Pitcher Michael Vandermeer in action during Upwey Ferntree Gully’s first game of the season. 54304Picture: Greg Carrick
By Russell Bennett
THE first pitch was thrown in Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club’s 2010/11 season on Saturday.
The club invited Victorian Minister for Sport James Merlino to open the season following the Federal Government’s promise of $400,000 to the Australian Baseball League (ABL).
“I thought if the Federal Labor Government through the Minister for Sport, the honourable Kate Ellis, could kick in money to the ABL then why not try the State Minister for Sport James Merlino and get him to do the same for baseball in Victoria,” Upwey Ferntree Gully club secretary Denis Dalzotto said.
Mr Merlino was pencilled in to throw the first pitch but had to attend the AFL Grand Final replay instead.
Mr Dalzotto and his club applied to Mr Merlino for between $4000 and $5000 in funding to outfit and provide new equipment to its players.
“Although he was sympathetic to our needs he said that he was not able to fund us with that kind of money,” Mr Dalzotto said. “But what he did do for us was to put us on the right track for a shot at the Uniforms Grant. We took his advice, applied for the grant and were successful.”
“Now our little leaguers are in the same tops as the big guys.”
Upwey Ferntree Gully’s senior teams went down on the weekend despite their best efforts. They’ll be looking to improve throughout the rest of the season.
