Tara Murray
It is somewhat fitting that a member of the Schwartz family became the first player to play 400 games at Sunshine YCW.
With six family members are life members, the Schwartz family is part of the furniture at the club.
On Saturday, Mark Schwartz stepped out on the field for game 400 against Jacana in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
Schwartz said it was a special achievement to reach the milestone.
“It makes me feel old,” he said before the game.
“Obviously it’s a great achievement to be the first one at the club. It’s good for somebody to play 400 games at the club.”
Schwartz started playing for the club when he was nine, with his father already involved in the club.
His father Lee was past president of the club and played more than 300 games himself.
Schwartz would start filling in and playing in the senior sides when he was 11 or 12.
“It’s been 31 years, I’ve been playing my whole life.
“The club has had a significant impact on the club with most of my family involved and life members at the club.”
The weekend was a big one for Schwartz.
He also celebrated his 40th birthday, while the club hosted a premiership reunion day. Schwartz was part of three of the premierships that were being celebrated.
“The highlights are having played in a few premierships,” he said. “Also the special friendships you make at the club.
“I played in one first XI premiership, two second XI premierships and one fourth XI premiership.”
Schwartz has been on the committee for 20 years and is also currently the cricket operations manager.
He was captain-coach for one season. He also played more than 300 games for the Sunshine Football Club.
Club vice-president Daniel Carter has played a lot of cricket with Schwartz over the years.
He said for him to make 400 games was a massive achievement.
“Obviously he has always been around the club,” he said.
“He’s known as a bit of a pest on and off the field. In this day and age it’s magnificent achievement with cricket changing in the last four or five years.
“On average you would play 10 or 11 matches, some of the young ones now will play 45 games a year.
“It’s really fitting it was one of the Schwartz who broke the record, it’s great achievement.”
Schwartz said he’s unsure what the future holds beyond this season.
“My body says I should stop, but the head says keep going. I thought I would probably finish up at 400 games, but I haven’t decided.
“I’ll finish off the season and hopefully we can win a few more games and make finals.”
While Schwartz’s career is winding down, the Schwartz name continues on.
“I’ve coached my son [Bailey] for the last two years in under-11s,” he said.
“My daughter [Aisha] is doing junior blast.”
