Baulkham Hills Baseball Club

Founded in 1970

Baulkham Hills Baseball Club competes in NSW State league, the highest competition in NSW since the late 70’s winning multiple Club Championships and 1st Grade titles – winning our first titles in 1982.

As one of the oldest Sydney Clubs still playing in this elite competition we produced multiple International, National and State representatives in both Senior and Junior competitions dating all the way back to Bob Cassel playing in the NSW Claxton Shield team in 1973.

In 2018 the Club has 20 plus teams and over 250 players competing in State, Masters, Womens and Junior competitions – all of these at the highest levels with over 200 players across the entire Club.

We run and support competitions for disadvantaged kids in the Koala and Home Run programs that allow special needs adults and kids to play baseball with us. 

The following 9 Clubs compete in the 2018/19 State League Competition

*Table results as of 2017/18 season - data from BNSW Wiki site and State League results.

• ^ - signifies current champion/premier
• # - signifies most championships/premierships by an active club

Non-active Clubs most wins - Winter Competition (Before 1974)

- 1st Grade: 17 (Waverely & Petersham)
- 2nd Grade: 19 (Petersham)
- 3rd Grade: 16 (Petersham)

* Macarthur Colts merged with Auburn Orioles in 2010/11. Prior to the merger Macarthur had one (1) 1st Grade title and one (1) 3rd Grade title. Auburn won multiple Club Championships and Grade titles throughout their time in the competition.

The NSW Baseball Association (the precursor to Baseball NSW) was first established in 1894. But it was not until 1899 that what is now known as the NSW Major League was played, with Redfern as the inaugural winners. The league expanded in 1901 to include a second grade, with clubs fielding teams in both. Paddington won the premiership for both grades that year, a feat which has been achieved a total of 27 times over the 107 seasons of Second Grade played.

The League expanded again in 1911 to three grades. Though First and Second Grades have both been contested continuously since their respective introductions, Third Grade initially only lasted until the 1915 season. It was reintroduced for the 1918 and continued through to 1941. The league expanded to three grades once more in 1944, and with the exception of the following year has continued as such since.

1973 was the final year that the League played during the winter months, as the Australian Baseball Federation decided to make baseball a summer sport. The move was designed to allow more favourable weather conditions for spectators and players alike, and to bring it in line with baseball in the United States. This saw the creation of the Sydney Winter League in 1974, and the first summer season of the NSW Major League played in 1974-75.

A Club Championship was introduced for the 1980-81 season, which was used to determine the best performing club over the three grades. Auburn was the first club to win the Championship, winning nine times in the first twelve seasons.

An Under 18s competition was incorporated into the League for the 1985-86 season, with Baulkham Hills the inaugural winners.

The First 1ST Grade Premiership 1989-90

FIRSTGRADE REPORT

It’s the bottom half of the ninth innings as I walk to third base. For the third year in a row, we’re in the grand final, and behind. The opposition is different, and we trail by two compared to last years three runs, but other than that, the situation is depressingly familiar. At least the top of the lineup is due to bat, but it was exactly the same last year. The guys have played well all year, they deserve this win, but have been too eager in the batting box. They’re swinging at bad pitchers, not working the pitcher. I took the first strike off them in the sixth innings and we’ve managed to score 3 runs, but we still trail 3 to 5, our fielding has been superb, only our batting has let us down.

“llama” does what all good lead-off batters should, gets on base. North Shore’s pitcher is tiring, he has been since the seventh, if we had made him work more in the earlier innings, we may have had a relief in by now, he would have been right handed, a lot easier to hit than this off-speed lefty. It doesn’t matter now, he’s only 3 outs away for his win, and I doubt even slim would be able to drag him off the mound.

Gary’s batting second. He and “Shippo” are the best pivots in the state, but they haven't had much work tonight, its no use stealing Wayne, if he doesn’t’ make it, we’re killed the inning. “Walesy” bats away. He hits a drive to shortstop who fumbles, but manages to make the out on Wayne at second. Harvey’s not happy in the least, and I run out to second, not to argue with the umpire, but to get Wayne out of there. If someone is going to be sent off, it’s going to be me. Players are more important on the field than coaches.

Matty’s batting third. It was his home run against us last year that sealed the game for Canterbury. I’m glad to have him playing with us. He hit three home runs against Belmont that still haven’t landed. He’s just won the batting trophy for the season. Lofts is not going to give him anything down the middle, so he tries for the corners and misses. Matty takes it to a 3 and 0 count before a rush of blood makes him swing at a high pitch. He misses. The next pitch is wide and he gets his walk.

Its one out, and runners at first and second. And all of a sudden, I know we’ve got a chance. I look over at Ken Douglass in the first base coach’s box. The guys want so much to win this one for him. He has been the driving force behind this club for so long, he deserves this pennant. And I feel we’re going to do it.

Brian Murphy is cleanup. He came on to relieve Mark Jennings in the sixth. Mark pitched well. And it was a drive only inches inside third base that gave North Shore the lead. Brian has been batting well in National League, but seems to have a problem adjusting to the speed of the pitchers here. He has pitched brilliantly in relief however, with 4 scoreless innings against North Shore in a vital game that gave us the Minor Premiership, another 4 scoreless innings against Cronulla that put us into this game, and 3 and a bit in this one. Also without a run scored. But his batting worries me. He’s struck out twice earlier on pitches that were high. He’s been over-anxious. I hope the pitching stint has calmed him down.

BALL 1.           I’m thinking…I would like to have Neil at bat now. He’s had two hits already in the game; Steve Wilson’s had one. But the game will be won or lost before they get to bat.

STRIKE 1.       That’s the strike he had to leave. It was low, the sort of pitch that gets grounded into a double play. We don’t need that.

BALL 2.           OK, the count is 2 and 1, a good hitting situation. I tell Brian to hit “through the ball”, that is drive it. Keshock crunched a ball in the fifth, but only got it to the warning track. The air is moist, it’s cold, no one is going to hit a home run tonight.

The next pitch is a belt high fastball on the outside half of the plate. Brian lifts a towering shot to right center. I hold Gary at second until I’m sure that center field is not going to catch it. And then call him on. He’s going to score. Matty is my next problem. If the ball is picked up by the center fielder, Matty’s going home. If not, he stays at three. That brings up Russell….it’s cleared the fence! It’s a HOME RUN!        GAME!!!

My first feeling is not elation. It’s relief. This team has tried so hard for three years to win this game, and we’ve finally done it. The presentation is made (Lance and Bob grab the winners cheque very quickly) and the celebrations begin. Even K.D. can’t escape a beer soaking. It’s a great feeling. I said to the team before the game, “This will be a night that you will remember for the rest of your lives” I know they will now.

To Jenny Haddan, my thanks Jen, this was for you too. Thanks also to Lance Orchard, Bob Handel, the committee, and our supporters. I would also like to thank all the players that played during this trying year. Guys, your time will come….soon.

I would also like to congratulate Wayne Finney and his team for their Premiership win as well, and offer commiseration’s to Simon Lewer and the seconds who came so close. To finish the year with the Club Championship, First and Third Grade Premierships, Runners-up in Second Grade and Quarter Finalists in Under 18s is a tremendous achievement. It’s a season we will all remember.

Coach Peter Wilkinson

"How Baulkham Hills Baseball Club Started”

Arthur Bower, George Horwood and myself each had a son playing with Parramatta City Baseball Club. We were very concerned that this club was deteriorating beyond recovery and that a bold new approach was the order of the day. George said to me that the only solution was the winding up of Parramatta City Club and form a baseball division within the Baulkham Hills Sporting Club whilst also taking in some other local baseball clubs.

Whilst Arthur also agreed we knew delicate negotiations would have to be carried out between current players, officials of the Wolves Baseball Club and Eagles Little League and the Baulkham Hills Sporting Club Management Committee. Following representations to Baulkham Hills Sporting Club with excellent support from their Chairman John Thompson, we were given the green light to form the Baseball Division. The negotiations with Wolves and Eagles took a little time but eventually they agreed to join the proposal.

About this time we were very fortunate to come in contact with John (Poppa) Hollander, a dedicated worker and committeeman of the NSW Baseball Association. Although we were in very poor shape, short of players, no home ground, very limited finances, no uniforms etc John could sense our enthusiasm and determination to succeed. He agreed to become our coach and guide.

To raise funds "200 clubs", bottle drives etc were organised. In this area Arthur Bower had no peer and his untiring efforts kept us solvent. Also his contact with the "rag trade" in Surry Hills enabled us to obtain uniforms at a good price. So the stage was set for our first year and although we did not have a home ground and some players had to double up we were on our way. 

After battling on for a couple of years the club started to prosper and develop into the magnificent club it is today. This development was assisted by the Baulkham Hills Shire Council in allocating the club the new ground at Northmead as our home ground. Both George Horwood and myself are very gratified to see how well the club has developed and performed both at Senior and Junior level and if Arthur Bower was alive today he would be delighted to share this gratification.

Albert White

April 2000.

• Richard Ogden,
• Allan White,
• John (Poppa) Hollander,
• Brian Camarsh,
• Joe Douglas ,
• Greg Wicks
• Keith Austin,
• Steve Sonter,
• Richard Horwood.

“D” PENNANT NO. 2 REPORT

Besides being the first ever team to won a senior pennant surely this team must be the most remarkable ever yet fielded by the Baulkham Hills Club. Firstly let me introduce the players.

Fred Argy, Jeff Landfried, Brett Watson, Ian Williams, Bruce Ryan, Frank Moore, Dean Watson, David Chalmers, Keith Brian, Stuart Hanna, Scott Watson, Cliff Watson

Just a few random thoughts in relation to my opening statement that this was a remarkable one.

Can you imagine a team winning a Pennant with a fourteen year old pitching to a first time catcher?

Have we ever fielded a team with four members of one family? Of the twelve players originally selected, six had never played baseball before! Of the other six three were up from last years under fifteens. This meant only three players had senior experience.

My thanks to Sadie Chalmers for her willing help with the score book, most valuable and appreciated. This team will remain in my memory as a baseball highlight. I was fortunately part of it and I think the club and players for allowing me this pleasure.

Cliff Watson. Coach