The 2016 Girls and Women’s Winter Academy is set up for success with a fantastic array of coaches having committed to the program. The three head coaches of the academy are Samantha Hamilton, Simone Wearne and Dean Anglin. Together the three bring a wealth of experience and are excited for the opportunity to pass on their knowledge to all the participants involved in the program. Beyond these three Baseball Victoria are privileged to have gained access to an exceptional group of assistant coaches to pass on their knowledge and provide guidance to the participants of the 2016 Women’s and Girls’ Academy.
Ashley Blair, General Manager of Baseball Victoria is thrilled with the announcement.
“The experience, knowledge and skills these coaches will bring to the academy will prove invaluable to the large number of women and girls who have expressed interest in taking part. The baseball community in Victoria is lucky to have access to such a fantastic mix of coaches in all levels of the sport.”
Eighty women and girls have expressed an interest and due to such high demand and spread of players, we have divided the academy into 3 locations to be inclusive to all. The three locations are La Trobe on a Monday night, Springvale on a Thursday night and Melbourne Ballpark on a Friday night. At each of the locations Youth girls will train from 5.30-7.30pm and then senior Women will work out from 7.30-9.30pm.
The aim of the academy is to support each participant along a player pathway addressing all areas of the game over an eight week period. Each location will follow the same structure designed to provide all female baseball players in Victoria with the opportunity to develop individual skills through a deliberate volume based program. Baseball Victoria hope to see participants take their new knowledge and skills back to clubs, into the state program, and look forward to seeing many Victorians to go on to represent their country.
Please see below for biographies of each coach:
Samantha Hamilton:
A member of the inaugural Australian team in 2001, Hamilton competed in every World Series (2001-2004) and was one of just six players worldwide to have contested at all five IBAF World Cups (2004-2012). At a state level, she has claimed 11 national titles with Victoria in 16 years (1999-2014). In 2005, Hamilton also received a college scholarship to play Baseball for Wellness College in Tokyo, Japan. Hamilton has not only made her mark in the baseball world as a player but also as a coach being the Head Coach for the Doncaster Women’s Program for the past 13 years. This year Hamilton is again an assistant coach for the Diamond Valley U18 team, and was an Assistant Coach for the 2014 and 2015 Australian U18 Women’s Teams. In 2011, Hamilton was voted by the Victorian baseball community as Coach of the Year.
Simone Wearne:
A 9 time Victorian representative with 8 national titles, Wearne brings a great amount of experience and knowledge to the 2016 Victorian Women’s Girls’ Academy. Including, a Gold Medal at the 2002 World Series in Florida, Wearne earnt her appearance in the Green and Gold 11 times throughout her playing career. In 2012, Wearne was inducted into the Australian Baseball Hall of Fame shortly after hanging up the boots. Not long after, Wearne was back in the Green and Gold making her impact off the field as part of the coaching staff. Wearne was the pitching coach of the 2012 Australian Women’s team and has gone on to be Head Coach of the 2014 and current Australian Emeralds, managing the team to a Bronze medal at the 2014 IBAF World Cup. Wearne is a long-time Coach and Tour leader with Aussie Hearts, since it began in 2005, providing opportunities for girls and women of all abilities to travel the world to train and play baseball.
Dean Anglin:
Current Victorian Women’s Head Coach, Anglin has been involved with the Victorian Women’s Baseball Team for the last 8 years, and counting. Anglin coached the team to two Bronze medals, three Silver medals, claimed 2 Gold medals as assistant coach and most meaningfully managed the team to a National Title in 2011. Anglin is involved at Newport Baseball Club where he plays and coaches division one baseball. Anglin is a great advocate for women’s baseball and sport, being the CEO of Basketball Geelong, Anglin tirelessly provides opportunities for females within baseball to excel to their full potential. Anglin has been coaching baseball for 20 years now and made a significant impact at the grassroots level when Victoria held their very first Junior Girls Baseball Interstate Tournament in 2007.
Other coaching staff that Baseball Victoria are privileged to have involved are:
- Shae Lillywhite, Amy McCann, Alex Da Silver, Ursula Howard, Erin Peterson, Abe Reiko, Risa, Tanaka, Joe Michaud, Abbey McLellan and Miffanwy Smith.
Shae Lillywhite is the Head Coach of the Springvale Women’s Program and an infielder with the Australian Women’s National Baseball Team. In 2006, Lillywhite was named in the All-Star team as the second baseman. Shae most recently managed the Girls Southern Mariners team to victory at the first Girls Charter State Championships this year. Amy McCann is an Outfield and hitting specialist, being the Australian starting Centerfielder for many years. In 2004, McCann was named in the Women’s World Series All World Team and was named in the 2006 All-Star team as an outfielder. McCann was named Baseball Australia's Female Player of the Year in 2006. Alex Da Silver played in the ABL with the Melbourne Aces and signed professionally as a pitcher with Los Angeles Angles in 2011.
Ursula Howard has played and coached at the state level for nine years. Howard was the Head Coach of the Girls Eastern Athletics team who represented at the first Girls Charter State Champs. Erin Peterson is a Victorian women’s baseball representative, claiming National Titles in 2011 and 2013. Peterson debuted for Australia in 2014 at the IBAF World Cup in Canada. Paul Hung was a former Assistant Coach of the Victorian Youth Women’s Team and member of Baseball Victoria’s Women and Girls Working Group. Abe Reiko is a left handed utility player visiting Australia from Japan to play baseball and study. Reiko is very keen to help the growth of baseball here in Victoria.
Risa Tanaka moved from Japan to Australia to live up her international baseball dream.Tanaka has been a member of the Victorian Women’s Team for the past 2 years as a pitcher and infielder. Joe Michaud is a former Victorian Women’s pitching coach and long-time utility player. Bronwyn Gell represented Australia at 3 IBAF Women’s World Cups (2010-2014) as the starting short stop. Gell has been selected in the 2016 Emeralds training squad. Abbey McLellan is a current member of the 2016 Emeralds training squad. Lynn Fraser has been involved in Women’s baseball since it established in 1994. President of Footscray Baseball Club and member of Baseball Victoria’s Women and Girls Working Group. Miffanwy Smith is a former Victorian Youth Women’s assistant coach.
If you have not confirmed your registration or did not receive the registration form to accept a place in the 2016 Women’s and Girls’ Academy, please click the link below and you will be able to download it.
Please send the registration form to bronwyn.gell@baseballvictoria.com.au to secure your place.
Shae Lillywhite is the Head Coach of the Springvale Women’s Program and an infielder with the Australian Women’s National Baseball Team. In 2006, Lillywhite was named in the All-Star team as the second baseman. Shae most recently managed the Girls Southern Mariners team to victory at the first Girls Charter State Championships this year. Amy McCann is an Outfield and hitting specialist, being the Australian starting Centerfielder for many years. In 2004, McCann was named in the Women’s World Series All World Team and was named in the 2006 All-Star team as an outfielder. McCann was named Baseball Australia's Female Player of the Year in 2006. Alex Da Silver played in the ABL with the Melbourne Aces and signed professionally as a pitcher with Los Angeles Angles in 2011.
Ursula Howard has played and coached at the state level for nine years. Howard was the Head Coach of the Girls Eastern Athletics team who represented at the first Girls Charter State Champs. Erin Peterson is a Victorian women’s baseball representative, claiming National Titles in 2011 and 2013. Peterson debuted for Australia in 2014 at the IBAF World Cup in Canada. Paul Hung was a former Assistant Coach of the Victorian Youth Women’s Team and member of Baseball Victoria’s Women and Girls Working Group. Abe Reiko is a left handed utility player visiting Australia from Japan to play baseball and study. Reiko is very keen to help the growth of baseball here in Victoria.
Risa Tanaka moved from Japan to Australia to live up her international baseball dream.Tanaka has been a member of the Victorian Women’s Team for the past 2 years as a pitcher and infielder. Joe Michaud is a former Victorian Women’s pitching coach and long-time utility player. Bronwyn Gell represented Australia at 3 IBAF Women’s World Cups (2010-2014) as the starting short stop. Gell has been selected in the 2016 Emeralds training squad. Abbey McLellan is a current member of the 2016 Emeralds training squad. Lynn Fraser has been involved in Women’s baseball since it established in 1994. President of Footscray Baseball Club and member of Baseball Victoria’s Women and Girls Working Group. Miffanwy Smith is a former Victorian Youth Women’s assistant coach.
If you have not confirmed your registration or did not receive the registration form to accept a place in the 2016 Women’s and Girls’ Academy, please click the link below and you will be able to download it.
Please send the registration form to bronwyn.gell@baseballvictoria.com.au to secure your place.