IT will be a huge weekend for Alan Crouch as he reaches his 1000th game of baseball on Saturday.
Crouch’s first recorded game was with the Technical High School – now known as Grant High School – Yankees in 1968.
He followed his older brother Geoff to the Central Baseball Club in 1969 and has now played 56 seasons with the club, having missed just one season in that time.
His first game was in Minor A division and he played five games that season.
His first Major A game was against South in 1971.
Whilst not a regular Division 1 player, Crouch played 94 Games at that level, with the remainder divided between second and third tier levels in the local league.
He played in the night seasons in the mid-1970s at Malseed Park when the baseball lights from the showgrounds were erected there.
His primary position is catcher, a position he still holds in Division 3.
In the 56 seasons Crouch has played with the Central, he has played in and 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, 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 Crouch has won several most valuable player and batting average awards, with the highest honour a Division 2 best and fairest for Central and the league in 1980/81.
He claimed a second club best and fairest in the same grade in 1993/94.
The ultimate club award came in 1988 when he was awarded life membership.
Crouch 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.
Although he has played in numerous local lightning carnivals and several Masters Games in Central colours, the games played have not been included as information is not available.
He will play his 1000th game with the Central Magpies against sister team Central and still going.
Crouch’s life membership was well deserved, having held every position on the club committee – including president – except treasurer and has been on the general committee for around 30 years.
He has coached various teams in the club, from Minor A, to Division 1, Division 2 and Under 16.
He coached his two sons through their junior baseball teams and also coached their Mount Gambier teams at the Country Carnival at West Beach.
Crouch’s aim was to promote baseball in general and for the club’s benefit.
When his two boys were playing baseball for Mulga Street Primary School, he was coaching Reidy Park Primary School.
He ran T-ball at Blue Lake Sports Park to encourage kids to play baseball.
Crouch met his wife Karen in 1970 and she has since been heavily involved with the Central Baseball Club.
That included the general, ladies and fundraising committees, along with scoring games.
She ran the league canteen for five years and when the competition was based at Frew Park, sold drinks from the back of the car.
She was awarded the prestigious club trophy, The Wilkins Family Award for the most valuable club person on two occasions in 1985/86 and 2002/03 and was awarded life membership in 2001.
Alan Crouch will play his 1000th game against sister club Central on Saturday at 12pm on Diamond 2.
