Legend remembered

Joe Flynn | 9th November 2009

PLAYERS and officials from Bundaberg Softball Association gave a touching tribute to stalwart Eileen Josey, and her former team honoured her memory in the best way possible with a win over Western Suburbs Eels on Saturday.

Players and officials from all Bundaberg clubs gathered at the diamond of pitch one at Frank Coulthard Oval on Saturday afternoon to honour the former North Bundaberg Moray Eels matriarch, who lost her battle with cancer on Thursday morning.

Former Bundaberg Softball Association president Mike Trost read a short tribute to the popular coach and administrator, who was influential in establishing Eels earlier in the decade.

“She was one of those people who was irreplaceable,” Trost said.

“She was a rare person that was always willing to help wherever she could.

“And she always tried to make things better for softball in general, she was very influential in setting up clubs around Bundaberg.”

Earlier this year, Josey was recognised by Queensland Softball for her 46 years with the association.

“She was a very popular figure within Bundaberg softball, someone that people from every team liked,” Trost said.

Players from Eels club let off balloons of yellow and black, the team colours, as a final tribute to the woman that was so influential in maintaining the club’s existence.

On the pitch, the players put aside the emotional loss to win a danger game against Western Suburbs Panthers in division one.

Eels started the game slowly, allowing Panthers to score five runs in the second innings.

But Mike Shanhun was able to inspire his troops to tighten up the field and Eels pushed to a 10-5 victory.

In the other match, United continued its recent dominance over Souths Sluggers winning their match 8-3.

In the men’s matches Wests Sabre-Toothed earned unlikely back-to-back wins when Across the Waves forfeited the match.

Sabre-Toothed, a team comprising of Across the Waves Rugby League players, have adapted quickly to the new game after struggling early in their inaugural season.

United 8 secured a 15-7 win over Western Suburbs Lynx, while Souths Sluggers defeated United 7 22-1.