Genevieve Beacom is a force to be reckoned with on the field. She’s a standout pitcher in her own right, and a talented fielder and hitter too.
At the age of 15-years-old Genevieve has already accomplished some amazing things, including pitching at the 2017 Carl Ripken World Series in the U.S. She’s hoping to add some more accolades to her name this year, especially as the 2019/20 VSBL season comes to an end.
Playing for Sandringham Royals Baseball Club in the U16 State and Division 1 Thirds competition, Genevieve is getting lots of practice as she strives to continuing improving her skills. With plenty of opportunities for training and game time, Genevieve loves the atmosphere at Sandringham. “We’re a great club, we include everyone,” Genevieve said. “I look forward to playing with my friends and seeing how the club goes altogether.”
Sandringham’s thirds are currently 6-7 and hoping to make a late push into the finals picture, while the U16 State team sits in third with an 8-1-2 record after going undefeated through the first nine rounds.
Regardless of what happens as finals approach, Genevieve is grateful for the opportunity to play the game she loves and keep building her skills. “My goals are to train hard, play hard and see what I can get out of this season.”
While making VSBL finals would be great, there’s no shortage of excitement in Genevieve’s baseball journey as she just wrapped up her time at the 2020 Australian U16 Youth Championships with the Victoria Blue team. She’s also been named to the 2020 Victorian Women’s state team, a testament to her determination and the bright future ahead of her.
She tries to always maintain a positive attitude whether it’s a great win or a tough loss, which makes a difference as she takes the field for the Royals every week. “I think to succeed we just need to play together and keep out head up at all times and try to stick together even if it’s not going our way,” Genevieve said. “It’s always going to be fun to play with other people and get involved.”
Genevieve thrives in competitive settings with her teammates, and she strongly encourages others to get involved and see what baseball is all about. “There’s a lot of options where you can play different positions, and you can be around people you like,” Genevieve said. “Hard work pays off, you’ve just got to keep with it.”
Sandringham plays Cheltenham, Geelong and Waverley over the next three weeks in the U16 State competition, while the Division 1 Thirds face Cheltenham.
Individual award winners from the 2020 Australian Youth Championships were announced following the end of the tournament, and two Victorians received recognition for their efforts at #AYC2020.
Charlie Collins and Jarryd Wood, both from the Victoria Blue U18 team, received awards.
Collins collected the U18 hitting champion award after hitting .517 (15-for-29). The Blackburn infielder doubled five times and drove in nine runs. Wood was named fielding champion in the U18s after playing a part in six double plays and collecting 24 assists to go with 12 put outs.
Congratulations to Charlie and Jarryd, and well done on a fantastic tournament!
The 2020 Australian Youth Championships wrapped up today, with Victoria Blue finishing fourth in the U18s after their comeback in the bronze medal game was cut short due to poor air quality in the area. These conditions led to the cancellation of the U18 seventh-place playoff between Victoria White and Country New South Wales.
Victoria White had a 7-3 win in the U16s to go out on a high note, while Victoria Blue lost a close one 3-2 against Country New South Wales.
Well done to all Victorian players on their strong efforts over the course of #AYC2020!
U16 FINALS RESULTS - VICTORIA BLUE AND WHITE
Fifth-place playoff: Victoria Blue 2 v Country New South Wales 3
Early runs and strong pitching propelled Country New South Wales to a fifth-place U16 finish at #AYC2020.
A two-run first inning gave Country an early lead and strong pitching ensured it was enough, sealing a 3-2 win on diamond four at Geelong Baseball Centre.
VICB v CNSW: Box Score and play-by-play
George Cooper and Will Unitt drove in first-inning runs for Country NSW.
Liam Herbert reached on a dropped third strike and advanced to third on a single by Chaise Chabi.
Genevieve Beacom struck out Parker Robinson for the second out ahead of back-to-back singles from Cooper and Unitt.
Country added another unearned run in the fourth after Victoria Blue opened its account on a Patrick Gawith groundout in the bottom of the second.
Beacom did not allow an earned run through four innings, striking out five and allowing five hits.
Country NSW starter Cooper allowed two runs with two strikeouts in three innings.
Jayden Battese and Parker Robinson combined to throw four scoreless relief innings.
Charlie Pierson struck out three in three innings for Victoria Blue.
Declan Speirs had three hits for the Victorians.
Seventh-place playoff: Victoria White 7 v Australian Capital Territory 3
Joel Prpic homered as Victoria White clinched a seventh-place U16 finish at #AYC2020.
Three runs in the second and third helped overturn an early one-run deficit and propel Vic White to a 7-3 win over the Australian Capital Territory on diamond four.
VICW v ACT: Box Score and play-by-play
Will Page-Allen’s sacrifice fly handed the ACT a first-inning lead.
But Joel Prpic’s two-run homer in the second put Victoria White in front.
Finnley McGrath’s ground ball extended their lead.
Millar Kuhl added an RBI-single before two more runs scored on an error in the next inning.
The ACT pulled runs back after two-straight doubles from Page-Allen and Ryan Lyddiard in the fifth, but they were unable to complete the comeback.
U18 FINALS RESULTS - VICTORIA BLUE & WHITE
Bronze medal game: Victoria Blue 9 v South Australia 10
South Australia has claimed U18 bronze in an air quality-shortened #AYC2020 contest against Victoria Blue.
The wild clash between two determined teams was called off early due to poor air quality in Geelong on Wednesday.
The game was suspended and then called off with SA leading 10-9 on diamond one.
It was a thrilling contest with both teams trading big innings shortly before the contest was stopped.
South Australia scored six in the fifth to break a tie ahead of Vic Blue scoring five to pull within a run.
The top of the seventh did not start and the game was called off close to an hour after it was suspended.
Jacob Scott and Darcy Barry drove in two runs each for SA.
Barry had three hits, including a run-scoring triple in the fourth.
Dante Caruso’s grand slam made it interesting in the sixth.
His long shot with the bases loaded pulled Vic Blue within a run with none out, but Peter Paech came in to retire the side and keep SA in front.
Seventh-place playoff: Country New South Wales v Victoria White - canceled due to poor air quality
In light of the devastating bushfire crisis, Baseball Victoria has adopted Baseball Australia’s air quality policy, effective immediately.
The policy will cover all Baseball Victoria sanctioned events, including the Victorian Summer Baseball League (VSBL).
Click HERE for the full policy.
The final day of the 2020 Australian Youth Championships has arrived, with Victoria Blue set to play for a bronze medal in the U18s.
Queensland has a shot to claim a sweep of the U16 and U18 titles when #AYC2020 wraps up today in Geelong. They will face Western Australia in the U18 gold medal game from 4.30pm and undefeated New South Wales in the U16 decider from 1pm.
QUICK LINKS: U16 event hub | U18 event hub
Both gold medal games will be played on diamond one at Geelong Baseball Centre and broadcast live at baseball.com.au/videos.
Queensland will be aiming for its first U18 crown since 2014, while WA last won in 2017.
In the U16s New South Wales is aiming to make it three-straight, but Queensland stands in their way and will be looking for its first U16 championship since 2014.
Victoria Blue and South Australia will fight for U18 bronze and SA plays Western Australia in the U16 bronze medal game.
U16 FINALS SCHEDULE
9am, fifth-place playoff: Victoria Blue v Country New South Wales, Geelong diamond four – follow live
9.15am, seventh-place playoff: Victoria White v Australian Capital Territory, Geelong diamond two – follow live
12.45am, bronze medal game: South Australia v Western Australia, Geelong diamond two – follow live
1pm, gold medal game: New South Wales v Queensland, Geelong diamond one. Watch live at baseball.com.au/videos – follow live
U18 FINALS SCHEDULE
9.30am, bronze medal game: Victoria Blue v South Australia, Geelong diamond one – follow live
12pm, seventh-place playoff: Country New South Wales v Victoria White, Geelong diamond four – follow live
3.30pm, fifth-place playoff: New South Wales v Australian Capital Territory, Geelong diamond four – follow live
4.30pm, gold medal game: Queensland v Western Australia, Geelong diamond one. Watch live at baseball.com.au/videos. – follow live
Note: all times are local.
Best of luck to the Victorian U16 and U18 teams on the last day of #AYC2020!
In light of the devastating bushfire crisis, Baseball Victoria has adopted Baseball Australia’s air quality policy, effective immediately.
The policy will cover all Baseball Victoria sanctioned events, including the Victorian Summer Baseball League (VSBL).
Click HERE for the full policy.
Day five of the 2020 Australian Youth Championships featured several massive games to decide the #AYC2020 finals schedule. Victoria Blue has secured a spot in the U18 bronze medal game against South Australia, finishing with a 5-2 record, while Victoria White is 1-6. In the U16s, Victoria Blue finished day five with a 3-4 record as Victoria White sits at 2-5.
Good luck to all our Victorian teams on the final day of #AYC2020 tomorrow!
DAY FIVE U16 VICTORIA BLUE & WHITE RESULTS
Victoria Blue 6 v Victoria White 3
Victoria Blue will enter its #AYC2020 U16 fifth-place playoff against Victoria White with bragging rights.
Victoria Blue downed Victoria White on Tuesday in a dress-rehearsal of the 2020 U16 Australian Youth Championship fifth-place playoff.
Blue prevailed 6-3 at Melbourne Ballpark to take bragging rights into tomorrow’s playoff for fifth spot.
VICB v VICW: Box Score and play-by-play
A four-run first gave Victoria Blue the upperhand.
Ethan Scalzo and Ned Hargreaves each drove in two runs for Vic Blue.
Xander Gunn had three hits for Victoria White.
Vic White added runs in the second and third to pull within one before a two-run third put Blue back out on top comfortably.
Tyler Gwin also drove in a run for Victoria Blue.
The U16 fifth-place playoff will be on diamond four at Geelong from 9am tomorrow.
DAY FIVE U18 VICTORA BLUE & WHITE RESULTS
Australian Capital Territory 12 v Victoria White 10
The Australian Capital Territory have finished the opening round of the 2020 U18 Australian Youth Championship with a 3-4 record after edging Victoria White in a wild shootout on Tuesday.
Alex Pellow’s two-run double in the sixth broke the deadlock and lifted the ACT to a 12-10 victory on diamond four at Geelong.
ACT v VICW: Box Score and play-by-play
Victoria White pulled level in the top of the sixth before Pellow played hero to lift the ACT to its third win.
The ACT jumped out to a 6-2 lead but Vic White chipped away.
Victoria White drew level in the fifth with three runs and again in the sixth.
Pellow and Dom French had two RBIs for the ACT.
Oswin Wong and Marshall Hansen drove in three runs each for Victoria White.
Country New South Wales 9 v Victoria Blue 12
Adam Harris drove in four runs as Victoria Blue finished the opening round with a U18 win over Country New South Wales.
Victoria Blue overcame an early 5-1 deficit to win on Tuesday afternoon.
Blue used a six-run fourth to pull level and took the lead with runs in the fifth and sixth on diamond four at Geelong.
CNSW v VICB: Box Score and play-by-play
Adam Harris drove in four runs for Victoria Blue.
Jarryd Wood and Mcleod Sell had two RBIs.
Nick Battese led Country New South Wales with four RBIs.
Victoria Blue will finish the opening round in third with a 5-2 record regardless of the result in Queensland and South Australia’s clash on diamond one.
Western Australia defeated Victoria White to claim the second spot in tomorrow’s decider.
Western Australia 10 v Victoria White 6
Western Australia are into the #AYC2020 gold medal game against Queensland after downing Victoria White this afternoon.
WA rode a fast start to a 4-0 lead before going on to win 10-6 on diamond two at Geelong Baseball Centre.
WA v VICW: Box Score and play-by-play
Brady Oilphant and Maddux Stivey drove in four runs each for Western Australia, which finished the opening round with a 5-2 record.
Riley Franklin worked four solid innings, striking out one and allowing one earned run.
Rhys Fairweather drove in two runs for Vic White.
The U18 gold medal game is scheduled for 4.30pm tomorrow on diamond one at Geelong.
Both gold medal games will be broadcast live at baseball.com.au/videos.
U16 FINALS SCHEDULE
Gold medal game: New South Wales v Queensland, 1pm, Geelong diamond one. Watch live at baseball.com.au/videos.
Bronze medal game: South Australia v Western Australia, 12.45pm, Geelong diamond two
Fifth-place playoff: Victoria Blue v Country New South Wales, 9am, Geelong diamond four
Seventh-place playoff: Victoria White v Australian Capital Territory, 9.15am, Geelong diamond two
U18 FINALS SCHEDULE
Gold medal game: Queensland v Western Australia, 4.30pm, Geelong diamond one. Watch live at baseball.com.au/videos.
Bronze medal game: Victoria Blue v South Australia, 9.30am, Geelong diamond one
Fifth-place playoff: New South Wales v Australian Capital Territory, 3.30pm, Geelong diamond four
Seventh-place playoff: Country New South Wales v Victoria White, 12pm Geelong diamond four
Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the 2020 Women’s State Team.
Baseball Victoria has elected to send a single team to represent the state at the 2020 Australian Women’s Championships from 10-17 April in Canberra. This is a shift from previous years selections; with development players added to the primary team and an extended squad to maintain the pathway for Victorian women’s baseball.
“We came to this decision after much thought and careful consideration regarding the current state of our women’s program,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “We strongly believe it is in the best interests of the Women’s State Team program to send one women’s team this year. This team combines both experienced and developing players, we wanted to ensure our single team was strong and set up for success.”
The 2020 Women’s State Team includes a host of current Emeralds players including six members of the 2018 Australian team and a further four that attended the Bendigo Challenge in October 2019. The team is rounded out by a group of young players who will gain significant experience and exposure to a high level of competition as part of Baseball Victoria’s commitment to building a promising future for the Women’s State Team Program.
Dean Anglin, Head Coach of the Women’s State Team, says he has created a team to chase back-to-back titles after Victoria Women’s Blue won the 2019 Australian Women’s Championships. “Australian Emerald Bronwyn Gell returns and some of Victoria’s best young talent has been added to the team including Genevieve Beacom who is currently playing at the junior nationals and Lili Cavanagh who was tough to miss 2019 through injury,” Anglin said. “We expect nationals to be a strong competition leading into the World Cup in Mexico later this year so we will prepare as best we can to defend our title.”
The 2020 Australian Youth Championships opening round will wrap up across Geelong Baseball Centre and Melbourne Ballpark today.
Queensland and Western Australia (both 4-1) enter the day best placed to play for gold in the U18 competition but Victoria Blue isn't far behind at 4-2. All up six teams remain in contention for fight for a medal on Wednesday.
QUICK LINKS: U16 event hub | U18 event hub
In the U16s Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia will vie for a spot in Wednesday’s gold medal game against New South Wales. Victoria Blue and Victoria White are both 2-4 in the U16s.
All players and teams will today support the NO MORE Campaign by linking arms before each game to say no more to domestic violence.
Follow all the action free on GameChanger using the links below - best of luck to our Victorian teams on day five!
DAY FIVE U16 SCHEDULE
9.30am: Country New South Wales v South Australia, Geelong diamond four – follow live
10am: Australian Capital Territory v Queensland, Melbourne Ballpark – follow live
1pm: Victoria Blue v Victoria White, Melbourne Ballpark – follow live
4pm: New South Wales v Western Australia, Melbourne Ballpark – follow live
DAY FIVE U18 SCHEDULE
9am: Australian Capital Territory v Country New South Wales, Geelong diamond one – follow live
12pm: Queensland v Western Australia, Geelong diamond two – follow live
12pm: Australian Capital Territory v Victoria White, Geelong diamond four – follow live
2pm: South Australia v New South Wales, Geelong diamond one – follow live
3.30pm: Country New South Wales v Victoria Blue, Geelong diamond four – follow live
4pm: Western Australia v Victoria White, Melbourne Ballpark – follow live
5.30pm: South Australia v Queensland, Geelong diamond one – follow live
Note: all times are local.