Developing teenage team impresses at state titles

The group of young players have risen up the ranks together assisted by three of Ipswich Softball’s best development coaches. Making the state title grand final highlights the promise.

The Ipswich under-18 team relax after qualifying for the grand final at the Softball Queensland championships.

WHEN you are an Ipswich teenager eager to reach new heights, having the right coaching support makes all the difference.

That’s the case for the Ipswich team of the future that finished runners-up at today’s 2021 Softball Queensland Under 18 Boys State Championships at One Mile.

The group of young players have risen up the ranks together assisted by three of Ipswich Softball’s best development coaches - Stephen Flux and his assistants Derek Doyle and Joshua Harding.

For Queensland Patriots squad player Harding, it’s an excellent combination to nurture promising Ipswich talent.

“Stephen’s had the team for a couple of years now,’’ Harding said.

“Derek has also been along with them.

“I started the 14’s program this year and came along with these boys as well.

“I actually play club ball with a lot of these fellas as well so it’s good to help out there.’’

The third-placed Ipswich under-18 side qualified for this afternoon’s grand final after a comprehensive 13-3 victory over second-placed Redlands.

Although Ipswich faltered 12-3 to a fresher Logan side in the grand final, head coach Flux was delighted with his team’s three-day effort.

“Having that big break in the middle gave them a little more of a spring in their step,’’ Flux said.

“Our boys had that really big game against Redlands. It took a little bit of a toll but we hung in there, try to fight.

“We went all the way to seven innings.

“Overall, it was a pretty good tournament.’’

The Ipswich under-18 side was Oscar Barnett, Braydon Davies, Connor Doyle, Bryce Grimsey, Jivarhn Hill, Braydon Leigh, Corie List, Ethan Murphy, Rhys Muspratt, Ryan Solomon, Dane Spann, Coby White and Nicholas Webb.

The latest state squad is expected to be named early next week.

“We got seven kids nominated for Queensland so we’ll find out on Tuesday,’’ Flux said.

Flux was most satisfied with the ongoing improvement in his group.

“These boys every year, when they get together from the last four years, they’ve gone from fifth to fourth to third, now to second,’’ the coach said.

“We lose a couple of people next year to age out but the core of the team is still going to be pretty much the same kids.’’

More than half the team are still aged 16.

“I’ve been with them since they were basically 13, some of them 12,’’ Flux said.

“I’ve taken them through every year and every year we got better and better.’’

Down 4-0 in the grand final, Ipswich reduced the deficit to one at the bottom of the third innings after List hit a home run in between pitching.

However, Logan quickly regrouped steadily building their advantage and showing why they were the best team all weekend.

Having experienced what the current under-18 group has, Harding said it was satisfying helping with Ipswich’s development focus and seeing the results.

“These boys started together a couple of years ago, bottom age bracket, so rock bottom,’’ he said.

“Now they’re heading towards the top.

“Being in that top age bracket, they are really going for it.’’

Harding praised the efforts of Doyle and Flux.

“They have really put in a lot of hours and whatnot,’’ he said.

“Fluxie nurtured these boys when they were all about 15 - from under 16’s level - and he’s brought them all the way through and followed them along and I’ve been lucky enough to join in with him and give us a different amount of experience.

“I enjoy seeing the boys achieve things and seeing them improve and whatnot.

“For me, playing all these years, it’s nice to put in and give back and see how the boys potentially go to the levels that we went to.’’

Like many Ipswich sportspeople chasing higher level competitions, Harding has been restricted by ongoing Covid-19 shutdowns.

However, he’s anxious for more representative opportunities next year.

Sharing in Ipswich’s latest tournament success provided another reward for Harding and the dedicated coaches.

In the lead-up to the grand final, Ipswich and Redlands met first up on Sunday morning in the final match before the finals.

Redlands won that 14-9 knowing the result didn’t change the order for the two v three playoff.

In that 10.30am final that followed, Ipswich blasted nine runs early to set up a resounding victory.

Lead-off batter Coby White ignited the run onslaught, backed up by Corie List and Connor Doyle.

Jivarhn Hill hit a two-run home run to keep it going.

“We put pressure on the first innings and just held them out after that,’’ Flux said.

“It was a good battle. They (Redlands) are a team that can come back at any point.’’

Pitcher Dane Spann impressed, throwing the entire game.

Before today’s finals, Ipswich made a terrific start on Friday (day one), beating Hervey Bay 10-1 and Rockhampton/Gladstone Mackay 11-0. Their only loss was 5-3 to Toowoomba.

Harding was encouraged how the boys bounced back from their Toowoomba defeat.

The Ipswich side made a similar pleasing start on Saturday, defeating Redcliffe 10-0 before a 7-5 loss to

Logan and another 10-0 whitewash against Caboolture.

However, Sunday was a taxing day with two morning clashes before tackling Logan, which had one less game to stay fresher in the hot conditions at the Chubb Street fields.

“The boys did really well considering a lot of our training was interrupted with Covid and not being able to get together,’’ Flux said.

“We went from having a 12-week training plan to only having six training sessions.’’

The representative under-18 players now return to Ipswich club competition starting on October 21.

Hundreds of players, supporters and officials were involved in the three-day championships in Ipswich.

Mayor Teresa Harding said it was fantastic to welcome another high-level competition to Queensland’s

sporting heartland.

“The state championships bring our sport-loving community together, while also delivering a welcome boost to our local economy, as visitors explore our region’s great range of restaurants, hotels and local shops,” Cr Harding said.

Softball Queensland CEO Ross Symonds said the highly anticipated event was especially popular now, after players in the SEQ region had a recent break due to COVID-19.

“Softball Queensland is proud to bring the championships to the Ipswich region,’’ he said. “We sincerely thank the Ipswich City Council for their continuing support for softball in the region and this event.”

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