Batting a thousand

Geoff Crouch could rightfully take some credit for the accolades coming the way of milestone baseballer Alan Crouch on February 24 as celebrations ramped up for the Central player’s 1000th game.

Alan’s longevity is all his own doing but he would not have even taken up the sport if it wasn’t for older brother Geoff.

Playing alongside another Central icon Sid Hosking, in those early days, a player shortage saw Geoff recruit his younger brother to help field a team.

The rest, as they say, is history – and in the case of Alan it is a long history that show no sign of ending any time soon.

“I basically conned Alan to come out and play for us,” Geoff said.

That kickstarted an association with Central Baseball Club for the brothers that saw them play side by side, as well as in different teams and grades over the journey.

“We were competitive – we were brothers after all,” Geoff said. “But it is a lot more relaxed now. We really do just play for fun.”

While Alan has barely taken a day off from his baseball career, which dates back to 1968, Geoff had a 28 year hiatus before returning to the diamond over the past decade, racking up more than 400 games himself.

Current coach Bill Stephenson was front and centre of the club’s celebrations of Alan – who has not just been a consistent and reliable player over the best part of six decades but also a hard working administrator and volunteer.

“My memories are he has always been a good, happy go lucky guy who has always been a team player, never an individual,” Bill said. “Consistent as a catcher and friendly to every batter that stood in front of him.”

Bill said Alan’s commitment and passion for the game always shines through with the duo not just teaming up for Central but also on plenty of Masters baseball trips and tournaments.

“It is typical of Alan to do things like driving the bus in Sydney every second day for two weeks to games and back so other guys could have a few beers,” Bill said.

And if you ask Alan it is the camaraderie that has been at the centre of his love of baseball and the Central Baseball Club.

“Right from the start, it was the camaraderie of the team,” he said. “I was in with a good mob of blokes. When we started we were that young that in those days we would go and make a milkshake after the game.

“What I have loved is I have always got along with my team mates and also the opposition.”

Alan, who is a fixture in one of the club’s Division 3 team, is also buoyed by watching the multi-generational nature of the club – it was Central Baseball Club that held a special match at the end of last year featuring more than 10 family groups across the two teams with not just fathers and sons but also grandchildren.

“Baseball is very family oriented,” Alan said.

And he is also quick to encourage people to get involved off the diamond. Both Alan and his wife Karen have done a mountain of work for the club in the administration and volunteer space.

“It is really satisfying and as much as you put in, you get a lot out of it as well,” Alan said.

Frome the pre-game presentation on February 24 to the celebration dinner at the Mount Gambier RSL that night that saw more than 100 people come out to mark Alan’s magnificent milestone – it was a special moment for the baseball aficionado.

“I couldn’t believe how many people came out of the woodwork,” he said. “I don’t know how many hands I shook and hugs I gave.”

ALAN’S RESUME

Alan’s first recorded game was with the Technical High School (now Grant High School) Yankees in 1968. He followed older brother Geoff to the Central Baseball Club in 1969 with his first game in Minor A on July 12. He played 5 games that season and has only missed one full season with the club from that time. His first Major A game was against South on July 10, 1971. Whilst not a regular Division 1 player Alan played 94 Games at that level with the remainder being divided between second and third tier levels in the local league.

He was part of the executive committee and social committee in 1974 and 1975, assistant secretary/treasurer in 1977, players representative in 1981, and equipment officer in 1983. Alan had two stints as club secretary between the years 1983 – 1988 and 1997 – 2000. He became club president in the seasons of 2001/02 and 2002/2003 and has been on the general committee for around 30 years.

Alan was highly involved in the club activities and fundraising affairs. Over 10 years from 1979 the club was involved in running a stall at the local agricultural show which ran over three days. Alan was heavily involved and part of that was packing showbags and working at the stall which sold pies, pasties, hot dogs and, of course, the showbags. This was a major Club fundraiser. He was involved in all fundraising activities in all the years he has been playing.

Alan also coached various teams in the club including coaching his two sons through their junior baseball teams at the club and also coaching their Mount Gambier teams at the Country Carnival at West Beach.

Alan’s aim was to promote baseball and when his two boys were playing baseball for Mulga Street Primary School, he was coaching Reidy Park Primary School and also ran T-Ball at Blue Lake Sports Park to encourage kids to play baseball.

Over the 56 seasons Alan has played with Central, he has played and in won 13 premierships including one Division 1, in the first summer season of 1980/81, seven Division 2 – 1982/84, 1984/85, 1989/90,1990/91,1991/92, 1992/93 and 1996/97, and five in Division 3 – 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2013/14 plus eight losing grand finals.

Club awards came with regularity at end of season presentations. Over the years Alan has won several Most Valuable Player, Batting Average with the highest award being a Division 2 Best and Fairest for the club and the League in 1980/81 and a second club Best and Fairest in the same grade in 1993/94.

The ultimate Club award came in 1988 when Alan was awarded Life Membership.

He was also presented with the prestigious Wilkins Family Award for the Most Valuable Club Person twice in 1998/99 and 2002/2003, along with his wife Karen.

The culmination of an outstanding career would have been his selection in the Mount Gambier representative team for the Country Carnival at Glenelg in 1986.

PHOTO BY FRANK MONGER