CARINE Cats Baseball Club’s youngest co-chairpersons are determined to lift the pride and culture at the club in years to come.
Current players Luke Johns and Steven Tindale (both aged 33) were appointed as co-chairpersons in May – the youngest in the club’s 37-year history – and have been working with City of Stirling councillor Andrew Guilfoyle to improve facilities including funding a new 7.5m back net.
The pair has already arranged new merchandise and logos, social events, fundraising ideas, new sponsors, coaches and imports in preparation for the Baseball WA 2017-18 season, which starts on Sunday.
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READ NOWThe club has about 300 baseball players and 650 junior teeballers.
Johns, an Aranmore Catholic College physical education teacher, said he had been at the club for 10 years and wanted to facilitate positive attitudes at the club.
“It also feels very rewarding to be able to give back and make a change and build the club up from what we experienced 10 years ago and Steve for much longer when he played juniors here,” he said.
“(Pride and culture) probably wasn’t as high as it has been in the past, it has been a bit low over the last few years.
“We have been pretty lucky as a club; we always kind of had the junior numbers coming through but from juniors to seniors, we have seen a big drop off.”
Tindale, who works as an accounting partner, said the role was overwhelming and a bit “daunting”.
“I started here at teeball so I have been here for pretty much my whole life,” he said.
“From a social side, guys are getting involved on Thursday nights and we have functions coming up.
“But it is now retaining our juniors, getting the experience and when they become 16 years to 28, in 10 years time; that is when we become a real powerhouse.”
Carine Cats’ state league team plays Swan Districts Swans at NSP Charlie Hodder Baseball Field on October 8.
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