Cricket
22 March, 2024
Germano and Zanker awarded
Nick Germano has won the St Mary's cricket A Grade MVP after a brilliant all-round season. He scored 258 runs and took 13 wickets. Germano won by one vote ahead of Paul Rowe and Leigh Somers. Callum Zanker was awarded life membership.
The MVP award also included the bowling and batting aggregate. Paul Rowe won the batting average with 33.5 whilst Leigh Somers won the bowling with 13.13. Rowe scored 201 runs and Somers took eight wickets whilst scoring 150 runs.
The Tim Brennan Medal for best clubman was awarded to Nathan Priest.
President and A Grade captain Colby Schmidt said it was an easy decision to give Nathan Priest recognition.
"Priesty is down there five nights a week or more, either rolling the pitch or organising the bar," Schmidt said.
"He is also a big player in our social functions and helped organise sponsorship packages at the start of the year.
"It was pretty straightforward who we gave it to. Others also did a lot of work, but he was head and shoulders above and deserved it."
Callum Zanker has been involved in the club for over 16 years and has a variety of roles. Whilst there is no certain critieria for life membership, he was awarded it for many years of hard work.
"He has been secretary for the last five years and he is down at the club four or five nights a week doing what needs to be done," Schmidt said.
"There is not a whole lot we do without getting Callum's approval. He has been very loyal and does a lot of admin/secretary roles.
"It is not something we give out every year but he well and truly deserves it."
In B Grade, Aiden Keys was awarded MVP as well as the batting aggregate with 153 runs. Nathan Priest had the best average with 26.25. Gary Fernandez was runner up in MVP.
Matthew Rhook won the bowling aggregate and average with seven wickets at an average of 22.57.
Jack Evans and Sailor Knorpp were named the most improved. Evans took five wickets at an average of 30.12 whilst scoring 13 runs and Knorpp took two wickets at an average of 33 whilst scoring 14 runs.
Knorpp played one A Grade match this season whilst Evans played two and scored seven runs.
Schmidt said they worked hard during the year and improved tremendously.
"They came over from Brim at the start of the year. Jack played previously for a bit, and Sailor played a few games for Brim," Schmidt said.
"Sailor worked hard all season. He took some things home from the club to help with his batting and it showed. He had a great innings where he dug in with Gary Fernandez and batted for 15 overs to save the game. At the start of the season, he wouldn't have done that.
"Jack on the other hand didn't have that much confidence at the start of the season other than block the ball which he was very good at. He then scored runs and played a few vital innings and was rewarded with an A Grade game later in the year."