The local Hastings baseball competition begins Sunday and will, for the first time in many years, have a Camden Haven based team in the mix.
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Known as the Middle Rock Magpies, the team formed in the off-season. It is made up of local people, some with experience and some who have never played before, but all with a competitive spirit, a desire to do well and represent the Camden Haven.
Training weekly at the Lake Cathie Sporting Fields, the Magpies have captured the curious eye of other local sporting teams using the field such as soccer and rugby league, with the other codes only too happy to share their field with the new arrivals.
Martin Dures, the team’s coach said he was excited by how the team has gelled.
“The enthusiasm is incredibly encouraging and the assistance from recent past players who’ve come on board is fantastic.”
The Magpies will play against teams from Port Macquarie and Wauchope, taking the field every Sunday at 2pm at Blackbutt Park in Wauchope.
Baseball has been a played in the Hastings and Camden Haven for over 40 years with up to eight teams involved in the A Grade competition. The the late 70’s and 80’s the Camden Haven Eagles baseball team were a real force. Many of the Eagles played in the strong Sydney association and brought their knowledge and skills of the game to the area.
The formation of the Middle Rock Magpies has seen three generations of the Dures family come together in support of the newly established team. Ron Dures, now aged 79, was a local foundation player in the 70’s and played for many years for the Wauchope Giants. This weekend his son Martin and grandson Kye will take the field for the Magpies.