to the New South Wales State Government for your valued support. To our supporting partners; Australian Sports Commission, Major League Baseball, and the Australian Baseball League, I thank you for your continued support. To our sponsors; Rawlings New Era, Sam Bat, Virgin Australia, Hertz, Bendigo Bank, Majestic and Fielders Choice. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with you all, and I encourage our members to reciprocate the support that our sponsors show our game. I wish all participants the best of luck. Remember to have fun and play fair.

David Hynes President

WelcomefromtheChiefExecutiveOfficerofBaseballNSWandtheSydneyBlueSoxBaseballNSWwouldliketo,onceagain,welcomealloftheparticipants,familiesandsupporterstothe2016U16andU18NationalYouthChampionshipshereatBlacktownInternationalSportsPark.Weareexcitedtohaveeveryonebackhereforanotheryeartowitnesstheamazinglytalentedyoungathletesondisplay.Ionlyhopeitwillbeasexcitingasitwaslastyearandthateveryoneinattendanceenjoystheirtimehereatthetournament.Wearelookingtomakethisyearthatmuchmoreappealingwithavarietyofareastorelaxandenjoywatchingyourteamplay.Wehavealsoincreasedourcateringofferingsohopefullyyouwon’twantformuch.YouwillnoticethattheBallparkhasundergoneafewrenovationsoflatewhichhopefullywillenhancetheexperienceforall.TheWaterParkisbackagainforthosewhomaybeinterestedifyoufindyouhavethetime.IwouldliketothankBlacktownCouncilandBlacktownVenueManagementforprovidingusandmaintainingthequalityfacilitythatwehaveavailabletous.Needlesstosay,mygratitudealsogoesouttothemanytirelessvolunteerswhohavegiventheirtimetohelpprepareanddeliverthisevent.Inclosing,Ihopeyourexperiencehereisapleasurableone.Somakethemostofyourtimehereandbestofluckwiththetournament.BestWishes,MarkMarinoBNSWChiefExecutiveOfficer

AsMayorofBlacktownCity,IamdelightedtowelcomeyoutotheCityofBlacktownandtoBlacktownInternationalSportsparkSydneyforthe2016Under16&Under18NationalYouthChampionships.TheChampionshipwillbehostedattheSportspark’sworldclassBaseballCentre:hometoAustralianBaseballLeague(ABL)team,theSydneyBlueSox.TheBaseballcentrehashostedavarietyofinternational,nationalandstatebaseballcompetitions,includingtheSydney2000OlympicGames.ItwillalsohosttheupcomingWorldBaseballClassicQualifiersinFebruary2016–thefirsttimesuchaneventhasbeenheldinAustralia.BlacktownCityCouncil’songoingcommitmenttosportinBlacktownCityandbeingthehometoworldclasssportingfacilitiesishighlightedatBlacktownInternationalSportspark,whichboastsfirstclassfacilitiesforAthletics,AustralianRules,Baseball,Cricket,Football/Soccer,SoftballandGoalkeeping.InadditiontobeingthehomeoftheBlueSox,BlacktownInternationalSportsparkSydneyisalsohomefortheNSWWomen’scricketteam,theLendLeaseBreakers,andHyundaiA-LeagueteamtheWesternSydneyWanderersFootballClub.TothoseofyouwhoarevisitingBlacktownCityforthefirsttime,IhopeyouenjoyyourvisittoourCityandgetachancetoexperiencesomeofBlacktown’sotherattractions,suchasBlacktownLeisureCentreStanhope,FeatherdaleWildlifeParkandNurragingyReserve.Goodlucktoallplayersandofficialsandcongratulationstotheorganisers.Yoursinsport,CouncillorStephenBaliMayorofBlacktownCity