THE 2020 Illawarra Baseball League season has been a special one for the Shoalhaven Mariners, with numerous families being involved in the club.
In many teams and grades, brothers, husbands and wives, fathers and their offspring have played the game together.
The club’s club president, Stuart Raymond, played fourth Grade alongside his son Austin Raymond while wife and senior vice-president, Kerrie Raymond, scored nearly every game in every grade.
Rounding out their family involvement is secretary Derek Raymond and son-in-law Jake El-Helou, who was the club’s web and social media manager.
Andrew Provest, head coach, played a few games alongside father, Tony Provest, in third grade while mother, Tracy Provest, took photos most grades, most games.
Fifth grade also featured some family action.
Ray Goulden played first base to Cameron Goulden’s second holding the fort infield for fifth grade.
Father-son combination of Bruce and Luke Hennessy, returning to baseball after 20 years on the sideline, and father-daughter Chris Keith and Amber Palmer were a regular feature on the diamond – with mother Melissa Keith on the committee.
This year more siblings joined Mariners than ever before.
Andrew Pearson and Stephen Pearson have played with Mariners for some years now.
Stephen was joined by Degan Beckelmans and Cheyanne Wenham and James and Antony Lee in third grade, while Andrew stayed in fourth Grade to expand his pitching experience.
Husbands and wives also played for the Mariners in 2020 with their children cheering from the sidelines.
It was rewarding to see Samantha Harbinson (canteen manager and junior vice-president) and Natalie Moore try the game their husbands Ben Quinney (assistant field keeper and committee member) and Matt Moore (committee member) love so much.
The club is excited to see their children in the diamond this summer.
Mariners’ juniors ‘come and try day’ will be held on Saturday, October 10 with 3-8 years t-ball from 9-10.30am and junior baseball for 7-14years from 11-12.30pm.
Junior t-ball and baseball are run every Friday after school during term four and term one starting October 23 – with no prior experience necessary.
There is also an opportunity to play liveball in Wollongong on Sunday for the older more experienced juniors.
This year a couple of the older juniors also played in the senior winter league in fifth grade.
There’s more information from vice-president (juniors) Samantha Harbinson, on the Shoalhaven Mariners website and Facebook page.