Carine Cats Enter Into First Postseason in State League 1

The road to playoff baseball has been a long one for Carine Baseball Club, however that all changes this weekend as the Cats make their first finals appearance in State League 1 since joining the competition in 2012.
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A 6-2 win against Swan Districts on the last day of regular play confirmed their spot in the top five, Carine finishing with a 16-14 record. The Cats are now set to compete in an elimination game against South Perth at Perth Harley-Davidson Ballpark from 7pm on Friday night.

​During the 2012/13 season, Carine Cats Baseball Club was accepted into the current State League competition. “Our admission to State League was a major milestone for our club” said Dean Warren, Carine Baseball Club Life Member and Baseball Chairman for that inaugural 2012/13 season. “We continue to have a strong junior program at Carine and State League representation in both softball and baseball allows our juniors to achieve their goals and aspirations.”

Current Carine Baseball Chairperson Simon Stanton shares the sentiment, saying the pathway for young baseballers is clearly set at Carine.

“Carine Cats is a unique ball club that has a strong integrated pathway for its members where a young person in the local area can play for the same club and at the same venue throughout their career,” Stanton said. “The opportunity to compete at a State League level forms an important part of that pathway.”

Since the admission of Carine into the State League competition, the efforts of past coaches Aaron Ottaway and Greg Jelks as well as current coach Devon Ramirez have culminated in Friday’s elimination final against South Perth.

It will certainly be a long journey to the other side of town for the Cats from their corner of Carine Open Space which they call home to the bright lights of Perth Harley-Davidson Ballpark for their first taste of playoff baseball. But it will be a journey many will take as it marks another milestone for the young State League 1 team and their proud supporters.

Should the Cats prevail against South Perth, they’ll enter a three-game semi-final series against Wanneroo Giants that kicks off on Monday from 7pm at Perth Harley-Davidson Ballpark. Game two will take place on Wednesday while game three will be played on Friday, if required.

The other semi-final between Braves and Morley will take place at Perth Harley-Davidson Ballpark at 7pm on Tuesday night. The second game is scheduled for the same time, same venue on Thursday, with game three, if require, set for Saturday.

Carine registered its first baseball team for the 1980/81 season, playing in the under 13 age group in the Northern Districts Little League. That number doubled the next season and the expansion was already showing success, resulting in a promotion from B division to A division with three players selected in the West Stirling “All Stars” team.

In 1985/86 Carine had seven baseball teams and for the first time in their history saw two teams playing senior baseball, with juniors still at the forefront of the club’s success and expansion.

In the 1995/96 season, Carine had grown to see 24 junior baseball teams competing in competition and as of the 2016/17 season had 13 junior and five senior teams under the Carine name.

Follow the Carine Cats v South Perth game HERE.