Norths Baseball Club heralds in its 75th playing year

A longstanding Northern Rivers Baseball club is ringing in its 75th year of fielding teams to launch the 2023 season. GALLERY

North's Baseball Club number 52 pitching to launch the 75th season for the established Lismore club is Joe Price. Picture: Cath Piltz

A Northern Rivers baseball club is stepping up to the plate for its 75th playing season in 2023.

Norths Bears Baseball Club is the oldest club in the Far North Coast Baseball Association being established in 1948.

Players braved the early morning fog and dew to play ball at Albert Park after missing out last season due to flooding.

North's Baseball Club Coach Paul Simes giving instructions on the field in the friendly opener of the club's 75th season. Picture: Cath Piltz

Norths Baseball Club Juniors Coach Paul Simes said the club has teams in most grades this year.

“Today we’re playing a friendly with Lismore Workers,” Mr Simes said.

After floods destroyed much of the amenity of Albert Park Baseball fields last year a league of volunteers continue to work on fixing the four senior diamonds to playing condition.

“There’s been a lot of weekends that a lot of volunteers are putting in to get the fields to where they’re at.

“It’s been a lot of work.

“The back nets aren’t finished yet and there is still fencing to be redone to get it back to where it was pre-floods. Hopefully that’ll be all done within the next few months.”

He said it’s exciting times, and numbers have come “out the other side” okay.

“We’re looking forward to a big year for both seniors and juniors.”

Photos from the “friendly” season opener between Norths Bears and Lismore Workers baseball clubs.

North Coast Baseball season starts | Pictures

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Baseball has a very long and proud tradition in the Northern Rivers with many local players achieving state, national and international levels, some vying for a contract with an American Club.

“The talent seems to keep coming,” Mr Simes said, “It’s been a tough couple of years and it’s great to see everyone out and about playing again.”

Lismore Workers Baseball Club President Paul Clifford said it was fantastic to see the kids back on the field.

“It’s been almost 18 months since we’ve played, 14 or 15 months since the flood.

“At the moment Workers is looking to field 10 teams, we have two teams that are not full so we’re always looking for more players – that’s our senior league team U16s and U20s.

“The juniors are quite good numbers wise and so is our tee-ball team,” Mr Clifford said.

He said everyone is welcome to come along and try the game.

“We have multiple teams, multiple competitions, so there is plenty of room for anyone else looking to play baseball.”

Seniors competition season starts Saturday, May 6.