By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THEY have been there before, but the Newport Rams’ return to Division One baseball this summer has a different feel about it.
Off the field Trent Curwood has taken over as club president after Roland Stott stepped down, having served more than a decade in the role.
Yet, while the on-field setup will largely resemble the same one that took the Rams to the top of the ladder in Division Two last summer, Curwood is excited about the fresh new challenge of competing as a Division One club.
“We’ve done some extensive works to the club and we’re continuing to do that,” Curwood explained.
“I guess from a vision point of view we want to just keep growing the club.
“We’re realistic that it’s going to be a challenge, Division One, but plenty of teams have gone up there and been competitive straight away, so we hope to be competitive.
“We have some of the best playing facilities and club facilities, so I’d like to translate that into a stronger club both on and off the field.”
Newport is well-placed to enter the proposed, but not yet confirmed new premier league slated to replace the current Summer League structure in coming seasons. But for now one of Curwood’s main priorities is establishing a senior women’s team.
“Women’s participation is growing and we have some great facilities, so it’ll be good to have women use our grounds to grow the club,” Curwood said.
“In my vision of the club it would be great to include that.”
Senior coach Grant Weir will be back on board to lead his young charges in Division One later this year, but instead of embarking on a major recruiting drive, the plan, for the most part, will be to “stick with the kids” this summer.
No signing has yet been confirmed, but Weir did reveal the club will be chasing a US import to bolster his squad’s depth.
“That’s the only player that we’ve specifically gone after, and that’s mainly just to bolster the pitching because of the extra games that we’ll be playing this year,” Weir said.
