Hello and welcome to the grand final edition of Rounding Third. It has been a few weeks since Line Drive has run an eye over what has been happening down at the Ranch but boy what a few weeks it has been. The grand finals have been run and won. What a day of baseball was had by all. Three very competitive, high quality games of baseball were watched by a healthy crowd down at the Ranch over the weekend. From what this scribe witnessed and took part in, all enjoyed themselves very much. A big shout out goes to the volunteers at Wangaratta Rangers Baseball Club who marked the diamonds, manned the kiosk, raked the diamonds and made sure everything ran smoothly for all during the day. A big thank you to the umpires who traveled up from Melbourne to officiate the games. We all hope you enjoyed your day. Now what else has been going on? Keep reading and maybe one of your favorites might be mentioned.

     A beautiful North Eastern Victoria day greeted all the clubs for the finals of the 2017 North Eastern Baseball Association. The Rangers men and women had brought the ground up to look a treat and mother nature shined down on Targoora Park. In the early game, which helped kick the dew off the ground, Rangers Orange overcame a dogged Wodonga Warriors Maroon by a run. The final score was 8 to 7.   Brendon “Photograph” French took the honors of best on ground with a sterling performance on the mound and with the ball. Well done Frenchy. A special mention has to go out to first year manager Jamie the “Gaffer” Samuels. The Gaffer took on an enormous job of looking after and rotating through a squad of sixteen players. It is never easy being the boss and especially even more when you have changing availability from week to week. Congratulations and well done on all your efforts from all of us at Wangaratta Rangers Baseball Club.

     In game two of the day, Bears Gold took on Porepunkah Panthers. In a cracking start to the game Porepunkah took an early lead to get a run on the board in the top of the first. Bears Gold were up to the challenge and hit back scoring a couple of their own. A couple of short innings kept the game tight before the experienced Punkah line slowly began get on top. Banksy put on a clinic on the mound while hitting up a storm and punkah cult hero (well with the peanut gallery sitting on the first base line) Jimmy Hughes hit a long ball to consolidate the lead. In the end Porepunkah claimed the win by a score of 11 to 3. Congratulations to Porepunkah Panthers.

     A good crowd stuck around to watch the North Eastern Baseball Association A grade final between Bears Green and Wodonga Warriors White at Targooora Park. Warriors White have certainly been the form team of the past month, pushing Rangers Black a few weeks back then turning the tables back on Black last week after a stellar performance on the mound by wily veteran Ash “Metal” Meyers. Bears Green sent Brendan “Boo” Simmons to the mound and from the start, he was in control. Simmons was doing it all. He gave Bears Green the early lead with a three run shot over right centre fence. Warriors fought back scoring a couple of runs themselves and the crowd were into an entertaining contest. Home runs to Mark Taylor and Steve Coonan helped stretch bears lead and with Simmons in complete control on the mound, the game was Bears Green with a score of 9-3. Simmons was awarded the MVP with a magnificent display on the mound and collected multiple hits to be the player with the most impact upon the game. In all, nine innings of baseball was played in just under two hours and seven runs came from the three home runs. The game was played in great spirit and many commented on the overall quality of the baseball played throughout the day. Congratulations to Bears Green. North Eastern baseball Association 2017 A grade premiers.

     It was a great initiative by the North Eastern baseball Association to resurrect the league presentation night. From all reports those who went certainly did enjoy themselves. More about that soon. Anyway Rangers own rubberarm Nathan “FOMO” Pool took out the A grade award MVP for the 2017 season. A big congratulations to Pooly! When there is a game that needed to be thrown or won, Pool pitched his heart out on the mound each and every time. Now it has to be mentioned that Pool and good mate Rob “Butts” Seymour certainly did enjoy themselves arriving home in the wee hours of Saturday morning. However Cab driver Tony “Spinner” Smith dobbed the boys in for leaving behind evidence of their trip home. This being the baseball caps and the trophy. Another fine for the trip away tin boys.

     A big pat on the back goes out to wily veterans of Rangers Orange Brendon “Photograph” French and Jason “Sunscreen” Jonker who shared the 2017 C grade Most Valuable Player award for the North Eastern Baseball Association. It has been a big year for French . Playing his 300th and also getting to share the diamond each weekend with with his son Damien “Rookie” French. Jonker has played every game once again and just loves to play each week. On behalf of Wangaratta Rangers congratulations on the 2017 season men.

     The Rangers Black season came to an end at the hand of a very good Wodonga Warriors on a wet Sunday at Springdale Heights. Coach Bryan “Moose” Wilson has lead the Rangers Black squad with skill and enthusiasm all year. He has challenged the boys and girls to get better and give it their all at training and on the diamond. His work with the juniors between games during the season does not go unnoticed. His loyalty and enthusiasm with other members of the association has been impressive. Great job on the season Moose.

The squad get a quaddie.

     Finally it happened, Nathan “Fomo” Pool, Shaun “Flashback” O’Neil, Rob “Butts” Seymour and Cam “the Soak” Scott jagged a quaddie and boy they were chuffed! Lauren ‘Mrs Soak’ Scott also had input, choosing some nags along the way too. A nice little collect for the end of season kitty. Scott “Jenko” Jenkins was not so much pleased. When asked why was he not in on the quaddie The Soak replied “you were too busy playing a game on your phone”. Jenko just agreed with that. Mind you a ten per cent share of $1800 is not one to really be upset about missing.

     Sean “Flashback” O’Neil has been a revelation for this column this year. From his antics on the diamond and off it, Flashback has said many times to this scribe “Surely there is someone else to write about?” Well O’Neil you have just been a source of stories all year. This was again the case on Saturday. A few of the Rangers men and women decided to get together for a long lunch and a bit of punting. When it became time to change the scenery for dinner Flashback was all in for that. But was he? After he sent the rest of the party ahead he said he was just going to have a bit of a punt. He looked at his surroundings and did the old “phantom”. Trick is O’Neil knows multiple exits of where he was at and snuck out the door and home. Not a bad move really O’Neil. When questioned about it Sunday Flashback just lamented… “I wasted money on that Kebab” Enough said Flashback. Enough Said.

    As the headline suggests Nambrok is no more. Remaining Band mates Kyle “Thrillmore” Gilmore and Kelsey “Dropsy” Burder have left Nambrok and reunited with their previous band mate Brad “Undies” Murdoch just north of the border in Albury. Dropsy assures this writer that this is only a temporary move and told all his avid fans out there to not stress too much as they will soon be back in Wangaratta. In the mean time check out Burders new wheels. He says they can go real fast. Always stylish Dropsy.

     Iron Chef Tetsu Kamiyama did not quite live up to the name over the past week. Last Sunday he turned up sporting a rather black eye. Jason “Sunscreen” Jonker and Cam “The Soak” Scott asked Tets how did this black eye occur? Here is Tetsu’s long story. “Monday ride home fell off. Left bike and walked home”. Big black eye from the fall. On Tuesday Tetsu decided to go get his bike. It was not there. Lucky for him it had been handed into the local Police station where the owner was reunited with his bike.

     Well the tin has been opened. Daniel “The Griff” Griffin let those who are looking to go on the end of season Ranger Ramble VI Bendigo Version 3.0 edition that the accounts are looking rather healthy. He has not told anyone what the final figure is, but if anyone who has been in possession of the tin at any point late in the season will know that it was rather heavy. Maybe for a final bit of a raffle  all could have a guess on how much is in the tin and receive a prize for the correct guess. Like a free lunch on the tins behalf? Anyway all will be revealed in how much is in the tin on October 20th 2017.

     There has been a great many of players who have come from near and far to represent Wangaratta this season. Each week the Hume crew of Leah and Lauren Dinsdale, Daniel Griffin, Robyn “RPG” Percy Goulding come up from Melbourne most weeks. Not to  mention the Red runners Aaron “Azza” Parker and Tetsu Kamiyayma. Jason Jonker drives the southbound each week and don’t forget Cam “the Soak” Scott who leaves Yarrawonga for a feed and laugh in Wangaratta. As mentioned in a previous edition many travel to play for the club and they keep coming back. Hope to see you all again next year in the Orange and Black of Wangaratta Baseball Club.

     While having a chat to Kevin “The Legend” Pool he was saying that there has been some interest in getting softball going again over the summer time. It has been some time since softball has graced the diamonds of Targoora Park and now is the time to change all that, and look for expressions of interest in playing once again. It would fantastic if there are like minded readers of Rounding Third who are interested in playing Softball in the Albury Softball Association. For those who are interested get in contact with the club via email wangarattarangers@hotmail.com

     Is it safe to talk about this now? Yes of course it is. CODS masters baseball will be back in March 2017. Already many have been canvassing the idea of having two teams. One for 35+ and another for the 45+ competition. If you are keen head over the Cods Masters Baseball at https://www.facebook.com/Codsmastersbaseball/ and look for upcoming information.

Now finally to the Club stuff

Wow, that is a big edition. Once again congratulations to all involved in the North Eastern Baseball association and a big thank you if you have made it this far through the read. Remember to like and share and spread the good word about baseball in the North East of Victoria. Look for a presentation edition coming up in the next few months.

Finally

Go Rangers!!!!