"If I get a couple of turns with the bat this weekend I'll be happy. There a lot of younger players in the squad ready to step up and do their bit in the outfield," Julian explained.
Julian and 59-year-old Kevin England were the Bay's defensive heroes in the outfield when the hosts won the last Evergreens men's tournament at Akina Park in 2006.
The pair are both calling it quits from the playing department after today's play.
"I thought it would be a good time to finish at home. While I will try to get back to as many of these tournaments as possible I may not always be able to," Julian said.
"We were a bit rusty in our first game [a 3-2 win over Whanganui] but there's enough talent in our squad to win the tourney. We've got good hitters and we're good enough on the hill."
A former Taradale club player, Julian, had six seasons in the Hawke's Bay senior men's team during his younger days. He enjoys reminiscing with former teammates and opponents at the Evergreens tournaments.
"We made a semifinal with one of those Hawke's Bay teams but playing in the national Lion Red Series with Taradale was the career highlight," Julian recalled.
Second baseman Hector Stubbs was the hero of Hawke's Bay's opening win against Whanganui. He hit an automatic home run with pitcher Jamie Ngawhika on base during their final inning to secure the victory.
"They made hard work of it but it was good to see," remarked Graham England.
He was one of five members of the 1972 Hawke's Bay team which won the inaugural Evergreens tournament at Akina Park among the spectators. The others were Fred Carroll, Terry Connolly, Terry Franklin and John Gillings.
After losing 8-1 to Wellington in their second match yesterday the hosts booked a berth in today's quarter-finals with a 7-1 win against Waikato. Luke Herrick, who had stints at centre outfielder and on the mound, had two home runs against Waikato.
Last year's joint winners, Southland and Waikato, opened their campaigns with convincing wins. Southland, who have 2000 world title-winning Black Sox pitcher Greg Newton on their roster, walloped Horowhenua 20-0 and Wairarapa beat Auckland 8-0.
Another of the fancied sides, New Zealand Combined Services, who have another former Black Sox hurler, Jimmy Wana, in their squad were pipped 8-6 by Tauranga in their first game. Other first round encounters saw Nelson beat Canterbury 5-1, Hutt Valley beat North Harbour 14-0 and Wellington beat Waikato 10-0.
Later yesterday Wairarapa completed an unbeaten run with a 9-1 win against Canterbury and 11-0 win against Nelson. Southland beat North Harbour 15-0. New Zealand Combined Services lost 7-6 to Rotorua.
