Lee Schwartz, right, has been involved with the Sunshine YCW Cricket Club for more than 50 years and now his son Mark, left, will take over as captain of the senior club. 85448 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By LIAM TWOMEY
LEE Schwartz can remember his first game for the Sunshine YCW Cricket Club like it was yesterday.
As an 11-year-old playing in the under 16s, Schwartz and his Sunshine team-mates had the unfortunate experience of being 4/24 and within minutes all out for 24.
After a first innings to forget, Lee found himself listed to come in at number 10 in the second innings, only higher in the batting order than his twin brother.
“They had a big bloke bowling and he was pretty quick. I remember for the first time thinking oh no, I don’t want to be here,” Lee said.
“The second innings came and…we had about an hour to go to save the outright.
“We batted for that whole period and saved the outright in our very first game of cricket. It was like a premiership.”
As teammates rushed to the middle to carry the two off the ground, the lasting impact was enough to keep Lee and his family at the club for another 52 years and counting.
While his career started with a gutsy effort there have been plenty of other highlights along the way including captaining Sunshine’s first junior premiership side and also winning a number of senior premierships.
Off the field, he is a past president and a life member.
But one of his proudest moments came on the eve of the new season when it was announced his son Mark would continue the amazing tradition of Schwartz family members at Sunshine and lead the seniors as captain/coach for 2012/13.
Just like Lee’s first junior game, Mark’s junior career began with a sign he was going to enjoy a long and successful time at Sunshine.
With his dad watching on the sidelines, Mark chased a ball all the way down to the boundary before launching the return to the middle of the ground and knocking the stumps over.
Not bad for an eight-year-old.
The honour of captaining Sunshine seniors comes hot on the heels of Mark also receiving life membership at the club in the off-season, the fifth Schwartz to do so.
“It started with the family connection, but you really develop a great group of mates that you grow up playing with,” Mark said.
“It makes it a lot easier going to play with your mates every week and having fun around the club.”
Lee and Mark both agree that the level of mateship and the family-orientated nature at Sunshine is what makes the club a success.
“You will still find there are people working at the club, who have been there for 40 or 50 years and now their families are doing it,” Lee said.
“It is just the strength of families in the club that has kept it surviving and kept it going. They have made it the club that it has been.”
After just missing out on the finals last season, Mark is hoping an improved batting performance could see Sunshine back in the race.
One thing is for certain though, win, lose or draw he will have a number one supporter in Lee.
“I was very proud. Really proud of him that he has come a long way and done that,” Lee said.
“As soon as bowls is over, I’ll be going down and watching most Saturdays. Not just for a few games, but I’ll be there for all the home games at least. It is a great honour to have him go through the club.”
Mark is expecting to hear a few pearls of wisdom from his dad throughout the season as well.
“He has always had plenty of advice when he comes and watches. I told him he should take up coaching because he knows it all,” Mark said with a laugh.
“I am really looking forward to it though. Hopefully I can make a difference to the club and make the club even more successful.”
