Claxton Finals

I probably did more work in my final week here in Perth than the majority of the 10 weeks combined. Most of it wasn’t too fruitful but we added some decent game entertainment including getting a local cheerleading squad to use slingshots to launch softee balls into the crowd (Travis and I constructed them out of funnels and duraband exercise chords because Australians don’t seem to know what a slingshot is). I also got a group of Harley Owners to bring out about 10 bikes which they paraded around the field and brought in the two mascots. Finally, in my best move of the week, I talked a local dance instructor into coming out and doing a few routines in a tertiary mascot costume which became known as Dancing Veggieman…he is a somewhat well known character who encourages kids to eat fruits and vegetables while ironically being constructed out of fruits and vegetables. He did a good job of getting the crowd involved and although I don’t think most of the fans knew what to think, they seemed to get a good chuckle out of it.

The crowds were impressive for the first time in all of my travels with Friday night’s crowd of about 3,000 pushing the stadium to the limit filling the grassy burms on each side and keeping the concession stands and bar slammed all night. It was an excellent problem to have and actually made baseball in Australia seem somewhat feasible, but then again it was the grand final which they had four weeks to promote so I don’t know if 3,000 people is worthy of throwing a party about. New South Wales took game 1 in somewhat of a surprise and were poised to take game 2 in a 4-4 game in the bottom of the eighth when a single to left had the runner from second racing towards home with 2 outs. The runner beat the throw home but former California League umpire (and a cocky one at that), Travis Hatch, called the runner out claiming the catcher had blocked the plate…the catcher did a good job of blocking the plate but I still don’t see how he made that call given that he beat the throw by a step…of course the next inning Nick Kimpton, the Claxton Hitter of the Year who batted .500 (32-64) on the series, belted a homer to win if for WA…I was kind of looking forward to a Sunday off in Perth, but no such luck.

Thursday Night I went to a comedy competition which will eventually select the best amateur comedian from Western Australia to head to the International Festival in Melbourne. There were some decent acts but watching people squirm on stage was almost as entertaining. After the show I met up with Martha Stoumen who lived in our apartment building at UCLA and I had randomly discovered a week earlier t that she just got to Perth to spend six months making wine near Margaret River. We went to the Hula Bar in the CBD and I was surprised to see the bar shutdown at about midnight. Perth has old school business hours, everything closes by 5 O’clock. I don’t really get how that works for anyone who works 9-5 to get things done after work but businesses are allowed to stay open until 9pm on Thursday nights…they are also in the final of three year trial of daylight saving time and apparently on their way to repealing it which makes no sense to me.

Game 3 of the final was well pitched by both sides with the WA leading 2-0 going into the top of the ninth with the only runs coming on an early two-run bomb by Chris House (Claxton Rookie of the Year). New South Wales put two on with two out and a double down the line tied the game. WA came back and won it in walk-off fashion after a lead-off double and the crowd rejoiced back-to-back Claxton Shield Championships …and with that I have become unemployed for the first time since graduating from UCLA…but a 10 week trip all around Australia was well worth it.