Ballan Cricket Club celebrates 2024-25 season

THE Ballan Cricket Club gathered to celebrate the year that was on Saturday 29 March.

It was the club’s biggest-ever year, with three extra sides including the senior women’s inaugural year, reflected in a 140-plus attendance.

Highlights of the night included the presentation of the Best Club Person award to Saveria Singh. Her significant contributions include being the inaugural women’s team founder and captain, treasurer and successful grant writer bringing much-needed funds to the club, as well as acting as caterer for many club events.

Despite missing the last five games of the season due to his move overseas, recently inducted life member Michael Snaith dominated the senior men’s awards, taking out the club champion and batting and bowling awards.

Senior women’s team members all received a medal commemorating their involvement in the club’s inaugural team, with Summer Dehnert leading from the front by taking the Champion Player and bowling awards.

The under-15s team saw Clover McIlwaine have her best year ever and taking out the U15s Champion Player as well as the batting award.

Most of the club’s junior representative players came from this side, with Sarah Burton attending the under-16s national championship and representing Vic Country as the club’s highest achiever.

The under-13s side returned this season after not playing last year, and enjoyed a good season despite being mostly inexperienced. The biggest-ever contingent of young players – 28 under-11s players – all received participation medals and a team photo to remember their year.

Awards:

Leigh Conroy Memorial Best Club Person: Saveria Singh

Senior 1st XI

McConnell Family Club Champion – Michael Snaith 929 pts

Batting Award – Michael Snaith 409 runs at 45.44

Bowling Award – Michael Snaith 24 wickets at 11.04

Most Consistent – Brady Naeff

Fielding Award – Stephan Lalli-cafini

Best Team Player – Elijah Muir

Best and Fairest President’s Medal – Michael Snaith

Five-wicket innings:

Michael Snaith 1st XI, round 6 v Bacchus Marsh 16.2/6/5/25

Michael Snaith 1st XI, round 11 v Wendouree 17.3/9/6/19

Hayden Micallef 1st XI, round 12 v Bacchus Marsh 15/2/7/45

Hayden Micallef semi-final

 

100s:

Michael Snaith 105 v Bacchus Marsh, round 8

Jack Jarvis 100 v Burrumbeet, round14

Senior 2nd XI

Chris Mullane 2nd XI Cricketer of the Year – Param Singh 827 points

Batting Award – Max Burton 571 runs at 71.38

Bowling Award – John Costello 17 wickets at 19.88

Leading wicket-taker – James Burton 20 wickets at 26.85

Captains Award – Matt Ayres

Team Player Award – Angus Britt

Best and Fairest President’s Medal –Jordan Meier

100s

 

Max Burton 109 n.o. v Ballarat Fire Brigade, round 9

Max Burton 100 v Brown Hill, round 10

Senior Coach: Mark Kennedy

Women’s 1st XI

Champion Player – Summer Dehnert 584 points

Batting Award – Kori Davenport 196 runs at 98

Bowling Award – Summer Dehnert 16 wickets at 8.56

Fielding Award – Mariah Dehnert

Captain’s Award – Erin Phillips

Most Improved Player – Nicole Shugg

Best and Fairest President’s Medal –Emma Anderson

 

Coach: Summer Dehnert

Additional inaugural women’s team members: Sarah Burton, Nadene Leslie, Samantha Munari, Mabel Ayres, Janet Lovejoy, Eloise Davenport, Bronwen Davenport, Nina Rootsey, Layla Shugg, Rebecca Humphryis, Cassidy Hull, Kate Grigg

Senior representative players: David Leach and John Costello (Victorian Veterans Cricket); Summer Dehnert, Kori Davenport, Sarah Burton (BCA Women’s Cricket)

Junior Cricket

Under-15s

Cricketer of the Year – Clover McIlwaine 276 points

Batting Award – Clover McIlwaine 169 runs at 28.17

Bowling Award – Sarah Burton 7 wickets at 11.43

Team Spirit – Laila Ward

Coaches Award – Kori Davenport

Most Improved – Jackson Letcher

Additional team members: Oscar Britt, Riley Storer, Tyler Bruning, James Bayard, Laila Ward

Eddie Bayard, Eamon Grigg, Banjo Rootsey Luke.

Coaches: Anthony McIlwaine, Warren Ward and Max Burton

Under-13s

Batting Award – Eddie Bayard 165 runs at 55.0

Bowling Award – Kiara Grigg 7 wickets at 18.14

Most Improved – Austin Farron

Coaches Award – Eddie Bayard

Dedication Award – Hudson Squires

Additional team members: Ned Conroy, Layla Shugg, Jack Mullane, Hunter Clark, Jay Fenwick,

Isaac Kettle

Coach: Stuart Grigg

Under-11 TeamS

Team Cairns:

Henry Cairns, Mack Cairns, Marshall Cooke, Jack Mullane, Izak Osborn, Paige Skilton, Hudson Squires.

Coach: Alex Cairns

Team Shugg: Angus Dowling, Olivia Dowling, Dustin Huggins, Zariah Marshall, Zayne Marshall, Archer Morris, Ted Morris, Elsie Shugg, Layla Shugg, Graeme Weston.

Coach: Matt Shugg

Team Phillips: Bridie Grigg, Jamie Jarvis, Noah Kettle, Annie McNiven, Angus Muldeary,

Oscar Phillips, Archie Reardon, Tate Reardon, Marcus Speakman, Lucas Stancliffe.

 

Coach: Marty Phillips

Junior representative players: BCA – Kiara Grigg, Kori Davenport, Eamon Grigg.

Victorian Under-15s Championships: Clover McIlwaine (Geelong) Laila Ward (Greenvale).

National Under -6s Championships: Sarah Burton (Victoria Country).

Ballarat Cricket Association Awards

Eight of BCC’s members travelled to Ballarat for the association awards night.

High-achieving club members included:

Senior Women Bowling Award – Summer Dehnert 16 wickets at 8.56;

Bernie Davey Medal (2nd XI Best and Fairest) – Michael Snaith second (probably would have won if hadn’t missed the last five games);

Senior Women Best and Fairest: Kori Davenport (5th), Summer Dehnert (7th).