Greetings from Perth.
This is the most isolated city in the World, Outback on three sides and Indian Ocean on the West side of this city of 1 million.

Our two teams; the '16 and under' Cubs coached by Cubs scout Charlie Aliano and the Rays '18 and under' coached by Rays scout Jake Wilson finished their games against the South African National Team and the Western Australia State Team. Each team was 4 wins and 2 loss. Our players are learing the game from the pro scouts. In addition each game is watched by 4 Australian scouts including former NY Yankee infielder Pat Kelly [Matiners scout].

Christmas at the "host families" in Perth and on the 26 December fly Qantas airlines to Adelaide, South Australia for a 12 game Goodwill Series with
the South Australia State Team.

The Rays team has 5 pro prospects and definitel 12 Major College prospects who will benefit greatly from our coaches and the competiton.

Bob Williams
<www.goodwillseries.org>

Merry Christmas Bob to you and to all of those with you in the Land Down Undah'! What an amazing time you must all be having. Sending you our best wishes and the very best for the games to come!!

Thanks for the update. I read that there are two players from my hometown competing on your teams.

Keep us posted.


Merry Christmas!

12's Dad and SSMOM;

Yes, we have four Texas players.

Cubs team- Taylor Skinner from Anahuac and Jacob Butcher from Houston; both have played very strong.

Rays team: Princeton Jackson from Cypress HS - Katy and Cass Ingvarden from Livingston,Texas. Both players will be pro drafts.

Today is Christmas Day in Perth and I am at the airport traveling to Adelaide for a 12 game Goodwill Series with South Australia.

"It is amazing to watch the business news each day, 17 hours before the USA receives the news.

Surprising is the retail sales in Australia is above last year. Of course huge discount help!

Our American dollar has decline 25% in the past 14 days. One needs to be an economist, travel agent, hotel coordinator, baseball promoter and marketing expert on these trips. We have 5 coaches and 22 parents and 28 players traveling this year.

Bob Williams

Tell Cass hello for me (Brett Hunter). Ingvardson and Jackson are both from Livingston, however Jackson now lives and attends school in Houston.

Bob,

Merry Christmas to you, Rob and the rest of the bunch. This morning, when we got up I asked my family what we were doing 4 years ago, it took them only a moment to figure it out. My daughter's eyes lit up and she said "We were in Perth!" That was a great trip, some wonderful memories and the baseball was awful good too.

12's dad and catchers dad;
Today our group arrives in the beautiful city of Adelaide [our 12 year]South Australia is the great wine country and home of "churches and pubs".

It reminds me of old England. It is 30 celis which is 90 degrees. $1 US dollar is = to 1.45 australian.

Catherine, Drew, Dan and Brett thank you for your interest.
We will have 11 games in Adelaide.
Bob

Bob I envy you. Traveling to Australia and playing baseball this time of year has to be very special. Thanks for the updates!

We're with Bob in Adelaide now. The Goodwill baseball and cultural experience has been excellent. My son, just turned 15, plays on the US 16U team. He feels the level of competition has been outstanding; perhaps the best pitchers he's ever faced (he plays H.S. varsity and select summer/fall ball in the States). Host family experience was exceptional in Perth and looks to be the same here in Adelaide. Beautiful country, wonderful people. Kudos to Goodwill!

Bob,

Thinking of you and wishing you all the very best...baseball and Christmas! What a wonderful Christmas! I couldn't think of a thing that we would rather be doing than playing baseball in Australia at Christmas time! Next year, right?

I guess that things work out like they do for a reason. I just continue to get that same ole' reminder that I am not in control... My Mother-in-law passed away and we had the memorial service Dec. 18th, the day after we were to leave for Australia.

Keep us updated mate!

Go Rays!!!

fROM ADELAIDE sOUTH AUSTRALIA;

Yesterday our two teams, parents and coaches arrive in Adelaide, South Australia.

The three day "layoff" showed and we lost both games with too many walks.

The weather is perfect, however the thin ozone layer makes us all conscious of wearing sun lotion.

Today the 28 Dec we have three games. The RAYS TEAM
will play the professional '23 and under".

Our coaches wife Angella Aliano sang both USA and Australian national anthems before the game.
She is from Australia and her daughter is name Adelaide.


Bob Williams

Australia;
on the 26 December our players arrived in Adelaide, South Australia. This is our 11th journey to Adelaide, a city of 1 million located on the Southern Ocean. The weather has bee beautiful
and the "host families" excellant.
Today is 31 December an we have complete our final games.
The USA Cubs coached by Charlies Aliano Cube scout won 3 and lost 2 in Adelaide. After the Cubs game Charles gave a catchers clinic to the catchers.
Two days ago our coaches, scout gave a seminar to the 18 parents.

The Rays finished 3 wins and 3 loss. The Rays are coached by Jake Wilson Rays scout. This team of 15 players played a total of 12 games.

There are 5 draftable players and 12 players who will attend strong college programs next year.

We will send personal letters and e-mails to the boys preferred college programs. All our players used the SSK wood bats. Plans are now formulated for next year.

Bob Williams