Illawarra baseballers on European tour
June 21, 2007
Section: Sport
FRANK BOOTH
A NUMBER of Illawarra representatives are part of the Australian Provincial Baseball team that is touring Europe.
The Illawarra is represented by three players " Simon Cooper (pitcher, Dapto Chiefs), Blake Handley (pitcher, Wests Cardinals) and Chase Richardson (outfielder, Wests Cardinals).
A number of coaches and officials also come from the region.
Head Coach Allan Parrott will lead the team as he has done on all five previous occasions.
Parrott has coached several Illawarra Clubs, including Bulli Pirates to their first premiership in 1992 and also the Illawarra Flame Major League Club in the inaugural 1994-5 season.
Parrott will be joined this tour by his coaching partner from the inaugural Illawarra Flame year, Dom D'Antonio.
These two coaches also headed the successful Country New South Wales team that took out this year's Australian Provincial Championships when held at Easter in Wollongong.
The team played a three-game series against the German National team in the cities of Saarlouis, Dortmund and Berlin over the weekend.
Following this the team travels to Prague, Czech Republic to play six games at the Prague Open tournament (June 26-30).
A hectic schedule then sees the team transfer to Antwerp, Belgium where the Belgium Open will be contested from July 4"8.
"Historically we have done very well over there, having won five of the eight European tournaments we have entered on previous tours," Parrot said.
The tour will conclude when the team visits some World War II battlefields including Dunkirk.
Coach Parrott points out the concept of the team and tour is to give opportunity and exposure for the "boys from the bush".
"The team is used to develop the game in regional and rural Australia, this years team has a number of players who have played in the College system in the USA or are about to go to College," Parrott said
"A number of players in this year's team have played in Germany and other European countries.
"Members of this team have represented Australia in under age teams at World Championships