From Canning Cougars President – Steve Klomp…

The Practice Carnival at Melville on Sunday 16th February 2025 was another chance to put our training into action ahead of the States carnival on the long weekend in March. It was a chance for our three teams to strut their stuff.

I was only able to go to one of the games – the third game for our U/10s game against the Willetton Wildcats – but it was a game I was glad I saw. The coaching team provided me with an update for the first two games, best summarised below.

An early start, a wet ball and first game jitters couldn’t keep the kids from making a solid performance against Melville coming away with the win in the first game.

The second game was a harder fought affair against tough opponent in Roleystone Rockies. Both teams demonstrated some brilliance in the field and Roleystone’s consistency at the bat paid dividends with them securing the win.

But then the third game started and it was clear our team had come to play.

It was a perfect day for teeball. Not a cloud in the sky, not too warm at 9.30 in the morning, and only the gentlest of breezes.

Our team ran and ran. They batted like demons and used their brains when throwing the ball between the bases. The players backed each other up in the field and the runners kept the pressure up on the opposition by taking an extra base whenever the smallest opportunity presented itself.

Willeton never really had a chance and it was clear they knew they were outclassed by the end of the first innings. In the end we won 24 -11, a big enough winning margin to surprise even our own coaching staff.

The parents and supporters were impressed – and well they may have been! There was a spectacular catch by first base and on two occasions a squeeze play between second and third base that allowed a runner to get home. Talk about sweet.

But perhaps the most gratifying part of the game was that our players were playing intelligently: deciding when to throw and when to hold, when to take another base and when to stay put, and thinking about what each batter was going to do. Teeball is played between the ears.

Now of course there is always room to sharpen up, but if yesterday was any indication our U/10s should fare very well in the long weekend in March. The coaches were rapt with the progress the kids have been making on improving their skills; in particular their batting where in this carnival the number of flyballs caught reduced significantly resulting in more on base hits and run for the team.

Our thanks to our umpires Sam and Zack who did a great job of officiating the game, and our thanks to the families. Our players can shine because they have the backing of their families.


Steve Klomp

President

CCTBCWA