MOUNT Gambier and District Cricket Association handed down its end-of-season awards last week with the big prize – the Bill Whitty Medal for player-of-the-year – going to Jake Schutz.
Schutz had a stellar season for North Sportsman’s, with his batting prowess also earning him the batting award for the association, as well as a spot in the team of the year.
But Schutz did not have it all his own way in the Whitty Medal, with a tight finish seeing South Gambier’s Dylan Clough just one vote in arrears.
Penola’s Michael Waters and North’s Matt McInerney were equal third on eight votes.
For the batting, Schutz was streaks ahead of the rest, finishing the season with 479 runs.
That included two centuries and several half-centuries in a stand-out season.
West’s Jake Blackwell came in second with 328 runs, ahead of fellow Roo Niall Easterbrook on 319.
Schutz said he was pleased with the awards, but was surprised to win the Whitty Medal.
“I did not give myself much chance in the Bill Whitty,” he said.
“I thought an all-rounder like Dylan Clough or Matt McInerney would have won it.
“To be named the Bill Whitty medalist is an honour and something I’m very happy with.”
Schutz said he was disappointed with the way the season finished, with his side going down to Penola in the final on the weekend, preferring team accolades rather than personal awards.
However, much of North’s success this season could be put down to Schutz’s effort at the top of the order, opening with Matt McInerney and finding plenty of runs along the way.
“I have been pretty happy with my batting,” he said.
“Last year I was batting at four or three, so this was my first year back opening, which is my favourite spot in the batting order.
“Hopefully I can continue that form in seasons to come.
“I will not be satisfied with just one good season.”
It was Schutz’s consistency over the course of the season that made the difference, which he said he had been working towards.
“I just want to be a consistent run maker,” he said.
“Every time I walk out to bat I just want to make runs.
“All I want to do is bat for long periods of time and I managed to do that this year.”
For the bowling, Mil Lel teenager Ben Thiel shared the honours with South’s Camron Jorgenson, both finishing with 18 wickets in a low-scoring affair.
Next up were East’s Alex Hentschke and Mil Lel’s Tom Nieuwerkerk, both with 17 wickets.
East’s Emmerson Marks claimed the fielding honours with 15 votes, one clear of Penola’s George Kidman, with South’s Robert Drenthen a further vote back in third.
East captain Dion Stratford was rewarded for his efforts behind the stumps, claiming the wicket keeper of the year in yet another tight contest.
Stratford was just two points clear of West’s Jake Blackwell, with Penola’s Mark Smith a further point back in third.
The best Under 20 player in the Barber Shield competition went to West’s Sam Willis, who polled a huge 491 points.
He was well clear of West’s Bowen Hosking on 438 and Nieuwerkerk on 430.
From there the team of the year was announced, with a fair assessment of the talent on display in the association represented.
The team featured captain Jake Schutz, North; Jake Blackwell, West; vice-captain Niall Easterbrook, West; Matt McInerney, North; Robert Drenthen, South; wicket keeper Dion Stratford, East; Sam Willis, West; Ben Thiel, Mil Lel; Cameron Jorgenson, South; Alex Hentschke, East; Tom Nieuwerkerk, Mil Lel; Dylan Clough 12th man, South.
For association president George Kidman the season panned out well, despite the early troubles that saw a six-team competition play out.
“I think the season has been really good,” Kidman said.
“The quality of the wickets has been fantastic and for a six-team Barber Shield season, it has been a really fair draw.
“It broke into a top three/bottom three scenario pretty early in the season, but South, Mil Lel and East all improved after Christmas, so there is a lot to like going into next year.
“North and Penola earned the right to play off in the grand final and the individual awards were well deserved.”
Kidman said it was a good result for Schutz.
“He has been very consistent this season and found some other areas in his game that he can score from,” he said.
“He has a really sound defence, but he has been able to rotate the strike and score in new areas.
“He is a dangerous player, so it was great to see him get the reward.”
Kidman said it was a great result for Thiel to feature alongside Jorgenson in the bowling honours.
“He also won player of the year for the Under 16s and played in the South East team that won the carnival up in the Barossa valley,” he said.
“He has had a stand out year.
“I guess everyone will know who he is next year, so it will be great to see how he responds to that challenge.”
Kidman also made mention of Glencoe winning the Glenelg Club award, which he said was even more impressive without and A Grade side.
