NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023 -  Kia Ora members and welcome to Spring.

Month #9, we have made it through winter, welcomed in spring and    looking forward to Summer.

August ended with a devastating week for Mt Albert Ramblers Softball Club, its members and of course families of Ramblers with the passing of two Life members. Our thoughts are with the families at this very sad time.

Mt Albert Ramblers Annual General Meeting was postponed due to the passing of Brian Roberts the week of the scheduled meeting. The meeting will be rescheduled later this month with all being notified once date is determined.

Player registrations for the up coming season are slowly being received and collated into teams.

The season “hits” off on Saturday September 2nd with the NFS Showcase, featuring many of the Clubs players.

 50 CLUB  - The 50 Club's winners for August were:

Winners were very spread around this month. Congratulations to the following.

  Dion Nukunuku, Tommy Vodanovich, Bobbie King,  Grant Riley, Noel Callaghan, Bevan Hunt, Deidre Opie, Calvin Worthington, Craig Joll, Ron Goodin, Brett McKenzie, Eden Tribe, Dave McIver, John Dean, Allan Cooke and Jordan Twigden.

With 2 each for Janette McLeod and Val Davis.

Janette McLeod leads the race for the most meat packs won this year, with 8 meat packs won and collected.

We have 2 numbers still available for the months of September through to December, being  31 + 37 

If you would like to be part of the “50 Club” please contact Club Administrator - ramblerssoftball@xtra.co.nz.

For just $20 per month you could be in the weekly Friday night draw for 5 meat packs.

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The Clubs AGM that was set for Sunday August  27th 2023 at 11am, was postpned due to the passing of a Life Member.

New date is to be set and will be advertised.  Watch this space.

Why not give some thought to putting your name forward for one of the positions on the Executive Committee.

Nomination forms are available on the Ramblers website, at the Club Bar or by contacting the Administrator.

YOU and YOUR IDEAS ARE NEEDED and WELCOMED.

Meetings held by ZOOM so no need to leave the comfort of your home.

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Auckland Softball Association organised Coaches Clinics, has one month to run. This is to be held at Ramblers Clubrooms on Sunday September 17th from 6.30pm - 8.30pm.

Consider attending.

New Coach? Rep Coach? Mom Coach? Dad Coach?

Auckland Softball is excited to arrange and present the monthly coaches clinic for ALL COACHING LEVELS. This is an opportunity to ask questions, learn, and interact with coaches from all over Tāmaki Makaurau!

When: 6:30pm-8:30pm

Sep 17

Where: Warren Freer Club Room

If you plan on attending please register below:

https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/235524

If you have any questions please reach out to pitching@softballauckland.org.nz

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Club Team Trainings - will be advised once Management have been appointed to teams and training schedules are compiled.

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CLUB PLAYING FEES - have now been set.

Premier, Reserves and Open Grades - $210

U18 + U19 - $150

Juniors U11 to U17 - $85

T-ball + Rookie Softball  $20

Invoices will be sent with due date.

Deepest sympathy is extended firstly to the family and friends of Brian Roberts, who passed away on August 25th 2023.  Brian was elected to the Life Membership of Ramblers Softball Club in 1983, after being a very active member of the Club.

Brian is survived by his wife Marion, who is also a life Member of the club along with son Lance, a current Committee member who is stepping down at the AGM.  Son Kelvin and daughter Kaylene Tribe, along with their children are also very involved in Club activities.

On August 31st 2023, sadly we had to say farewell to a second Life Member in the form of a very refined lady, Colleen Callaghan. Colleen was elected to the Life Membership of the Club in 2007, where she joined her husband Noel, who has been a Life Member since 1987. Daughter Megan was awarded Life Membership in 2021. 

Colleen is also survived by her daughter, Deanna, who is the current Vice-President and Chairperson of the Club. Colleens grandchildren are all involved on the softball diamond.

Colleen was also a Life Member of Auckland Softball Association, so another well respected personality has left the softball fraternity in tears.

Thanks to both the Roberts and Callaghan families for sharing your Patriarch and Matriarch with us all. Our thoughts are with you all at this sad time in your families lives.

                                               BLAST FROM THE PAST

         How many of these players can you name, when and where was it taken?

                                         How many were Ramblers players?

                                SPOTLIGHT ON …………………………………MAXIMUS RUSSELL

September sees another youngster of the Club excelling on the softball diamond.

Maximus, who we will refer to as Max for this report, was born in Auckland and attends St Peters College.

His playing position is primarily shortstop, although can also move over to second base with equal ability.

Max stands at 6ft 2inches, bats right-handed as well as throws with his right hand.

Max commenced playing softball for Ramblers, for which has been the only club he has played for.

He also plays for Central Baseball.

Max is currently a student who likes to spend time with his family and hang out with friends.

His game philosophy is to play hard and trains twice a day.

Max’s sporting achievements to date are NZ Under 19 softball team as well as New Zealand Under 18 baseball team.

He also has other sporting interests in boxing, weights, surfing and golf. A truly sporting individual.

Max’s favourite food is Asian, with rap as his favourite music genre.

When asked what country he would like to visit, his choice was Greece, however he will be travelling to Mexico in November to attend the Youth World Cup with the Junior Black Sox team, so while not Greece will still be a great adventure for him.

Max has named both Tiger Woods and The Rock as his role models in life, great inspirations for a young man with a bright future on the sporting arena. 

 Congratulations to our Vice-President and Chairperson, Deanna Callaghan and her fiance, Bobbie King on their recent engagement whilst holidaying in Fiji. Great news to receive. Wishing you both all the best for the future.

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Congratulations to Katrina Nukunuku and Maddix Rice on being named Captains of two of the NFS Showcase teams.  Good skills to you and your teams.

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Congratulations to Cole Evans on being named MVP at the ISC tournament last month.

2023/2024 REGISTRATIONS

Registrations for all grades are now open.

Please register as soon as possible so that teams can be entered into the competitions.

Registrations link  - https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/237420

*******************************************************************************COACHES AND MANAGERS    

     To date these are the Coaches and Managers for the 023/24 season.

     Under 8     Deanna Callaghan

     Under 10   Simon Mahoney

     Under 10   Allan Cooke

     Under 11   Jono Cathersides

     Under 12   Don Makea         - Manager Liz Makea-Hart

    Under 15 Girls      TBC                  - Manager Anna Lawson

    Under 15 Boys  Jade Jackson  - Manager Andi Griffiths

    Under 15 Boys  Andrew Rattenbury    -  Manager Julia Williams

    Under 17 Boys  Fergus McAlpine 

                                Robert Reinsfield

     Reserve Men    Ricky Earley

     Premier Women  Katrina Nukunuku          - Manager  Debs White

                                   Bevan Hunt

                                   Joe Mouton

     Premier Men -  Senior players

     Div 1 Men    Paul Rice                  - Manager Jackson Tribe

     Justice League   Saane Tauri        -Asst Manager  Damian Walker

     Cruisers  Andi Griffiths                 - Manager Jade Jackson

  WANTED 

     Coaches and Managers for 2 x Under 6 teams

                                               Under 13 girls

                                                Under 13 Boys

                                                Under 19 Boys

                                                Reserve Women

   WANTED

    Scorers for all grades.

If you are available and wish to be considered for a Coaches, Managers, Scorers role, please email the Club on ramblerssoftball@xtra.co.nz  to voice your interest.

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WANTED  - Photos from the Past of Ramblers teams and/or players, to be used in the BLAST FROM THE PAST section.

 If you have any please email to ramblerssoftball@xtra.co.nz

*****************************************************************************************fFUNDRAISING VENTURES  

Watch for the fundraising ventures for our own club members who are to represent their Country, Province and families on the International scene in the near future.

September 23rd - Horse Racing night for Jessie Jackson and Max Russell. Watch for details on Facebook.

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THE NFS SHOWCASE 2023

The NFS Showcase is back this season with some exciting changes and registrations are now OPEN! This year there will not only be a men's competition but also a women's competition.

The Showcase will run from Saturday 2nd September over 4 weeks all played at Rosedale  Park.. The teams will be selected from a draft to be hed at Warren Freer Friday September 1st at 6pm.

. Throughout the competition, players will be able to gain both individual and team points based on performance.

SNZ Under15 girls are preparing for their campaign to Japan in October, in which Jessie Jackson is a member.

The Junior Black Sox are in preparation for their campaign to Mexico later in the year, in which Maximus Russell is representing.

Further details on these World Cups will be uploaded in future newsletters.

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