Final v Western Australia - 15/1/11

An early morning text message from James confirmed he was going to start as pitcher in the final for New South Wales. This is an honour in one sense - strategic in another. Composure, calmness and aherence to the team and coaching plan is required - and expected. Darian Lindsay the pitching coach has been a tremendous influence on James in this way. Left handed pitchers can also change things for an opponent dominated by right handed batters, like WA's side.

Such news does not calm parents however. James has pitched first and highly successfully in State Cup Grand Finals, Baulkham Hills Club Grand Finals, Little League Grand Finals and for Australia against Canada. He was a good choice, but this did not settle our nerves any.

My text back to him was "Fantastic. Relax and enjoy it. Have fun and lead them to victory. Smile and be positive in your body language". Principals get good at covering their true feelings. Occupational hazard. James is pictured here warming up under the watchful eye of Coach Lindsay and sitting in the dugout pre game while his teammates warm up in the field. His anticipation is obvious.

The final (Team 1 - WA v Team 2 NSW) was played on their No. 1 field in hot and still conditions early - before the customary winds blew from the south west - ideal for the left handed bats over right field! In Perth it is brave to ever say it is 'still' because wind is not far away. Nor is the biting sun.

A crowd of at least five hundred had gathered for the event. Probably more. Being a Saturday, locals flocked to support their team. Faces were painted, pet dogs wore their colours, streamers, coloured paper, balloons were festooned over their area. Their team arrived like rock stars out of their coloured team bus, to resounding cheers of encouragement and anticipation. NSW had snuck in earlier under everyone's radar.

On our side, our only support was from Country NSW who took us temporarily under their wings. NSW can be as popular as a flood looter on this stage.

The starting line up remained what it was yesterday: Bailey Musulin (catcher - 2); Brad Simon (first base - 7); James Percival (second base - 1); Jordan Lindsay (short stop - 9); Daniel Myrmell (third base - 3); Adam Barbaro (right field - 4); Dean Frew (centrefield - 6) and Mackenzie Bohan (left field - 8). A red headed kid from Baulkham Hills - James McCallum) was the starting pitcher in the final (batting 5).

Our first innings finished like Usain Bolt - quick. They responded with a few hits placing batters in scoring positions but they were well contained by James who got out of there without scoreboard damage.

James threw four strike outs in this assignment, hitting the levels of the best pitchers in the competition. He threw magnificently really under intense scrutiny and pressure. With every hit - some quite fortunate to land over second base going back, over first base running back, in front of centrefield with the setting sun in his blinded eyes and near right field's outstretched but untriumphant glove - their swelling crowd roared in approval. The straws were mounting on the camel's back but the camel was drinking through them!

They skipped away to a two run lead after three innings, before a resurgent Jordan Lindsay hit us and stole us our first run. After three completed innings, it was 2-1 to WA. Then the magic was summonsed.

In the fourth innings the rot for them started when a regulation ground ball (hit at pace by Percival who again played a blinder under pressure) was missed, allowing us to hit the front. Myrmell then Barbaro hit triples before Dean Frew - who to this point had had a highly uncharacteristic wretched batting tournament - hit one of the biggest home runs for the championships over centre field. As cliched as it is, 'form is temporary; class is permanent'. He produced when it mattered.

James kept them to two runs after four innings and at 9-2 a mercy win (by ten after five innings) loomed.

Our bats continued to crack. Percival, Myrmell and Barbaro got to base. Runs flowed. Then a cracker.

Enter James McCallum. He scratched and scrambled having two strikes against him and two players on base. Then the bizarre. A small black and white pee wee bird landed on the diamond and would not fly off. The crowd willed it. The coach chased it. A light moment for the Perth faithful. Then BOOOOOM! James smashed the next pitch over centrefield fence for a HOME RUN! A key moment and a significant strike. This brought three runners in and a 13-2 lead.

The joy from our crowd for other boys' feats was very uplifting. Kisses and hugs rained for Bern (good sorts attract this sort of attention) while high fives, fist pumps and back slaps showered me. Understandable. This is how sporting parents and teams function at their best - and this had characterised the week. Parents were genuinely delighted for the players and parents of those who performed well. This was critical to this team's success.

With James relieved by Tomiya at the top of the fifth, the win had been set up. Our fielding was slick - even after the miserable luck early. Brad Simon led the team wonderfully from first base. Assertive and intimidating. His glares to the crowd after sly comments were gold. He is immense. He hit too. Musulin, Lindsay and Percival lifted today and showed great composure and skill in initiating and perpetuating runners on base.

So too did Mackenzie Bohan (pictured with James below) who finished the tournament as the best U/14 batter in the country. His average was .737 (hitting seven out of ten times on average. USA Major League bats may get .300!). Having played all his baseball with James at Baulkham Hills Baseball Club, there was much excitement with the week both boys and families spent together.

Dan Myrmell pitched the last innings and at 20-4, the game was done. His power has a stamp of true class.

Coach Harradine had again shown the crowd - and the boys - the etiquette of baseball by not stealing bases once we hit ten runs ahead. The score could have realistically been 30 runs from us. Parents looked amazed, but the win was all the more worthy by his deeds. Measured celebrations ensued, but even these were respectfully done - until he had the Gatorade tub tipped over his head! This though was well after the tributes and plaudits had been announced and gold medals distributed.

In the end it was a significant victory - announced, we were later to learn - at the Sydney Bluesox game which was on at the time at Blacktown Olympic Park, to loud cheers. NSW had not won this trophy for five years.

In his acceptance speech, Tim Harradine mentioned the keeness of the boys to play. He spoke of a number of the team lining up very early morning before he had left his quarters, looking to see who was in the team and willing their name onto the teamsheet. James would have been there first.

For James, learning about his ability to navigate the intimidating and produce in pressure moments are lifelong lessons - not only those from the realm of sport. He has grown physically this year but also as a more respectful, focused and stronger young man through this journey with the NSW state side. His respect for his coach and the ability to learn closely from him has guided him strongly in becoming a better player.

Ultimately, this is why you play.
In the end, at the closing ceremony he even won some sort of raffle for a cap (one per team). It was that sort of day.


James ended the tournament with a batting average of .500 (28 at bats; 15 runs, 14 hits -including one double, two triples and a home run; 15 RBI's and 23 total bases). He was one of eight who made no errors in the field and in his pitching he had an Earned Run Average (ERA) of 3.23 (pitching 8.2 innings v QLD and WA in the final; 10 strike outs; NO walks and throwing to 42 batters and giving up 7 runs - 4 of which were earned runs). It was a deserved success from a young man whose drive and commitment has triumphed.