Melbourne Uni got their centenary celebrations underway last week with a Heritage Match and A-grade / A-Res triple-header.
It was an incredible 30-degree bluebird day as more than twenty Melbourne Uni legends of yesteryear dusted off their cleats and trotted onto a pristine Ross Straw Field once more.
The day started with long-time club coach, Melbourne Uni, and Baseball Victoria Life Member Garry Bitmead throwing the ceremonial first pitch, just as he’d thrown tens of thousands of batting practice pitches over the years.
The game featured plenty of laughs as the “more mature” men and women of Melbourne Uni pitched, hit, and generally tried to avoid catastrophic injuries.
Highlights from the Heritage Match included:
· The attendance of Life Member and Melbourne University Sport Distinguished Service Award recipient Bill Saggers, who played with the club from 1957 to 1983.
· Life Member Richard King still launching rockets and that legendary splitty off the mound.
· Life Member and former President James Dann unreservedly roasting everybody on the loudspeaker.
Club President Megan Kelly said it was a wonderful day, bringing together all that is great about the club.
“Melbourne Uni Baseball is an incredible community and it was heartwarming to see so many of our club legends out here running around today. We’re really proud that we’re so closely connected with our alumni and they still feel connected enough to our club to come out here and put on such a great show,” she said.
In addition, the club wore special centenary jerseys on the day, which have been recreated based on one of the first club uniforms, and will be worn on special occasions throughout the season.
After the Heritage Match Melbourne Uni’s A-Reserves took on Heathmont, defeating them 14-3.
However, Heathmont spoiled the party in the A-Grade fixture, defeating Melbourne Uni 6-3.
Match of the Round is chosen in-advance each week and designed to provide coverage of the entire league across the season. It is produced with support from the MWBL’s communications and content partner, The Content Engine.
