12-year-old Caitlin Hoy has improved leaps and bounds in the past year since she’s started playing baseball. In less than 12 months, the promising young athlete has embarked on an incredible baseball journey that’s included a bronze medal run with the 2019 Victorian Youth Women’s Team and two successful seasons with Williamstown Wolves Baseball Club. Now that she has one massive year under her belt, Caitlin has set her sights on doing it all over again this next year, with some high hopes for what her future holds.
“I’m just so passionate about baseball,” Caitlin said. “I love the game, and I just want to take my baseball as far as I can go.”
Discovering Her Love of Baseball
The pathway for Caitlin to reach her baseball dreams certainly exists, as she’s proof that even just a few months of dedicated training and development can pay off in amazing ways. After playing softball through School Sports, Caitlin fell in love with baseball and joined her local Williamstown club in October 2018 at the age of 11. It didn’t take her long to pick up on the art of pitching playing Junior League, and within several months she found herself tackling a new challenge: trying out for the Youth Women’s State Team.
Despite her nerves, Caitlin resolved to just try her hardest and see what happened. She devoted herself to improving her skills and becoming a better baseballer every day, and her efforts paid off bigtime when she was selected as the youngest player on the Youth Women’s State Team. Caitlin didn’t even allow time for the shock and surprise of her selection to wear off before she got to work, training harder than she had ever done before.
“When Head Coach Ursula Howard told me, my mind was blown. I couldn’t believe it - it was like a dream come true and I was just so thankful and excited to train with all the girls in the State Team,” Caitlin said. “I started counting down the weeks to Canberra.”
Preparations for the Australian Youth Women’s Championships included early Saturday morning trainings for two months, along with midweek training sessions in the weeks leading up to the tournament. “I’m so thankful to my dad for practicing with me and getting up early to take me to all the trainings,” Caitlin said.
With the full support of her family and friends behind her, Caitlin made the most of this opportunity, coming away with noticeable improvements to her baseball game that she continues to work on to this day. “I had a really good experience. I was nervous because I’m only 12 and the youngest on the team, but all my teammates were supportive and kind,” Caitlin said. “They were just amazing.”
Representing on the National Stage
After months of passionate practice and preparation, Caitlin and her teammates headed to Canberra in April 2019 for the National Championships. They lost a few tough games in the beginning, but they pulled through and ended up winning the bronze medal game against WA. Caitlin says coming back from a six-run deficit to take out a third-place finish was a wonderful result, made possible by their strong teamwork and trust in one another.
“I had a blast representing Victoria. All of the girls were so amazing. They were talented, kind people who were just getting out there, playing the game and trying their best. Everyone did so well and was so supportive,” Caitlin said. “We really encouraged each other and got along, and we were focused on what we wanted to achieve and aspects of the game that we wanted to improve.”
With the bronze medal on the line, Caitlin and her teammates were determined to do their very best, playing their hearts out in the process and coming away with the win. During her time at the tournament, Caitlin proved to herself that she could accomplish anything she set her mind on. “I was really stoked with my batting, I got the bat on the ball every time and I was really happy with that,” Caitlin said. “When I stepped up to the plate for my first at-bat, I was so nervous because I had never been up against pitchers at Nationals. Just as I was thinking, oh my gosh how am I going to do this, I got a bat on ball and I made it to first base. I was just so relieved.’
Avoiding strikeouts, recording an RBI and scoring several runs for her team were additional highlights for Caitlin at the tournament. Now more confident in her athletic abilities than ever before, Caitlin has continued her baseball career since returning from Nationals. She took what she learned in her extraordinary experience and applied these lessons and skills to her recent season with Williamstown in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League. “The tournament was one of the best experiences of my life, and it was fantastic to be part of the team. I came away from the tournament as a better player,” Caitlin said. “I have improved as a whole, and I’ve been really working really hard and focusing on my pitching for my club. My coaches have been so supportive of me, and we had a great winter season, coming up just short of playing in the Grand Final after a really close semi-final.”
Aiming for a Bright Future
With the 2019/20 VSBL season just weeks away, Caitlin is looking forward to continuing her junior playing career at Williamstown. With the support, guidance and technical advice from fellow female baseball players, Caitlin hopes to follow in their footsteps and take her baseball to the highest level. “I would really like to make it to the state team again and have an opportunity to have another amazing team experience, so I’m trying out this year,” Caitlin added.
With role models in the Victorian Women’s baseball scene like Abbey McLellan, Caitlin has some inspirational individuals to look up to. “I would love to hit like Abbey one day. She’s an amazing player who has represented Australia and come back from injury with spirit and determination. I really look up to her and want to be like her.”
As an avid pitcher, Caitlin also admires Mo’ne Davis, one of the first girls to play in the Little League World Series and the first girl to earn a win and pitch a shutout in the competition’s history. “I think she’s an awesome pitcher and I aspire to be like her,” Caitlin said.
Before playing baseball, Caitlin was involved in footy, and while she loves watching that game and her beloved Western Bulldogs, the baseball diamond has captured her full attention. “Baseball has become my focus, but I love spending time with friends outside of school as well as reading a good book and writing my own stories.”
Caitlin makes sure to share her love of baseball with just about everyone she meets. She says she hopes other young girls will be inspired to get involved in the baseball community. Caitlin says one of the best things about baseball is that everyone can play, so long as they have determination and a desire to improve. “It’s an amazing sport with so many talented people,” Caitlin added. “It’s such an incredible experience and a great team sport where you’ll make lots of really good friends.”
As women’s baseball continues to grow, Caitlin is thrilled to be along for the ride. “There’s a growing interest in the sport, and development pathways are giving girls the chance to represent their state and take their baseball to Nationals,” Caitlin said. “I’m having so much fun playing baseball. I’m learning a lot, I’m really passionate about it and my teammates and coaches are so supportive and encouraging.”
Caitlin’s dad Daryl has spent much of the last year bringing Caitlin to her many trainings and games, and it’s a responsibility he wouldn’t trade for the world. “We are very proud that Caitlin was involved in a fantastic tournament with a great bunch of friendly and supportive teammates and coaches,” Daryl said. “We’re so excited for her and we hope she continues to enjoy baseball and have fun while meeting new friends. We know she can take it to the highest level she’s aiming for.”
The pathway for Caitlin to reach her baseball dreams certainly exists, as she’s proof that even just a few months of dedicated training and development can pay off in amazing ways. After playing softball through School Sports, Caitlin fell in love with baseball and joined her local Williamstown club in October 2018 at the age of 11. It didn’t take her long to pick up on the art of pitching playing Junior League, and within several months she found herself tackling a new challenge: trying out for the Youth Women’s State Team.
Despite her nerves, Caitlin resolved to just try her hardest and see what happened. She devoted herself to improving her skills and becoming a better baseballer every day, and her efforts paid off bigtime when she was selected as the youngest player on the Youth Women’s State Team. Caitlin didn’t even allow time for the shock and surprise of her selection to wear off before she got to work, training harder than she had ever done before.
“When Head Coach Ursula Howard told me, my mind was blown. I couldn’t believe it - it was like a dream come true and I was just so thankful and excited to train with all the girls in the State Team,” Caitlin said. “I started counting down the weeks to Canberra.”
Preparations for the Australian Youth Women’s Championships included early Saturday morning trainings for two months, along with midweek training sessions in the weeks leading up to the tournament. “I’m so thankful to my dad for practicing with me and getting up early to take me to all the trainings,” Caitlin said.
With the full support of her family and friends behind her, Caitlin made the most of this opportunity, coming away with noticeable improvements to her baseball game that she continues to work on to this day. “I had a really good experience. I was nervous because I’m only 12 and the youngest on the team, but all my teammates were supportive and kind,” Caitlin said. “They were just amazing.”
Representing on the National Stage
After months of passionate practice and preparation, Caitlin and her teammates headed to Canberra in April 2019 for the National Championships. They lost a few tough games in the beginning, but they pulled through and ended up winning the bronze medal game against WA. Caitlin says coming back from a six-run deficit to take out a third-place finish was a wonderful result, made possible by their strong teamwork and trust in one another.
“I had a blast representing Victoria. All of the girls were so amazing. They were talented, kind people who were just getting out there, playing the game and trying their best. Everyone did so well and was so supportive,” Caitlin said. “We really encouraged each other and got along, and we were focused on what we wanted to achieve and aspects of the game that we wanted to improve.”
With the bronze medal on the line, Caitlin and her teammates were determined to do their very best, playing their hearts out in the process and coming away with the win. During her time at the tournament, Caitlin proved to herself that she could accomplish anything she set her mind on. “I was really stoked with my batting, I got the bat on the ball every time and I was really happy with that,” Caitlin said. “When I stepped up to the plate for my first at-bat, I was so nervous because I had never been up against pitchers at Nationals. Just as I was thinking, oh my gosh how am I going to do this, I got a bat on ball and I made it to first base. I was just so relieved.’
Avoiding strikeouts, recording an RBI and scoring several runs for her team were additional highlights for Caitlin at the tournament. Now more confident in her athletic abilities than ever before, Caitlin has continued her baseball career since returning from Nationals. She took what she learned in her extraordinary experience and applied these lessons and skills to her recent season with Williamstown in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League. “The tournament was one of the best experiences of my life, and it was fantastic to be part of the team. I came away from the tournament as a better player,” Caitlin said. “I have improved as a whole, and I’ve been really working really hard and focusing on my pitching for my club. My coaches have been so supportive of me, and we had a great winter season, coming up just short of playing in the Grand Final after a really close semi-final.”
Aiming for a Bright Future
With the 2019/20 VSBL season just weeks away, Caitlin is looking forward to continuing her junior playing career at Williamstown. With the support, guidance and technical advice from fellow female baseball players, Caitlin hopes to follow in their footsteps and take her baseball to the highest level. “I would really like to make it to the state team again and have an opportunity to have another amazing team experience, so I’m trying out this year,” Caitlin added.
With role models in the Victorian Women’s baseball scene like Abbey McLellan, Caitlin has some inspirational individuals to look up to. “I would love to hit like Abbey one day. She’s an amazing player who has represented Australia and come back from injury with spirit and determination. I really look up to her and want to be like her.”
As an avid pitcher, Caitlin also admires Mo’ne Davis, one of the first girls to play in the Little League World Series and the first girl to earn a win and pitch a shutout in the competition’s history. “I think she’s an awesome pitcher and I aspire to be like her,” Caitlin said.
Before playing baseball, Caitlin was involved in footy, and while she loves watching that game and her beloved Western Bulldogs, the baseball diamond has captured her full attention. “Baseball has become my focus, but I love spending time with friends outside of school as well as reading a good book and writing my own stories.”
Caitlin makes sure to share her love of baseball with just about everyone she meets. She says she hopes other young girls will be inspired to get involved in the baseball community. Caitlin says one of the best things about baseball is that everyone can play, so long as they have determination and a desire to improve. “It’s an amazing sport with so many talented people,” Caitlin added. “It’s such an incredible experience and a great team sport where you’ll make lots of really good friends.”
As women’s baseball continues to grow, Caitlin is thrilled to be along for the ride. “There’s a growing interest in the sport, and development pathways are giving girls the chance to represent their state and take their baseball to Nationals,” Caitlin said. “I’m having so much fun playing baseball. I’m learning a lot, I’m really passionate about it and my teammates and coaches are so supportive and encouraging.”
Caitlin’s dad Daryl has spent much of the last year bringing Caitlin to her many trainings and games, and it’s a responsibility he wouldn’t trade for the world. “We are very proud that Caitlin was involved in a fantastic tournament with a great bunch of friendly and supportive teammates and coaches,” Daryl said. “We’re so excited for her and we hope she continues to enjoy baseball and have fun while meeting new friends. We know she can take it to the highest level she’s aiming for.”