FORMER teammate Jordan Penpraze will be in the thoughts of Mornington and Frankston baseball club players when they contest a memorial game on the Anzac Day weekend.
Sapper Jordan Ronald Penpraze played juniors through to seniors at Mornington Baseball Club. In 2012, his dream career with the Australian Army, Jordan was cut short at the School of Military Engineering when he was injured in a vehicle accident.
He was left in a critical condition and his family was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support on 11 October 2012.
The Jordan Penpraze Memorial Shield will be played between the two clubs at the Mornington Baseball Club, CB Wilson Reserve, Wilson Rd, Mornington on Saturday 22 April.
“The club is hoping to secure this fixture as an annual event,” Mornington Pirates Baseball Club Vice President Myles Dowsett said.
“As well as honouring Jordan and all other Anzacs this event is about raising awareness and much-needed funds for The Warriors Return – an organisation dedicated to helping veterans return and adjust to civilian life after service.
“They are particularly focused on those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.”
Jordan went to Mt Martha Primary School and Dromana Secondary College. He played softball at Frankston over the summer and baseball for Cheltenham under-16s helping them win a premiership.
He was happy to give all sports a go, including wakeboarding, water-skiing and dirt-bike riding, and was a qualified scuba diver.
Jordan’s grandfather was an engineer in the Army. “All he ever wanted was to join the army and be a Sapper,” family friend Elizabeth Tobias said.
“He was also interested in joining the Army’s dog squad or de-arming bombs. He was always looking for ways he could help as many people as possible.
“While in Sydney, Jordan and a fellow soldier helped resuscitate a member of the public, for which they received an Army Commendation Medal.”
On the day an A2-grade game will be played as a curtain raiser from noon followed by a ceremony featuring the national anthem, The Last Post and one minute’s silence. This will be followed by the A1 grade game at 2:30pm.
Food and drinks, raffle and special edition baseball caps will be sale on the day. The caps have the Pirates’ logo on a camouflage hat as well as the No. 5 which was Jordan’s playing number.
Profits from the day will be donated to The Warriors Return.
Details: thewarriorsreturn.com
