Baseball Victoria, Author at Baseball Victoria

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristie Middleton as its new Chief Executive Officer.

An extensive recruitment process managed by sports recruitment specialist Sportspeople resulted in 64 applications and a shortlist of five candidates which were interviewed by a Sub Committee of the Baseball Victoria Board.

Commenting on the appointment, Baseball Victoria President, Myles Foreman said, “Kristie is an experienced sports leader including experience as a CEO of State and National Sporting Associations across multiple sports including time as CEO for Basketball NT and Ski Racing Australia as well as time as a consultant to multiple sports. Kristie will bring significant strategic and operational capability and experience to the role which aligns perfectly with Baseball Victoria’s vision ‘to be the number one state in Australia for baseball participation by being a safe, welcoming and inclusive sport’ with a strategy built around Gain, Train, Retain, Sustain and Entertain across all aspects of our sport".

Kristie Middleton said, "I am very pleased to be taking on this new role, and look forward to working with the baseball community to continue build upon their solid foundation".

Myles Foreman added, “With strong financial and operational foundations laid over recent years and with the Melbourne Aces now in private ownership, Baseball in Victoria is now positioned for a period of growth. The appointment of Kristie with her extensive sports administration experience will help maximise the current strong foundations through, leadership, collaboration and consultation with the Victorian Baseball community".

Kristie will commence on Monday 26 August 2019.

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristie Middleton as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Kristie Middleton said, "I am very pleased to be taking on this new role, and look forward to working with the baseball community to continue build upon their solid foundation".

Kristie will commence on Monday 26 August 2019.

Baseball Victoria is now accepting applications for coaches and executive officers for the 2020 Australian Youth Championships.

This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who wish to lead the state's top youth players to success on the national stage. Head coaches, assistant coaches and executive officers can have a tremendous impact on our Victorian players, guiding them toward a terrific tournament experience on and off the field.

Baseball Victoria plans on sending four teams - U18 Blue and White and U16 Blue and White - to the national championships.

Applications for open positions close on Friday, 23^rdAugust.

For more information on this opportunity and to obtain an application form, please contact kellie.thomas@baseballvictoria.com.au

Day 2 of the 2019 U12 State Winter Championships included 12 awesome, action-packed games and plenty of terrific teamwork. Congratulations to Diamond Valley (Red) from Pool A and City West from Pool B on winning the tournament! We are so proud of these U12 State Winter Champions!

Another highlight of the day included the U12 SWC Home Run Derby proudly sponsored by Ausport. Sunraysia's Oliver Hayes had his brother catch for him and his dad pitch to him during the Home Run Derby, and he was joined by talented competitors Ryan Kinkade (Bendigo), Liam Rowsell (City West), Hunter Richardson (Dandenong), Roy Chang (Diamond Valley Red), Josh Antonacci (Diamond Valley Black), Jordan Ellis (Geelong), Jarrod Thomas (Latrobe Valley) and Masa Yamamoto (Ringwood). Many team players got involved, heading to the outfield to retrieve balls and cheer on their friends and teammates.

Roy and Jarrod made it into the top two, when Jarrod was crowned the U12 SWC Home Run Derby Champion! He received a $50 Ausport gift voucher and was later named Latrobe Valley's All-Star Player.

Diamond Valley (Red) prevailed in a 3-0 Grand Final finish over Dandenong, while City West went 6-0 as they emerged victorious. Congratulations to Diamond Valley and City West on a fantastic finish to the U12 State Winter Championships. This was a wonderful weekend at Werribee Baseball Club, made possible through the efforts of many volunteers in the baseball community and the support of Viva, Ausport, Wyndham City Council and The Regatta Shop. It was great to see so many kids out having fun and making memories with their baseball friends!

Pool A

Game 7

Sunraysia vs. Geelong

10 9

Sunraysia held on for their first win of the tournament despite a valiant effort by Geelong. They struck first in the top of the first, scoring three on three walks, a fly out and a groundout. Sunraysia wasn't unsettled, responding with a five-spot in the first as five players walked to make it 5-3.

The top of the second saw Geelong score five runs of their own, with big hits to Luke Morrow, Charlie Bell and Xavier Galang. Jack Northfield and Thomas Rome walked runs in during bases-loaded situations as Geelong captured a three-run lead. This advantage didn't last long, as Sunraysia loaded the bases in the bottom of the second on three walks. Two additional base on balls and a single by Deegan Cox saw Sunraysia recapture the lead with a 10-8 score.

Geelong had their last chance in the top of the third, and they got one back on a wild pitch but it wasn't enough to close the gap as Sunraysia's Logan Arnold recorded the final outs and protected his team's lead, much to their excitement.

Geelong had three hits and two errors on the day, compared to one hit and one hit for Sunraysia. Allistaire Lang pitched well for Geelong, recording two strikeouts and giving up no earned runs. This result gave Sunraysia a much-needed boost heading into their second game of the day against Ringwood.

Game 8

Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Ringwood

11 6

Ringwood got their bats moving early, racking up three runs on four walks, a hit by pitch and Ethan Rashleigh's 1-out single. Diamond Valley (Red) wasn't deterred, responding with a five-run first inning. Lachlan Brennan walked to start things off, and Reeve Hammond delivered a blazing triple to right field to bring him in. A strikeout and a fielder's choice followed to bring Diamond Valley within one run. Honor Hereora walked, and Oliver Every doubled before Oliver Von Tuck singled to give Diamond Valley a 5-3 advantage heading into the second.

Ringwood made up the difference in the top of the second, taking five walks to level the ledger. The back-and-forth battle continued as Diamond Valley took three walks in addition to singles by Minsung Shin and Austin Caulfield to make it 7-5. Brennan pitched well in the top of the third, keeping Ringwood off the board for their first scoreless inning of the game with just 16 pitches required.

Diamond Valley extended their lead with four more in the bottom of the third, as Windsor Breckenridge led off with a base hit before Kycen Dowling came up to bat and smashed a double. Roy Chang, Shin and Hereora also had hits in the inning for a comfortable 11-5 advantage. Ringwood got one back in the top of the fourth, but the victory belonged to Diamond Valley.

Hereora, Shin and Every each collected 2 RBI's in the game, in which Diamond Valley had 10 hits overall while keeping Ringwood to just one. Squire threw seven first-pitch strikes for Diamond Valley as his team's record improved to 4-0.

Game 9

Ringwood vs. Sunraysia

7 3

Ringwood's bats got the job done today against Sunraysia, as they collected nine hits while only giving up two. It wasn't until the bottom of the second that Ringwood got on the board, thanks to a dedicated pitching and defence performance.

Declan Marshall pitched well for Ringwood, giving up a single to Sunraysia's Alex Kane before settling down and getting the job done. It was a similar story for Oliver Hayes in the bottom of the first, as Ethan Rashleigh singled off him before he finished the inning with a strikeout. Marshall used just 12 pitches to send Sunraysia back to the field for the bottom of the second. That's when Ringwood scored on Finlay McGrotty's RBI triple to left field. Hayes kept in control and struck out the next three batters to escape with minimal damage.

Marshall had a quick inning in the top of the third, striking out two and retiring the third batter on a groundout with just two pitches. Hayes used only eight pitches to end the third inning. The back-and-forth carried on as Sunraysia was kept off the board once again. Ringwood added to their lead with hits from Masakiyo Yamamoto and McGrotty in the bottom of the fourth.

Two Sunraysia batters walked in the top of the fifth but they struggled to get on the scoreboard once again. Ringwood scored five runs in the bottom frame to put the game out of reach for Sunraysia. This included singles by Denzel Wynne-Primus, Noah Traplin, Brodie Trevean, Lucas Tucker, Rashleigh and Lachie Kilmartin.

Stella Mobbs singled as Sunraysia got back three runs in the final inning, but they couldn't close the gap entirely. McGrotty and Rashleigh led the way for Ringwood with two hits apiece, while Hayes had an amazing outing with 10 first-pitch strikes and eight strikeouts. All in all Sunraysia struck out 11 pitchers while Ringwood recorded 10 K's.

Game 10

Geelong vs. Dandenong

7 6

Even though Dandenong lost a nail biter to Geelong, they still earned a spot in the Grand Final. Dandenong struck first in the opening frame, with Bella Bodey walking and Liam Puncher batting her with a base hit. Pitcher Josh Hirst kept things under control, while Theodore Rutgers took the mound for Dandenong. Two walks and Jake Chapman's RBI single gave Geelong a 2-1 lead.

Dandenong added two in the top of the second on hits by Rutgers and Harrison Brodie. Geelong was kept scoreless in the bottom frame although Allistaire Lang walked and Tylah Laurie singled. The top of the third saw Jack Garbett-Davidson single and Dandenong added one more run on a groundout. Archer Quelch came in to pitch in the bottom of the third, recording two quick strikeouts before Chapman singled, Hirst walked and Pat Johnson doubled to tie the game. It was then Chapman's turn to pitch, and he kept Dandenong off the board in the top of the fourth.

Geelong's Charlie Bell led off with a single but his teammates struggled to bring him around to score with some great pitching from Quelch. Dandenong took a two-run lead in the fifth on four walks, but Geelong used their final inning to turn the score in their favour. Jordan Ellis had a lead-off double and Chapman and Johnson singled while two bases-loaded walks gave them the go-ahead run for a huge victory.

Johnson led Geelong with 3 RBI's, while Chapman had three hits and Bella Bodey did a great job of getting on base for Dandenong, taking three walks. Hirst threw nine first-pitch strikes in his three innings, while Dandenong's pitching trio combined for seven strikeouts.

Consolation

Geelong vs. Ringwood

13 14

Geelong and Ringwood fought hard until the very end, but Cooper Holloway came home on a wild pitch to seal the deal for Ringwood. Jordan Ellis had an RBI single for Geelong in the first, while Masa Yamamoto also knocked in a run in the bottom frame for Ringwood. It was 5-1 in favour of Ringwood by the time the inning was over.

Eager to get on the board, Geelong loaded the bases for Jack Northfield to hit an RBI single before Xavier Galang sent a grand slam into the field, much to roaring cheers from Geelong supporters and his trusty teammates. Ringwood tied it up with Yamamoto's second RBI of the game.

The top of the third featured a single by Jake Chapman and two more runs for Geelong. Ethan Rashleigh came up to bat for Ringwood in the bottom half, leading off with a single before two walks loaded the bases. Several groundouts and a third RBI single by Yamamoto put Ringwood back in front, 10-8.

Geelong battled back, with Ellis hitting a two-run homer as Geelong went up by three. Unfortunately for Geelong, giving up six straight walks proved to be their downfall as Ringwood came back to regain the lead and take out the third place victory.

Rhianne Smith did a good job getting on base for Ringwood, taking four walks in the game, while pitcher Denzel Wynne-Primus threw 12 first-pitch strikes.

Grand Final

Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong

3 0

This highly competitive matchup made for a thrilling Grand Final, as Diamond Valley looked to finish strong and remain undefeated throughout the whole tournament. Their first meeting was a close affair as Diamond Valley won by a lone run.

Both pitchers and defence did an amazing job keeping their opponents off the bases, with the first score not coming until the bottom of the third. Kycen Dowling pitched well for Diamond Valley, while Hunter Richardson did the same for Dandenong. Harrison Brodie singled in the first but was left stranded, as was Jax Clarke in the second.

Dowling and his Diamond Valley teammates got out of the third inning with a great double play, and they brought their first run home on a wild pitch in the bottom frame. Will Kent doubled for Dandenong in the fourth, but he was stranded as well. The tight contest continued as Kent and Roy Chang took over pitching duties for Dandenong and Diamond Valley, respectively.

It was the bottom of the fifth when Andy Chang singled, allowing Breckenridge to score on a throw before Chang did the same on an error. This three-run lead was all Diamond Valley needed as R. Chang closed the game out quickly.

Richardson struck out five in the game, while Dowling struck out four.

Pool B

Game 7

Bendigo vs. Latrobe Valley

5 7

In yesterday's meeting, Latrobe Valley won 11-6, despite some massive hits from Bendigo. Today's game was a different story, as Bendigo remained right in it until the end. Bendigo's Patrick Mathews started the game on the mound, giving up just one two-out single with three strikeouts in the first inning.

Latrobe Valley retired the side on 10 pitches in the bottom of the first, and they got their first run in the second with a single by Jackson Amos helping the cause and continuing to pressure Bendigo. They weren't fazed one bit, as Bendigo put together a five-run bottom of the second. Felix Hughes reached on an error, and three walks, two hit by pitch batters and a groundout allowed Bendigo to rack up the runs.

Latrobe Valley jumped back on the board with two runs in the top of the third to narrow their deficit to two. Alex Smith did a great job on the mound for Latrobe Valley in the bottom of the third, retiring Bendigo on just 17 pitches. Latrobe Valley did a great job of getting ahead in the top of the fourth, taking a two-run lead on several walks and fielder's choice. Smith closed the game and protected Latrobe Valley's lead, using just 12 pitches and striking out two.

Latrobe Valley's pitching trio threw a combined no-hitter with five strikeouts in the game. Bendigo's pitchers also did well on the mound, giving up just three hits overall with seven strikeouts - six of those recorded by Mathews. This result evened Latrobe Valley's record to 2-2.

Game 8

City West vs. Diamond Valley (Black)

8 5

City West continued their dominating U12 SWC campaign with a terrific team effort to start Day 2 off right. Both teams enjoyed fantastic pitching and defence in the first two innings as the game was scoreless until the third. Fletcher Wilson took the mound for City West, striking out three with just 16 pitches.

Oliver Baillargeon pitched for Diamond Valley, giving up a single and two walks but getting out of the bases-loaded situation with no damage done. Wilson struck out the side in the top of the second, and Baillargeon did the same when he got back on the mound.

Diamond Valley opened up the scoring in the top of the third, taking six walks, a hit by pitch and Josh Antonacci's single to make it 5-0. City West wasn't fazed, getting all but one run back in the bottom frame when Liam Rowsell smashed a grand slam to centre field.

Zachary Papadimitriou hit a single but that was it for Diamond Valley in the top of the fourth. City West won it in the bottom of the fourth, with an impressive team effort led by doubles from Wilson and Rowsell and a two-run homer by Finn O'Neill. Rowsell and Wilson collected four of City West's six hits in the game, while Baillargeon threw six first-pitch strikes with five strikeouts in a good outing on the mound. City West improved to 4-0, while Diamond Valley dropped to 2-2.

Game 9

Latrobe Valley vs. City West

1 10

City West kept Latrobe Valley quiet, with just one hit over the course of the game. Jarrod Thomas walked the first batter but wasted no time striking out the next three, while City West's Cooper Bishop-Worn recorded three strikeouts of his own in the bottom frame. City West made it on the board in the top of the second with five walks and a fielder's choice for a 2-0 advantage.

Ryan Glass singled but Latrobe Valley couldn't get him around, and five more walks and a wild pitch put City West up by five. Latrobe's Cooper Gray scored their first run of the game on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third. City West tacked on five more runs in the top of the fourth to finish the game strong. Bishop-Worn, Finn O'Neill and Noah McCurdy had hits in the innings, with walks to Liam Rowsell, Baxter Maynard and Luca McCurdy. Bishop-Worn threw six first-pitch strikes and recorded five strikeouts in two innings, with Thomas notching 5 K's of his own. This exciting result marked City West's fifth straight win to keep them comfortable atop the Pool B round robin ladder.

Game 10

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Bendigo

10 5

Diamond Valley was thrilled to get their third win on the board with a strong team effort against Bendigo. Libby Morgan led the way with her pitching prowess, covering 2.2 innings with seven first-pitch strikes and six strikeouts while also knocking in two runs for Bendigo. . She needed just 12 pitches to retire Bendigo in the opening frame, and it was a similar story for pitcher Darcy Pump. Noah Chun singled but that was it for Diamond Valley in the bottom of the first.

Bendigo scored first, jumping on the board in the top of the second as Zak Banks-Broome reached on an error and came around to score a short time later. Morgan struck out two to end the inning. Cohen Power led off the bottom of the second with a huge double, and five walks and a hit by pitch batter allowed Diamond Valley to take a 5-1 lead.

Angus Costello singled and Ryan Kinkade hit a home run for Bendigo in the top of the third before Hudson Castle doubled to bring his team within one run. Power hit his second double of the game in the bottom of the third, and Joseph Herriman singled as Diamond Valley kept getting on base and worked their way to a comfortable 10-4 advantage.

Elliot Cole doubled to start the fourth, while Pump's single brought in their fifth and final run of the game. Diamond Valley's Morgan, Diego Surace and Josh Antonacci pitched well, combining for nine strikeouts. Pump, Castle and Derek Rogers recorded five strikeouts overall for Bendigo.

Game 11

Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley (Black)

15 11

In their final game of the tournament, Latrobe Valley came away winners in an absolute run fest. Despite having only two and four hits respectively, Latrobe Valley and Diamond Valley racked up the runs on a combination of walks and timely sacrifices to move runners around.

Carrying the momentum from their 10-5 win over Bendigo, Diamond Valley put together a five-run frame to open the game. Libby Morgan had an RBI single to help her team out, while three walks and two hit by pitch batters also made a difference. Latrobe Valley wasn't worried, tying the game up quickly with four walks and fast baserunning. Cohen Power scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second, giving Diamond Valley a narrow one-run lead, but once again Latrobe Valley kept right up with them. Jack Thomas doubled as Latrobe Valley captured a 10-6 lead.

The back-and-forth battle wasn't over as Peter Lee from Diamond Valley had a lead-off base hit before four straight walks and an RBI single by Diego Surace gave them 11 runs to Latrobe Valley's 10. Riley Duncan singled, and four walks and two hit by pitch batters propelled Latrobe Valley ahead once again, with 15 runs. Both teams remained in it until the end, and they enjoyed their last game of the U12 SWC.

Game 12

City West vs. Bendigo

12 6

City West won the Pool B Round Robin Competition and secured a perfect 6-0 record with a great team effort this afternoon. Finn O'Neill made a huge difference to his squad with 6 RBI's on two hits, including a grand slam in the bottom of the second.

Baxter Maynard started out on the mound for City West, getting out of a bases-loaded situation with two strikeouts. Noah McCurdy, Fletcher Wilson and O'Neill all had hits in the bottom frame as City West took a 3-0 lead. Bendigo got one back in the next inning, although City West didn't ease up on their scoring opportunities. The bottom of the second saw City West take an 8-1 lead with O'Neill's bomb, plus a base hit from Alec Groves.

Pitcher Nicholas Kain kept Bendigo off the bases in the third, while City West did more damage their next turn up, taking six walks and turning Josh Rowlands' single into a run scored. By the end of the inning it was 12-1 with City West in front. In their last at-bats, Bendigo took two walks to start things off before Derek Rogers singled and Felix Hughes and Ronan Clarke had back-to-back doubles. Bendigo was able to make it 12-6, but City West was still on top.

The 2019 U12 State Winter Championships got out to a fantastic start at Werribee Baseball Club on Saturday as nine determined teams from across Victoria battled it out in pursuit of the U12 State Winter Champions title. Bendigo, City West, Dandenong, Diamond Valley (Red), Diamond Valley (Black), Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Ringwood and Sunraysia all had a blast with obvious excitement and enthusiasm as they made the most of this opportunity. With event apparel company The Regatta Shop on hand printing tee shirts and hoodies, as well as visits from Wyndham City Council, Ausport and a special coffee van, the U12 State Winter Championships are the place to be this weekend.

The Outfield Relay Competition was well-received by participants and coaches who loved having many players involved on the field, and Diamond Valley (Red) won the competition with Latrobe Valley following closely behind. The U12 Home Run Derby sponsored by Ausport is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:10pm.

Well done to all players on such a wonderful first day of the U12 State Winter Championships! Thanks in large part to our sponsors, Viva, Ausport, Wyndham City Council and The Regatta Shop, as well as a great turnout of participants, this tournament is off to a stellar start.

Standings after Day 1 are:

POOL A

Diamond Valley (Red) (3-0)

Dandenong (2-1)

Ringwood (0-1-1)

Geelong (0-1-1)

Sunraysia (0-2)

POOL B

City West (3-0)

Diamond Valley (Black) (2-1)

Latrobe Valley (1-2)

Bendigo (0-3)

Bendigo (0-3)

Pool A

Game 1

Dandenong vs. Ringwood

11 3

Dandenong struck first with a five-run first inning, during which two singles and two doubles made a big difference. Jack Garbett-Davidson took the mound for Dandenong, keeping Ringwood off the board and giving his team the chance to score bigtime in the bottom frame. Theodore Rutgers led off with a single, followed by Harrison Brodie's walk and Will Kent's 2-RBI double. Hunter Richardson followed up with an RBI double, and Ned Johnson kept the scoring going with an RBI base hit. Archer Quelch knocked in the fifth run of the inning on a groundout.

Ringwood answered with two runs in the top of the second as Lucas Tucker singled, Cooper Holloway took a walk and Ethan Rashleigh put runners in scoring position with a single. Brodie Trevean brought in the first run on a bases-loaded walk, while Finlay McGrotty grounded out to make it 5-2. Jax Clarke led off for Dandenong in the bottom of the second, and Garbett-Davidson scored him on an RBI single. Ishant Dittakavi singled and T. Rutgers walked but Dandenong was retired without scoring anymore.

A quiet inning for Ringwood in the top of the third brought Dandenong back up to bat, and that's when they tacked on five more runs on a collection of hits and walks. Richardson led off with a base hit, and three straight walks made it 7-2 before a wild pitch and T. Rutger's RBI double scored three more. Brodie and Kent collected base hits as Dandenong continued to dominate.

Ringwood was able to make it 11-3 in their last at-bat, but Dandenong held their ground. They collected 12 hits and gave up just four to Ringwood over the course of the game, while each team had one error on the day. T. Rutgers and Kent both had 2 RBI's, while Richardson led Dandenong with three hits. Both Ringwood's Noah Traplin and Garbett-Davidson threw six first-pitch strikes.

Game 2

Sunraysia vs. Diamond Valley (Red)

4 20

Diamond Valley (Red) swung the bat well as Evan Sertis, Darcy Squire and Roy Chang each collected two hits in their first game at the U12 SWC. Four five-run innings sealed the deal for Diamond Valley as they sailed to a massive victory.

Darcy Squire singled and Evan Sertis doubled on a live drive to right field, scoring the first run. Three errors and a walk kept Diamond Valley coming around the bases, as Windsor Breckenridge batted in the fifth run. Honor Hereora did a great job on the mound for Diamond Valley, keeping Sunraysia at bay in the bottom of the first.

Diamond Valley was at it again in the top of the second, when lead-off hitter Lachlan Brennan reached on an error and Hereora walked. Squire singled and came around to score on a wild pitch, and Roy Chang and Kycen Dowling had base hits to score runs as well.. By the time three outs had been recorded, Diamond Valley had worked their way to a 10-0 advantage.

Ben Prince singled for Sunraysia in the bottom half of the inning, but otherwise Hereora kept things under control. Seven walks and a second hit in the game for Sertis made it 15-0 for Diamond Valley in the top of the third. Things were looking up for Sunraysia in the bottom of the third as they got on the board and scored three runs. Zac Scott walked to start the inning and Oliver Hayes singled before the next two batters were retired. Diesel Fallon stepped up to the plate and smashed a double to score one run with two outs, followed by RBI base hits for Deegan Cox and Prince.

Despite giving up a few runs, Diamond Valley was still far in front, confident and controlled. They loaded the bases once again with three consecutive walks in the top of the fourth, two more base on balls and R. Chang's 3-RBI double.

Although Sunraysia was able to score one more run in the bottom frame on a fielder's choice, the victory belonged to Diamond Valley. Both sides showed teamwork and positivity through and through. "We lost but we had a great fight," Sunraysia's Ben Prince said. "We all did well, we all had a good bat and a good field and we all had fun," added Diesel Fallon.

Sertis led Diamond Valley with 4 RBI's, followed by R. Chang's 3 RBI's and two apiece for Breckenridge, Squire and Reeve Hammond. In her 3.2 innings on the mound, Hereora recorded an impressive 12 first-pitch strikes, proving that she will be one of the many players to watch in this tournament.

Game 3

Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong

8 7

Coming off of first-game victories, both sides were determined to go 2-0, and it showed in their consistent efforts as they battled back-and-forth. Austin Caulfield singled for Diamond Valley (Red) but otherwise it was a quiet first inning for both teams.

Dandenong got their scoring started in the top of the second as Hunter Richardson led off with a single and Jax Clarke walked. A 1-out double by Ned Johnson brought the first runner home, and two more scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch for a three-run advantage. Diamond Valley tried to get something started in return, but a leadoff walk was all they got in the bottom of the second with a pair of strikeout and a fly out.

Diamond Valley had a nice double play in the top of the third to retire Dandenong, and it was in the bottom frame that they evened the score. Darcy Squire and Evan Sertis singled while R. Chang's walk and ground-outs from Caulfield and Windsor Breckenridge also made a difference.

The score was level at 3-3 heading into the top of the fourth when Dandenong tacked on two runs. Hunter Richardson, Archer Quelch and Charlie Waugh had base hits along with Clarke's double to propel Dandenong ahead of their competition. It wouldn't last long as Diamond Valley kept up with them, putting a five-run bottom of the fourth on the board. Lachlan Brennan and Kycen Dowling started things off with singles, and Squire followed up with a base hit of his own. Two walks and a double from Caulfield and a triple from Breckenridge gave Diamond Valley a three-run lead.

Dandenong had two outs and two on in their last inning when an error and a single brought them within one. Andy Chang struck out the final batter to secure Diamond Valley's huge victory. Johnson led Dandenong with three hits in the game and seven first-pitch strikes thrown during his 1.1 innings of work. Breckenridge had 3 RBI's as Diamond Valley collected eight hits compared to Dandenong's 10. Diamond Valley only had one error while Dandenong committed three.

Game 4

Ringwood vs. Geelong

13 13

A terrific game between Ringwood and Geelong saw both teams battle back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in a draw despite brilliant batting efforts from each side.

Finlay McGrotty started for Ringwood, walking the first two batters before settling in and notching three strikeouts on 13 pitches. Xavier Galang took the mound for Geelong, allowing a base hit to Lucas Tucker prior to recording three outs on six pitches. The second inning was a different story scoring-wise as both teams got on the board. Thomas Rome and Beau Spencer walked for Geelong, and Tylah Laurie singled to load the bases. Allistaire Lang took a base on balls to force the run in.

Geelong's one-run lead didn't last long as Ringwood countered in the bottom of the second with five runs. Declan Marshall walked and Denzel Wynne-Primus reached on a error to put two runners on with no outs. Three walks and another error followed as Ringwood worked their way to a 5-1 lead.

Geelong was eager to get back on the board, and they did just that in the top of the third, beginning with a single by Jordan Ellis. A walk and an error set Rome up for an RBI double, and Laurie's RBI base hit brought Geelong within one. A walk and an error loaded the bases for Ellis, who finished the inning with a grand slam!

Despite their newfound deficit, Ringwood didn't slow down, instead putting up five runs in the bottom of the third. McGrotty and Masakiyo Yamamoto had big hits in the inning, while four walks and an error propelled Ringwood to a narrow 10-9 lead. Geelong battled back, with a walk and Reid Sexton's base hit to start the inning. Luke Morrow singled in the go-ahead run, and after Laurie reached on a error and Jake Chapman's double, Geelong was ahead by three runs.

In Ringwood's last chance at bat, they tied the game for a draw thanks to two walks, an error and McCrotty's timely hit. 13-13 was the final score after the valiant effort from both sides. McCrotty allowed only one hit with five strikeouts in two innings of work, while Yamamoto had two big strikeouts in his relief appearance. Geelong's pitching trio of Galang, Sexton and Charlie Bell combined for four hits allowed and three strikeouts.

Geelong's Ellis led both sides with 4 RBI's on two hits, while Marshall did a great job getting on base for Ringwood with three walks. Errors were a problem on both teams as Geelong made six and Ringwood committed three, something they'll look to control in their upcoming games as the Grand Final draws closer.

Game 5

Geelong vs. Diamond Valley (Red)

6 16

Diamond Valley (Red) opened the game with an outburst of offense, starting with Darcy Squire reaching on an error and coming around to score on a single by Evan Sertis. Kycen Dowling was next up to bat, sending a line drive single to centre field. The next three batters walked as Diamond Valley enjoyed a five-run lead.

Geelong was retired on just 11 pitches in the bottom of the first, and although Diamond Valley put two runners on in the top of the second, Tylah Laurie stopped them from extending their lead.Geelong got one run back in the bottom of the second. Jordan Ellis reached on an error and Jake Chapman doubled as one run scored on a passed ball.

Geelong couldn't escape the top of the third unscathed as Diamond Valley piled on five more runs. Austin Caulfield walked to lead things off, followed by a hard-hit double from Minsung Shin. Oliver Every knocked in two runs on a single, and Honor Hereora, Oliver Von Tuck and Squire joined in the fun with RBI singles of their own. The game was 10-1 in favour of Diamond Valley going into the top of the fourth. Caulfield pitched well, recording two strikeouts on 11 pitches before passing the glove over to Von Tuck who recorded the third out with a fielder's choice.

Ellis singled for Geelong in the bottom of the fourth, but they were kept scoreless as well. The top of the fifth saw Diamond Valley increase their run total to 16, as Shin walked and Every doubled before Windsor Breckenridge brought them both home on a single. Hereora had another single and Von Tuck walked, just in time for Roy Chang to step up to bat and smash his first-ever home run!

This was a big moment for Chang at his first State Winter Championships, made even better by his team's big win. Geelong didn't go down without a fight though, battling through the end and adding five runs in their last inning. Thomas Rome singled, Allistaire Lang doubled and Xavier Galang had an RBI single on a hard-hit ground ball. Ellis doubled, Pat Johnson walked and Chapman and Maisen R got more runners home on fielder's choice.

Chang led Diamond Valley with 3 RBI's while Every and Hereora both had two hits in the game. Diamond Valley had 11 hits overall while Geelong had six. Errors proved costly for both teams as Diamond Valley made one and Geelong made three. This thrilling result put Diamond Valley at 3-0 after day 1, while Geelong has one draw and one loss.

Game 6

Dandenong vs. Sunraysia

8 5

Sunraysia battled hard, but ultimately Dandenong prevailed, bouncing back after a heartbreaking one-run loss to Diamond Valley (Red) the game before.

Harrison Brodie got the start for Dandenong, retiring the side on 17 pitches with two strikeouts in the first inning. Dandenong made the most of their chances, putting up four runs in the first on singles from Theodore Rutgers, William Kent, Ned Johnson, and Jack Garbett-Davidson. Ishant Dittakavi and Brooklyn Riwaka also walked in the inning.

With a 4-0 lead, Dandenong headed into the second with renewed confidence and momentum. They ended up giving up two runs as Diesel Fallon hit a lead-off single before four walks and a base hit from Benji Hayes put two runs on the board. The score didn't stay 4-2 for long, as their next time up Dandenong got one back as Archer Quelch singled and T. Rutgers batted him in.

Sunraysia tied things up 5-5 in the top of the third as a series of walks and hit by pitch batters helped them get their runners on. Determined to win, Dandenong gave their final at-bats a hearty effort, with three walks and a Jax Clarke double getting the job done.

Alex Kane had 2 RBI's in the game to lead Sunraysia, as the team will look to get a win on the board tomorrow morning.

Pool B

Game 1

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. City West

5 15

City West made the most of their scoring opportunities as they prevailed over Diamond Valley (Black) to start their U12 SWC campaign out on a high note. The scoring began early, as City West tacked on five runs with hits from Finn O'Neill and Cooper Bishop-Worn, followed by a run-scoring groundout from Fletcher Wilson. Four straight walks and a wild pitch helped City West take an early five-run lead.

Diamond Valley took two walks in the bottom of the first but they couldn't get on the board. Fielding mistakes proved costly for Diamond Valley as City West extended their lead to 10-0 on two errors, two walks and a hit by pitch in the top of the second. The bottom frame saw Diamond Valley make up some runs with a five-spot on five walks, two hit by pitch and one error.

City West turned their 10-5 lead into a 15-5 advantage in the top of the third as a lead-off double, four walks and Nicholas Kain's single got the job done. Mason Bavdek did an excellent job on the mound to close out the game in favour of City West, retiring the side on 15 pitches with two strikeouts.

Wilson stood out for City West with 2 RBI's and two strikeouts in his inning of work. All in all, City West's pitchers struck out six batters in the game while throwing a no-hitter. Diamond Valley had two errors while City West had just one. Sawyer Fisher and Noah Chun stole bases for Diamond Valley, while Noah McCurdy and O'Neill had two each.

Game 2

Latrobe Valley vs. Bendigo

11 6

Great pitching by Liam Duncan in the first inning gave Latrobe Valley the chance to focus on their offense. Four walks in the bottom of the first was enough to give them a 1-0 lead, which Bendigo quickly took care of. In the top of the second Bendigo recorded six runs on five walks and a fielder's choice that left the bases loaded for Ryan Kinkade. In his first at-bat at his first-ever championships, Ryan smashed a grand slam to give his team a five-run advantage, much to their cheering and enthusiastic support.

Bendigo's lead was short-lived as Latrobe Valley responded bigtime in the bottom of the second. Riley Duncan led off with a single, and seven walks allowed them to tie the game up at six apiece. Jack Thomas retired Bendigo easily in the third, bringing Latrobe Valley up once again. Both Duncan boys walked and Connor McKenzie singled to load the bases. Jackson Amos walked to force in a run, and a sacrifice fly made it 8-6. By the time the inning ended, two walks, a hit by pitch and Cooper Gray's single had given Latrobe Valley an 11-6 victory.

Bendigo's Kinkade led the way with 4 RBI's, while Thomas and Harry Kus each knocked in two runs. L. Duncan threw five first-pitch strikes in 1.2 innings, while both sides did a great job of keeping hits allowed to a minimum. Latrobe Valley had just three in the game while Bendigo had one.

Game 3

Bendigo vs. Diamond Valley (Black)

6 15

Diamond Valley (Black) put up five runs in each of their three innings to cruise to a big victory over Bendigo, an exciting result for the team that suffered a challenging loss to City West to start the day. Diamond Valley collected seven hits to Bendigo's one hit in the game.

Oliver Baillargeon singled to lead off, followed by doubles to Zachary Papadimitriou, Joshua Antonacci and Luke Easthope. Three walks and a hit by pitch made it 5-0 in favour of Diamond Valley. Baillargeon pitched well in the bottom of the first, retiring the side on nine pitches with two strikeouts. Diamond Valley scored two more runs on four runs and two errors in the top of the second.

Bendigo got three back in the bottom frame on a walk, hit by pitch and an error. This didn't faze Diamond Valley as they kept up their pattern of five runs per inning. Six walks and hits by Sawyer Fisher, Joseph Herriman and Easthope gave Diamond Valley a big boost. Bendigo managed three more runs in their last at-bats as four walks and a double by Felix Hughes brought runs home.

Diamond Valley's pitching trio of Baillargeon, Fisher and Libby Morgan recorded six strikeouts, and Easthope led his team with two hits and 2 RBI's.

Game 4

City West vs. Latrobe Valley

11 10

A nail-biter finished in favour of City West as Liam Roswell collected 5 RBI's to lead his team to victory. Baxter Maynard showed off some great pitching in the top of the first with two strikeouts, keeping Latrobe Valley off the board.

City West scored five runs in the bottom frame, with back-to-back base hits by Mason Bavdek and Cooper Bishop-Worn and three straight walks. Nicholas Kain hit an RBI double to make it 5-0. City West gave up seven walks and a big single to Jarrod Turner as Latrobe Valley tied the game in the second.

Noah McCurdy led off for City West in the bottom of the second, hitting the ball hard but Jack Thomas was there for the catch. Five consecutive walks set Liam Roswell up for a thrilling grand slam, putting City West in front 11-5. Latrobe Valley managed seven walks and a hit by pitch to come within one run, but they couldn't quite tie it up. Kain singled at the end of the game and stole two bases but he didn't come around to score. Walks were a problem spot for pitchers in this one-run result, as City West gave up 15 base on balls and Latrobe Valley gave up nine, something both teams will hope to improve moving forward.

Alex Smith did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks and scoring 2 RBI's for Latrobe Valley.

Game 5

Bendigo vs. City West

5 15

Despite only collecting three hits on the day, City West scored 10+ runs for their third straight game, working their way to a 3-0 record at the end of Day 1. They put up five runs in each of their three innings, while Bendigo remained scoreless until the third inning.

Fletcher Wilson doubled and Nicholas Kain singled to bring home the first two runs of the game. Baxter Maynard followed up with an RBI double of his own, and two more walks made it 5-0. Cooper Bishop-Worn pitched well for City West in the bottom of the first, striking out three batters and giving his team the chance to get back up to bat and score more runs.

City West took six walks in the top of the second to extend their lead to 10-0. Bendigo had two runners on base in the bottom frame, but Zak Banks-Broome and Elliot Cole were left stranded. Eight more walks made City West's advantae 15-0 after the top of the third.

Bendigo got five back to finish the game on a high note, with hits to Lachlan James, Darcy Pump and Ryan Kinkade.

Game 6

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Latrobe Valley

16 15

Both teams made a valiant effort, but a huge grand slam in the last minutes of the game secured the win for Diamond Valley.

Latrobe Valley got off to a good start by taking seven walks and a hit by pitch to score five runs. Five walks and Joshua Antonacci's single helped Diamond Valley score three of their own in the bottom frame. By the time Latrobe Valley was retired in the top of the second, they were ahead 10-3 thanks to another handful of walks.

The pattern continued in the bottom of the second as Diamond Valley took six base on balls, Luke Easthope doubled and Noah Chun singled.

With Diamond Valley trailing but just two runs, Latrobe Valley tried to pull away with the lead once again in the top of the third, tacking on another five runs on consistent walks. Diamond Valley knew they had to make up a lot of ground in the final inning to get the job done, and they certainly did just that. A collection of walks and hit by pitch batters brought Diamond Valley within three, and that's when Easthope came up to bat with the bases loaded. With a mere minute left in the game, he smashed a grand slam to score the go-ahead run and seal a sweet and very memorable victory for Diamond Valley.

Pool A

Game 1

Dandenong vs. Ringwood

11 3

Game 2

Sunraysia vs. Diamond Valley (Red)

4 20

Game 3

Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong

8 7

Game 4

Ringwood vs. Geelong

13 13

A terrific game between Ringwood and Geelong saw both teams battle back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in a draw despite brilliant batting efforts from each side.

Game 5

Geelong vs. Diamond Valley (Red)

6 16

Game 6

Dandenong vs. Sunraysia

8 5

Sunraysia battled hard, but ultimately Dandenong prevailed, bouncing back after a heartbreaking one-run loss to Diamond Valley (Red) the game before.

Alex Kane had 2 RBI's in the game to lead Sunraysia, as the team will look to get a win on the board tomorrow morning.

Pool B

Game 1

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. City West

5 15

Game 2

Latrobe Valley vs. Bendigo

11 6

Game 3

Bendigo vs. Diamond Valley (Black)

6 15

Diamond Valley's pitching trio of Baillargeon, Fisher and Libby Morgan recorded six strikeouts, and Easthope led his team with two hits and 2 RBI's.

Game 4

City West vs. Latrobe Valley

11 10

Alex Smith did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks and scoring 2 RBI's for Latrobe Valley.

Game 5

Bendigo vs. City West

5 15

Bendigo got five back to finish the game on a high note, with hits to Lachlan James, Darcy Pump and Ryan Kinkade.

Game 6

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Latrobe Valley

16 15

Both teams made a valiant effort, but a huge grand slam in the last minutes of the game secured the win for Diamond Valley.

The pattern continued in the bottom of the second as Diamond Valley took six base on balls, Luke Easthope doubled and Noah Chun singled.

Game 2

Sunraysia vs. Diamond Valley (Red)

4 20

Game 3

Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong

8 7

Game 4

Ringwood vs. Geelong

13 13

A terrific game between Ringwood and Geelong saw both teams battle back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in a draw despite brilliant batting efforts from each side.

Game 5

Geelong vs. Diamond Valley (Red)

6 16

Game 6

Dandenong vs. Sunraysia

8 5

Sunraysia battled hard, but ultimately Dandenong prevailed, bouncing back after a heartbreaking one-run loss to Diamond Valley (Red) the game before.

Alex Kane had 2 RBI's in the game to lead Sunraysia, as the team will look to get a win on the board tomorrow morning.

Pool B

Game 1

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. City West

5 15

Game 2

Latrobe Valley vs. Bendigo

11 6

Game 3

Bendigo vs. Diamond Valley (Black)

6 15

Diamond Valley's pitching trio of Baillargeon, Fisher and Libby Morgan recorded six strikeouts, and Easthope led his team with two hits and 2 RBI's.

Game 4

City West vs. Latrobe Valley

11 10

Alex Smith did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks and scoring 2 RBI's for Latrobe Valley.

Game 5

Bendigo vs. City West

5 15

Bendigo got five back to finish the game on a high note, with hits to Lachlan James, Darcy Pump and Ryan Kinkade.

Game 6

Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Latrobe Valley

16 15

Both teams made a valiant effort, but a huge grand slam in the last minutes of the game secured the win for Diamond Valley.

The pattern continued in the bottom of the second as Diamond Valley took six base on balls, Luke Easthope doubled and Noah Chun singled.

Zoe Allen has had a big year with baseball. Even though she only started playing in October of last year, the fifteen-year-old has made amazing progress in less than twelve months.

Zoe is a perfect example of what young athletes can accomplish when given the opportunity to grow and develop in a spot they love. Since joining Preston Baseball Club last summer season, she’s quickly taken to her beloved 3^rd base position, and she even scored a spot on the 2019 Victorian Youth Women’s Team. Despite a slow start the squad pulled off a fabulous comeback, taking home the bronze medal and making the Victorian baseball community very proud.

With the encouragement of those around her, including coaches and players, Zoe has adjusted well to her new sport and she’s been able to make the most of the experience. This includes the terrific group of girls she played with at the Australian Youth Women’s Championships. After finding out about try-outs from a baseball friend, Zoe went through the process something she’ll now be forever thankful for.

When she learned she was selected to her inaugural Victorian representative team, she was thrilled about the chance to train and travel to Canberra to compete alongside her dedicated teammates. After twice-a-week training for several months leading up to the Championships, Zoe and her team arrived in Canberra in mid-April to take on the tournament.

With nine intense and highly competitive games, the squad had a lot to focus on, but Zoe says it was a fantastic experience. “The whole team stayed together in a hotel, which was great for morale. Throughout the tournament everyone got to know each other more and we also got to make friends with players from other teams.”

Coming away with the bronze medals was a great feeling for Zoe and the girls, especially after they were down 0-6 against WA in their final game and they came back to win 7-6 for a thrilling finish. This hard-earned result was a testament to their consistent team efforts. “Winning bronze showed the team how all of our hard work paid off,” Zoe said. “Playing really well against all the teams was a great achievement, and coming home to score the winning run was for sure one of my favourite moments.”

Zoe focused her training on groundballs, and she succeeded thanks to the support of her coaches, surprising herself by making minimal errors and hitting a couple of doubles. “When playing I struggled a lot with nerves and thankfully after getting myself to ask for help, my coaches helped me out straight away and helped me play better in following games.”

After such a wonderful yet whirlwind year with her blossoming baseball career, Zoe is wrapping up the winter season at Greensborough Baseball Club and looking ahead to her promising future in sport, including more representative opportunities on state teams as she wants to try out again. “Playing for Vic really helped me realise the pathways for women’s baseball. It was great to meet some more senior players and hear about their journeys,” Zoe said. “I hope to make it to the Women’s Blue team in the future. I just want to aim to put in the effort and try and perform the best I can.”

With fantastic role models in the Victorian baseball community, anything is possible for Zoe and her fellow female athletes who have big aspirations. “I look up to all my coaches and the older Vic Women’s players. At the championships, they were really inspiring and showed how organised and well-trained they were,” Zoe said. “I’m inspired by all my baseball coaches but especially the women. The top players don’t get to play the sport for a living and obviously are playing for the love of it. Seeing their hard work and effort really inspires me to keep pushing and trying to be the best player I can be.”

When she’s not playing baseball, Zoe enjoys school, listening to music, playing tennis and spending time with her family who is so proud of her. “It was just nice to see her so happy, playing a great team sport with new friends and very supportive coaches,” dad Ash said. “We thought the whole championships were very well run and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience for Zoe. We just hope she keeps playing a sport that she loves while increasing her confidence to the best of her abilities.”

Baseball Victoria is thrilled to share that Waverley Wildcats Baseball Catcher and Aces Academy player Chris Burke has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies MLB organisation earlier this month.

Burke has once again proved that a pathway from junior baseball in Victoria can realise a dream all the way to the top. Seasons 2018 and 2019 have really put Burke on the professional radar, having won the Alf Mann Junior Club Champion award at Waverley Baseball Club for the past two years. He also represented Victoria Blue in the National Championships in Sydney at the Under 16 and 18 level, while also winning an Under 18 club championship with Waverley last summer.

Burke is proof that the baseball pathway in Victoria can help athletes achieve amazing things. “It shows kids that it’s a reality, like I’m living proof that it can happen,” Burke said. “Baseball is such a tough game as it is, and the fact is you push through and whenever good things happen you take them and don’t take them for granted. I’m proof it can happen and am very grateful for the opportunity the Phillies have given me.”

One of the biggest highlights for Burke in the past two years is undoubtedly being a part of the MLB World Select Team at the Arizona Fall Classic last October. “I’ve been blessed to be able to have all the opportunities that Baseball Victoria has given me, and especially the Melbourne Aces. Being such a young kid and hanging around that program has really boosted my confidence and my game (has gone) right through the roof. “

Baseball Victoria Talent Development Manager Damian Shanahan says Burke’s hard work to continually improve himself has been one of his greatest assets. “Chris’s consistent commitment to the process of improving has no doubt played a big part in getting him to where he is now,” Shanahan said. “I believe he has been in the Baseball Victoria/ Melbourne Aces system now for around 5 years and from an early age he showed the qualities of being a young man who knew what he wanted in life. I have no doubt whatever Chris wants out of Baseball he will get. “

Baseball is a part of Burke’s DNA, as his dad Neil is a former national representative and current scout for the Kansas City Royals and his brother Justin is also a former underage National Rep. “Baseball runs in my blood I guess,” Burke said. “Dad has been my biggest role model. He started playing Baseball when he was a young kid and has been working and scouting for over 30 years, and that’s how I got into it. I would always see dad working and hanging around such a cool game, at the clubhouse, and I thought that’s something I’d like to try and do and get the opportunity to go down that path in baseball.“

Burke will soon be moving to the states where he’ll start the long yet worthwhile climb up the professional career ladder. “It’ll be the big grind, I’ll see what I can do and try to do the Aussies proud,” Burke said.

Baseball Victoria and Wyndham City Council are pleased to announce that the 2019 Victorian U12 State Winter Championships will take place at Werribee Baseball Club this weekend.

The 2019 U12 State Winter Championships are set for Saturday 27^th July and Sunday 28^th July. Werribee Baseball Club’s beautiful facilities will provide a fantastic location for this tournament, which will see hundreds of players and parents visit Wyndham to participate in the final State Winter Championships of the year. Nine determined teams will take part in the fun weekend: Bendigo, City West, Dandenong, Diamond Valley (Red), Diamond Valley (Black), Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Ringwood and Sunraysia.

Baseball Victoria has partnered with event apparel company The Regatta Shop to create a more memorable tournament experience. The Regatta Shop will be there both days, selling tee shirts and hoodies that they will print to order on-site. This will mark the first event with The Regatta Shop, but Baseball Victoria is hopeful that this partnership can continue for many events and tournaments in the future.

Wyndham City Council will be onsite with the Wyndham Cruiser and Councillor Peter Maynard, Sports Development Portfolio Holder, will be on hand to meet with players and spectators and even throw out a ceremonial first pitch!

Wyndham City Mayor, Cr Mia Shaw affirmed how thrilled council was to support the 2019 U12 State Winter Championships.“I’m proud that our City is hosting a sporting event of this calibre and welcome all the participants, their families and supporters to our wonderful city,” Cr Shaw said. “On behalf of my fellow councillors and the residents of Wyndham, welcome and good luck!”

After the success of this season’s State Winter Championships, the Baseball Victoria team is ready for a strong finish with this beloved tournament. “We are so excited to have nine teams taking part in the 2019 U12 State Winter Champs,” Baseball Victoria Acting CEO Jeff Paull said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our junior baseball players and we can’t wait to see them make the most of it. With the support of Werribee Baseball Club and Wyndham City Council, this tournament is shaping up to be amazing.”

Werribee Giants Baseball Club is gearing up for the big weekend, with plenty of volunteers ready to help make the tournament a smashing success. “We are looking forward to a fun-filled weekend with so many awesome players and their families visiting our beloved club,” Ryan Balzer, President of Werribee Baseball Club, said. “This tournament will be a terrific display of everything Victorian baseball has to offer.”

Diamond Valley won the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships in Latrobe Valley with a fantastic team performance on Sunday afternoon. They bounced back from an early deficit to overcome Geelong and take home the title of U16 State Winter Champions.

Congratulations to Diamond Valley and well done to all the players and teams who participated! Thanks to the support of Latrobe City Council, Viva and Ausport, as well as the efforts of Latrobe Valley Baseball Association, Morwell Cougars and Traralgon Redsox Baseball Clubs, this tournament was a huge success for the Victorian baseball community.

Congrats, Diamond Valley!

Game 10

Dandenong vs. Ringwood

0 3

This highly anticipated matchup saw Ringwood jump out to an early lead with three singles in the first from Jack Ratcliffe, Aden Higgins and Blake Mitchell.

Dandenong's Jack Conell had a base hit in the bottom of the first, but he didn't come around to score as Ringwood's Finley Ronalds-Greatbatch struck out two. Higgins had his second hit of the day with a double in the second, but pitcher Damien Bodey stranded the runner with a strikeout.

Ronalds-Greatbatch recorded three more strikeouts in the bottom of the second, needing just 13 pitches to retire Dandenong's batters. Blake Mitchell had another hit in the third, but the pitcher's duel continued as both teams were kept scoreless in the middle innings. It wasn't until the fourth that Ringwood scored their third and final run on a bases-loaded walk.

Dandenong's Mitchell Johnston doubled to start the bottom of the fifth, but with Higgins on the mound Ringwood shut down their last scoring chances. This marks Ringwood's second win of the tournament while Dandenong drops to 1-2-1. Noah Toplis covered two innings in relief of Damien Bodey, giving up just two hits and two walks with no runs allowed. Ringwood relied on Ronalds-Greatbatch, who had six strikeouts and just one hit across four innings.

Game 11

Diamond Valley vs. Sunraysia

5 4

Sunraysia put together a late scoring effort to come within one, but Diamond Valley held on to go 4-0 in their first four games of the tournament.

The game opened with Angelina Kichakov on the mound for Diamond Valley, and she needed just 13 pitches to get three outs. When Diamond Valley came up to bat in the bottom of the first, they had scoring on their mind, and it showed as they took back-to-back walks and scored their first run on Liam Robertson's single. Another run came in on a groundout, and Kichakov added a 2-RBI single before stealing two bases and coming around to score on an error.

Sunraysia couldn't get any scoring started in the top of the second either, getting out on just 11 pitches from Kichakov as she continued her impressive game. Sunraysia's Zach Stainer kept Diamond Valley under control in the bottom frame, and the top of the third saw them stage a promising comeback. Ronan Scott had a 1-out single, Rahmen Martinez walked and Bailey Edgar reached on an error that put runners in scoring position. A bases-loaded walk brought in Sunraysia's first run, and it wasn't long before Jackson Malycha hit a 2-RBI single.

Colby Lawton followed up with an RBI base hit as Sunraysia narrowed the deficit to just one, but it wasn't enough as Diamond Valley got the job done in the end. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the third to try and extend their lead, but to no avail. Sunraysia had one more shot to take the lead in the top of the fourth, but they left two runners stranded.

Pitching was a strong point for both sides as Zach Stainer threw two innings of no-hit baseball for Sunraysia and Kichakov had no earned runs (four unearned) and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings, followed up with Mace Poole's scoreless relief appearance.

Game 12

Geelong vs. Latrobe Valley

15 1

Cooper Tipping, Jet Quach and Harry Fitzgerald had two hits each to carry Geelong over Latrobe Valley, improving their record to 3-1.

After a heartbreaking loss late in the game against Diamond Valley to finish off Day 1, Geelong came back this morning determined to make a statement, and that they did, dominating Latrobe Valley both offensively and defensively. The Geelong lineup manufactured five runs in the bottom of the first on three singles, two errors and a walk. Latrobe Valley got one back in the top of the second, but they were kept scoreless the rest of the day with just one hit from Anthony Smith in the top of the third.

Meanwhile Geelong kept things moving with their bats, adding another five spot in the second on two singles, four walks and a handful of errors. In the bottom of the third, Geelong took five straight walks to work their way up to a 14-run lead.

This massive win gave Geelong a much-needed boost to remain in Grand Final contention. Jake Elderfield did a great job on the mound for Geelong, pitching the whole game and giving up just a lone hit along the way.

Game 13

Ringwood vs. Diamond Valley

7 3

Ringwood made the most of their scoring opportunities and handed Diamond Valley their first loss of the tournament in a big matchup. Declan Spiers and Liam Robertson singled with two outs but Spiers was tagged out as he tried to come home.

The bottom frame saw Ringwood dominate with their bats, putting up four runs after three walks and an RBI single by James Squire. Another run was scored on a passed ball and a groundout helped Ringwood take a 4-0 lead. Diamond Valley cut their deficit in half their next turn up as Thomas Medland sent the ball sailing into right field for a lead-off triple. Max Corcoran scored him with a groundout, before Connor Pilatti doubled to keep Ringwood on their toes. Josh Jedretich and David Carroll walked and a fielder's choice scored another run.

Now ahead by just two, Ringwood made it 5-2 in the bottom of the second with an RBI base hit by Aden Higgins. Spiers, Medland and Corcoran all had hits in the top of the third as Diamond Valley scored their third and final run of the game.

Ryan Wu pitched well in the bottom of the third, keeping Ringwood off the board with 14 pitches, while Hudson Priamo did the same for Ringwood in the top of the fourth. Seven pitches was all it took to get Ringwood off the field and back up to bat, and they added two runs with two outs. Priamo and Higgins singled while Harry Elustondo reached on an error.

Diamond Valley had seven hits and one error on the day compared to four hits for Ringwood. Despite the loss Diamond Valley still finished atop the ladder and secured home team advantage for the Grand Final, while Ringwood went to battle for third place with Dandenong.

Game 14

Sunraysia vs. Latrobe Valley

5 7

Latrobe Valley had some tough losses at the tournament, but they broke through and got a well-deserved win in their final game of the day. They opened the game with an amazing home run by Jacob Dickinson, who was cheered on by his teammates as he rounded the bases.

Sunraysia answered in the bottom of the first with a lead-off double by Rhamen Martinez and a walk to Zach Stainer. Martinez came around to score on a wild pitch, and although Colby Lawton singled, one run was all they got.

Martinez managed to retire all three Latrobe Valley batters in the top of the second in just 16 pitches, giving his team the chance to score two runs in the bottom frame. Jonty WIlson walked and Blake Peterson doubled as Sunraysia captured a 3-1 lead. It didn't last long as they committed two errors in the top of the third, giving Latrobe Valley the chance to even the score with RBI singles by Josh Burgar and Darcy Cummins. They didn't stop there, as Burgar stole home and Jackson Malycha knocked two runs in on a big single. With a 6-3 lead, Latrobe Valley was looking good, especially as Dickinson led the way on the mound in the bottom of the third with three key strikeouts to leave two runners stranded.

Sunraysia recorded two quick outs on four pitches in the top of the fourth, but Caleb Jackway reached on an error and Declan Gregor brought him in with a base hit. In Sunraysia's final time up to bat they came within two runs with a groundout from Hayden Chase and a hit by Dean Bone, but the game ended with Latrobe Valley in front.

Dickinson recorded six strikeouts across his three innings on the mound, while Martinez had four strikeouts for Sunraysia.

Game 15

Geelong vs. Dandenong

5 4

Geelong cemented their place in the Grand Final with a hard-fought win over Dandenong, in which they scored four runs in the final inning to get ahead.

Dandenong started the game with Nick Bertucci's triple, followed by a walk to Angelo Reale Rontos. Xander Gunn singled in the first run.

Harper Rickard led off for Geelong, hitting a ground ball and reaching on an error, but three straight strikeouts saw Geelong remain scoreless through the first. Aspen McGovern retired the side on 12 pitches, while Noah Brennan singled to lead off the second for Geelong, but Nick Bertucci struck out three to bring Dandenong back up to bat. The top of the third was a god one for Dandenong, as they tacked on two more runs with two walks, Gunn's second single of the game and a ground ball error.

Geelong wasn't giving up yet, and Rickard walked in the bottom of the third before scoring on an error. Tanner Stott came in to pitch and kept Dandenong quiet in the top of the fourth. Bertucci recorded three more strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth. Dandenong scored their fourth and final run in the top of fifth as Reale Rontos singled and scored on a wild pitch. In their last chance to turn the score in their favour, Geelong did just that, plating four in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Tipping, Hayden Peoples, Rickard, Harry Fitzgerald and Jet Quach singled as the go-ahead run came home and Geelong earned a thrilling victory, giving them great momentum heading into the grand final.

Dandenong had five hits and two errors while Geelong had six hits and one error in the game. Bertucci had 11 strikeouts in the game as he continued his terrific tournament. This loss put Dandenong in fourth place for the third-place decider against Ringwood.

Third Place vs. Fourth Place

Ringwood vs. Dandenong

9 2

Ringwood was on a roll today, winning their third straight game to take third place in the tournament. All-star Finley Ronalds-Greatbatch led the way with two hits and two RBI's to help Ringwood pull away with the win.

One run in the bottom of the first put Ringwood ahead but not for long as Dandenong answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Mason Haimona knocked two in with a timely 2-out single. Ringwood had a response in the bottom of the second as Blake Mitchell singled, Zeke Doyle was hit by pitch and Hudson Priamo brought them both home with a blazing triple. Three walks, a sacrifice fly and singles by James Squire and Harry Elustondo propelled Ringwood to a 6-2 advantage.

Mitchell was able to retire the side in the top of the third with eight pitches only, and an error coupled with two-out hits by Ethan Jenkins, Jack Ratcliffe and Ronalds-Greatbatch put Ringwood ahead by seven.

Noah Toplis had a base hit for Dandenong in the top of the fourth but they weren't able to make up the deficit and Ringwood came away victorious for a sweet third place finish.

First Place vs. Second Place

Diamond Valley vs. Geelong

10 3

These two teams had met on Saturday afternoon for a big back-and-forth battle that saw Diamond Valley walk off with a 10-9 victory. It was a bittersweet loss for Geelong, and they looked to redeem themselves by opening the game confidently with great pitching by Hayden Peoples. Geelong struck first with two runs in the second on an error and a groundout. Diamond Valley's pitcher Angus Stals struck out the last two batters to get out of the inning, and his team tried to back him up with two runners reaching in the bottom of the second to no avail.

Geelong carried a two-run lead into the top of the third, when a leadoff double from Harper Rickard and a single by Peoples added another run. From there on out the game shifted in Diamond Valley's favour, when they stepped up their game and made the most of some scoring opportunities. Three consecutive singles by Max Corcoran, Ryan Wu and Campbell Every loaded the bases for Jake Elderfield, who tied the game with a triple. Liam Robertson scored the go-ahead run on a single, and an error saw Diamond Valley take a 5-3 lead.

Diamond Valley protected their lead in the top of the fourth, denying Geelong the chance to score in the top of the fourth despite taking two walks. Diamond Valley extended their lead to 10-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Mace Poole and Corcoran singled, Wu walked and Every singled. Connor Pilatti brought a run in on a fielder's choice and Robertson doubled to seal the deal for Diamond Valley. Declan Spiers was named Diamond Valley's All-Star player of the tournament, and the team celebrated their comeback grand final victory in excited and enthusiastic fashion.

Congratulations, Diamond Valley!