The 2017 Australian Youth Championships bring back memories of pure agony, and pure ecstasy for Western Australian baseball.
The ecstasy came on the 15th of January as the U18 WA team claimed a hard-fought Australian Championship against New South Wales.
The agony came on the 6th of January, as the unexpected passing of former big leaguer and Western Australian legend Greg Jelks sent shockwaves through the WA camp and the Australian baseball community.
WA’s U18 Assistant Coach and one of Jelks’ best mates, Jason Hewitt recalls the moment he heard the news.
“I was in the van with Mark Pettit (WA U18 Manager), and Mark’s phone rang,” Hewitt says.
“Michael Hodge (one of Hewitt’s childhood friends) was on the other end of the line and said to me ‘Jelksy didn’t get off the plane in Sydney this morning’.”
Jelks was on his way to visit Hewitt and the WA boys for a few days before heading back to Perth, instead he passed away from unexpected heart failure on the flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.
He was 55.
Greg Jelks was, and still is one of the greatest sporting personalities Western Australia has ever had. He made his MLB debut in 1987 for the Philadelphia Phillies, and WA fans first saw this highly skilled, fun loving athlete in 1992 when he made his debut for the Perth Heat.
Jelks’ feats at Parry Field remain in Western Australian sporting folklore, and his ABL numbers speak for themselves. His career average in the ABL sits at .344, and he consistently made breathtaking plays which made everyone watching gasp in amazement.
An MLB player on the field, and a World All-Star bloke off the field ensured Jelks’ status continued to grow and Jason Hewitt remembers those days fondly.
“Greg couldn’t walk down the street in Perth without someone stopping him,” Hewitt says.
“He was in the same category as Wildcats (Perth’s NBL team) players, the West Coast Eagles and WA’s Australian cricket representatives such was his popularity among the people.”
“One of the best things about Jelksy was he’d always play the game. He’d always take photos, sign autographs and chat to every single person that approached him.”
That popularity was no more evident in the days following Jelks’ passing, with tributes flowing from all over the world, including the Carine Cats, Jelks’ state league team to the Evansville Otters in Evansville Indiana, where Jelks spent four years as the manager.
Jelks’ passing took an unimaginable toll on the quartet of Don Kyle, Mark Pettit, Lee Hogan and Jason Hewitt, four of Jelks’ close friends and four men tasked with leading Western Australia to an Australian Championship.
Hewitt recalls the Championship as one of the most challenging periods in his life.
“We knew Jelksy would want us to be out there competing and playing hard every day,” he says.
“His passing was a massive motivating factor for us to win the Australian Championship.”
“When we were on the field, nothing else enters your mind apart from the baseball, so in hindsight it was the perfect place for myself, Don, Mark and Lee to be.”
“Out there with a committed and passionate team that we wanted to lead to the gold medal more than anything.”
“There were moments off the field though that certainly took their toll, being summoned to view the body on Sunday morning followed by a doubleheader was one such moment.”
“To the players and staffs credit we stuck fat, got the job done for ourselves, supporters and the great man."
“It is an achievement we will cherish as a group for the rest of our lives.”
The U18 WA team defeated NSW in a classic final. NSW lead after three innings, but WA came back with a vengeance, scoring late to claim a 4-3 victory.
As Jess Williams made the final out of the game, pandemonium ensued on the WA bench, with emotions boiling over for players and coaching staff alike.
Everyone had Jelksy in the forefront of their minds.
After the dust had settled as Jelks was honoured at a memorable service, Jason Hewitt and his good mate Steve Douglas felt the need to pay tribute to Jelks, and from that idea, the Greg Jelks Baseball Development Fund was born.
“Steve and I are passionate about giving back to youth baseballers who represent their state and their country,” Hewitt says.
“We’ve already raised over $13,000 and we want to use that money to help young baseballers in WA represent their state and country.
“The Old Heat vs. New Heat game was a great example of the groundswell of support this cause has in WA, and we want to see that support go from strength to strength for an extended period of time.”
There’s no doubt Jelks has left an immeasurable hole in the lives of many, however through the outstanding work of the Greg Jelks Baseball Development Fund, the great man’s legacy will live on.