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Post by JRA Qld2 on Aug 12, 2009 20:52:35 GMT 10
Congrats to Jack on the home-run. Best of luck to that gangly lefty on the mound tomorrow
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Post by westy on Aug 13, 2009 0:09:43 GMT 10
Westy's Waffle Day 3
Wednesday 12 August
Our accommodation is 3.5 star hotel twin share accommodation. We used this opportunity to have players room with someone outside their region to give greater familiarity within the team. The hotel is very clean and for many of the players the first time they have had the responsibility and independence of their own hotel room.
Wake up calls were 7.30am and buffet breakfast at 8.00am. Assorted selection of Asian, Continental and Cooked. On bus at 9.00am. The morning tour was to the Temple of Heaven which provided the perfect starting point of our tour of Beijing. The temple symbol is our uniform emblem!
We had our first chance to barter with the various stall owners for souvenirs. The kids favorite was the Chinese style hackey sack for $1Aus. Next stop was the silk factory where we went through the silk worm process. The supporters discovered 80 cent beers!
Lunch was in a Beijing restaurant for some more Chinese food. The players have had little issue with the local cuisine and need to be congratulated. However, I am not the greatest advocate of Tofu!
Game time…..The players were blown away to realise that the Olympic Softball Stadium was to be the venue for their games. In front of a noisy local crowd the team registered their first win (4-2) on Chinese soil. See game report! Credit due to all the players who performed so strongly having only been in the country less than 24 hrs after such a long travel period.
We went back to the hotel showered and Coach Brockie introduced the players to the traditional Kangaroo Court. Daniel Butcher was fortunate enough to be winner……. having to wear a tiara!
The boys went to bed knowing that all future games will be a much tougher assignment. When we left the Olympic Park the Chinese team were still running laps.
Players in rooms 9.30pm.
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Post by westy on Aug 13, 2009 20:05:58 GMT 10
Game Report Cards
Winning Team: Liu-Liqiao
Team 1 2 3 4 5 HitsRunsErrors V B QLD 0 0 0 2 0 4 2 4 H Liu-Liao 0 1 2 1 X 3 4 2
Game Summary: • Nick Boys single in 3rd innings • Griffin Blaskovich single in 3rd • Alex Taylor doubled in the 4th • Loaded bases in the 4th. Jack Raverty pinch hitter error 8 scored 2 runs. • Corey Roulent singles in 5th • Liu –Liq pitcher (70mph) completed the game with 105 pitches. • Our three pitchers walked 13 batters! • Team worked hard in tough situation.
Double header tomorrow. Alex White and Jack Raverty are respective starting pitchers.
Date: 13.08.09
Start time: 3.00pm
End time: 4.30pm
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Post by 44 on Aug 13, 2009 20:31:21 GMT 10
Good luck to both Jacko and Alex on the mound and all the boys in tomorrows Double Header games.
Just wondering if Coach Jared will have to wear the Tiara at some point?
It sounds like the BQ team is very competitive and playing well.
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Post by westy on Aug 14, 2009 0:08:46 GMT 10
Thursday 13 August
On the bus at 9.00am…our first stop was the Summer Palace which was not a Palace at all. Rather, a stunning complex of pavilions and temples built around a cooling lake. We finished our visit with a dragon boat ride across the lake.
Next stop was the Pearl Factory. The UM’s (Unaccomplanied Minors) shopped well to keep their mums happy. We had lunch upstairs in a plush Chinese Restaurant. The dishes were again different and for the first time no tofu!
Game time 3pm at the Olympic Stadium. See game report! Despite the narrow loss the team is very up beat. Brandon Michie took up Brockie’s foot race challenge and got the win on the coach!
Note to myself… when brushing teeth do not rinse with tap water as stated in our team handbook I wrote!!!!!! Thankfully, the dugouts had a toilet and dressing room adjoining! Took tablets and all seems to be OK! Only casualty is me!
We bused it back to the hotel, showered had team meeting and kangaroo court. Dinner was MacDonald’s. I actually missed Chinese food! We took the players out for a night walk down the main street to grab dessert. The night temperature was still over 30 degrees!
Lights out 9.30pm!
PS. Thankfully the players are giving us plenty of material to keep them wearing the Tiara.
Yes.. we are competitive the locals are somewhat shocked!
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Post by mavrav on Aug 14, 2009 2:43:53 GMT 10
Westy , I hope you are feeling better after your tap water incident... I am assuming that it was well documented at KAngaroo Court today... Who is wearing the tiara Friday ?? Thanks for the updates , makes us feel as if we are there.
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stlc
Tee Baller
Posts: 2
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Post by stlc on Aug 14, 2009 15:14:54 GMT 10
Great work boys looks like you are having a great time from the photos. It makes us all wish we were there. Westy keep those updates coming its great to here what is going on, and yes who is wearing the Tiara?
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brock
Tee Baller
Posts: 4
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Post by brock on Aug 14, 2009 20:00:32 GMT 10
The tiara was a tie for today. Alex White and Alex Taylor both had to wear one today. Will keep you posted on who wears it tomorrow...........
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Post by westy on Aug 14, 2009 20:31:46 GMT 10
Game Report Cards
Winning Team: BQ Game 3.
Team 1 2 3 4 HitsRunsErrors V B QLD 0 1 8 7-13-16-6 H Zang 3 0 0 0 -2-3-1
Game Summary: • 36 degrees, smog and Qld bats were on fire to record second win! • Jack Raverty dingles in 1st innings. • Nick Boys line drive to 8 error to score in the park in 2nd innings. • Luke O’Malley singled in 2nd innings. • In the third singles to: Jack Raverty, Daniel Simpson, Nic Boys, Scott Cronan, Luke O’Malley, Lachlan Bradley and Alex Taylor. • In the fourth singles to Justin Corbett, Alex Taylor and and off the fence double to Daniel Simpson. • Jack Raverty pitched complete for a win with 68 pitches…8 strike outs.
Date: 14.08.09
Start time: 1.30pm
End time: 3.00pm
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Post by westy on Aug 14, 2009 20:52:22 GMT 10
Game Report Cards
Winning Team: Dacheng Game 4.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 HitsRunsErrors V B QLD 0 0 0 0 3- 6-3-5 H Dacheng 3 1 3 2 X-9-9-0
Game Summary: • Second game of double header • This team are Beijing Champions and National Runners Up. Something we didn’t know until we saw them! • Daniel Butcher triples in 1st innings. • Alex White singles in 3rd innings. • Alex Taylor single in 5th innings. • Daniel Butcher tripled in 5th innings • Brandon Michie singled in 5th innings. • Pitchers Alex White and Branden Mitchie went well. • Too many errors. • Boys have had a demanding schedule. Having a great time.
Date: 14.08.09
Start time: 3.30pm
End time: 5.10pm
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Post by a rod on Aug 14, 2009 20:58:29 GMT 10
only you westy would use tap water after writing the book on what to do and what not to do. hope you feel better old man.
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Post by 44 on Aug 15, 2009 0:01:29 GMT 10
Well done BQ LL team for the 2nd win !!!
Congrats to all the boys and Coach Brock and Jaz and Westy for a fabulous showing of BQ LL so far....
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Post by westy on Aug 15, 2009 1:54:08 GMT 10
Friday 14th August
The accommodation is excellent. Mums be reassured that the players rooms are cleaned daily with fresh towels and beds made. I will be honest and say that boys will be boys when it comes to rooms! However, untidiness of rooms is not accepted and penalties given. The odd curfew penalty has also been issued, however in general the players have been good. This is all part of learning on their first team tour.
The streetscape around the hotel is diverse, with a shanty market on one side and a modern high school complete with artificial football field and running track on the other side. The traffic outside is a mix of push bikes and cars constantly riding their horns. This is par for the course in Beijing and creates a wonderful cultural backdrop and a lasting memory for players and supporters.
Up until today the air has been fairly clear. Today we have heavy smog and temperature above 36 degrees. Great day for a double header! On the bus at 8.30am.
We went to the famous Silk Alley looking for fake brand clothing. Ben our tour guide briefed the players and supporter regarding pricing of good and what to pay. I.e. $20-25 Nike shocks, $10 branded shirts, $4 watches, etc. The gear stand out barging boys were Alex Taylor, Mitch Stanbrook and Scott Cronan. We had lunch at the Alley in a wonderful buffet style restaurant with Chinese and conventional cuisine.
The players have had a demanding schedule and credit due to the squad in the manner and enthusiasm they have fronted up to their games. I for one, could have slept in the dugout. I am not making excuses as we do not accept them off our players, but it must effect their performance. However, no one would trade the experience they and the supporter are having. I can understand why previous Aussie teams have struggled in China at this tournament with such a rigorous schedule.
Bring on the double header. We split the games. (see game report) . Coach’s proud of their effort and result on the field. Supporters now have found 60 cent beers and are very happy!
Back to hotel for shower and out to dinner at a Sichuan restaurant. This was the first time players had issues, as it was very spicy hot style food. Returned to hotel for team meeting and bed 9.30pm.
We have the next two days as rest??..... from baseball and are scheduled a double header on Monday. Looking forward to going to the Great Wall tomorrow.
Good night!
PS. Thanks Ramsfan44 for your concern.. my bodily functions are back on track!
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Post by westy on Aug 15, 2009 22:45:23 GMT 10
Saturday 15th
On the bus at 9.00 am no games, sightseeing day.
Our first stop was the Jade Factory. Then off to the Great Wall of China. We had some great photo opportunities to savor memories for life. Our wall walk commenced at the bottom of a Valley. It was a steep climb of around 700 steps to get to the second platform. Most of the players at least did this walk with some of the supporters doing enough to say they walked the wall. We spent around 90 minutes discovering and walking. My legs were like rubber when we got to the bus.
Next stop was Cloisonne. This is where enamel vases originated back in the Ming Dynasty (1450). The vases are those big one you see in movies and were used originally for the royal families. We had lunch upstairs in a restaurant that offered more western style Chinese.
After lunch we visited the Ming Tombs. This was a tranquil formal paved walk framed by statues and hedged plants and willow trees. The walk went for around 5 km. A number of players bought the trianglar Kooli Hats and Mao Zedong pony tail cap to capture the Chinese theme.
On the bus and we headed back to hotel for a shower, meeting and Kangaroo Court. Mitch Stanbrook was awarded the daily tiara. We went to KFC for dinner, where I shared a romatic dinner with Cathy Gerber and Jaine White. We topped off the night with a Macca’s cone and a night walk home.
Curfew 8.30pm!
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Post by michie98 on Aug 16, 2009 9:12:14 GMT 10
Thanks Westy, every day we look forward to getting online and catching up with what you are all up to in China. Looks and sounds like so much fun, wish we could be there but fortunately with your daily blog we still feel very much a part of the trip.
Great job boys, keep up the great work. The Michie family
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