Baseball Victoria, Author at Baseball Victoria

Very few Australians have a better understanding of Korean baseball than Chris Oxspring.

The Olympic silver medallist and Team Australia star forged a memorable career, which included stints in Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan) and most recently, the Korean Baseball Organisation.

After a five-game stint with the San Diego Padres in 2005, Oxspring found a home in Korea, tossing over 800 innings in five seasons with the LG Twins, Lotte Giants and KT Wiz.

Oxspring has been a key figure in the revamped Australian Baseball League too, tossing six scoreless innings in the first game of the 2010 season.

Now, nearly eight years to the day since the ABL returned to the Australian sporting landscape, two new expansion teams will join the competition, and Oxspring believes Geelong-Korea may cause a few upsets.

"Don't be surprised if Geelong-Korea ruffle a few feathers with the way they play," Oxspring said.

"It'll be different, the league in Korea is breaking ball heavy and focused on control over velocity.

"I think they'll be competitive and win right away. It's really exciting to see the talent levels and increased opportunities for Australian, Korean and New Zealand ballplayers."

Geelong-Korea will be managed by Koo Dae-sung, a long-time teammate of Oxspring, and someone who brings unparalleled experience in both Australian and Korean baseball.

"Underestimating this team with Koo at the helm would be a mistake," Oxspring said of Geelong-Korea.

"He (Koo) has extensive knowledge of both Korean and Australian baseball, and is a very intelligent man.

"Koo will go in with a specific plan for each team he faces based on their strengths and weaknesses, and don't be surprised if he has some aces up his sleeve."

Oxspring has immense pride in his home country, and will go down in Australian baseball folklore after recording two wins against the seemingly unbeatable Japan at the 2004 Olympics.

He has seen significant changes in the Australian baseball landscape, but believes the addition of two new teams in the ABL will bring wide-ranging benefits.

"There's been a lot of changes since I began playing professionally," he said.

"The quality of the league has increased dramatically since 2010, with more players coming back to Australia after playing in the USA.

"The development part of baseball is now widely regarded in Australia, with more knowledge and experience filtering down from the professional guys to young kids in the ABL.

"Baseball is making huge strides in Australia, which is fantastic to see for someone like me who has put a lifetime's work into the sport."

The Baseball Victoria community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jack Larner, an outstanding player, revered coach and wonderful mentor who dedicated his life to baseball and helping others learn and ultimately excel at the game.

Although his brave and hard-fought cancer battle ended early on Monday morning, his legacy will live on with all who had crossed Jack’s path. He will be remembered for his drive and motivation to be the best player, coach and person he could be while helping others achieve their goals. Throughout his impressive baseball career, Jack stood out from the crowd in many regards, especially for his desire to help junior players find their inner confidence on the field.

Over the years, Jack has been a constant presence at State, National and even International Championships, not only as a player but as a coach as well. After getting his start with Bonbeach Baseball Club and going through the Victorian Institute of Sport, Jack went on to play college in the U.S., making an All-American Team before returning to Victoria to begin his coaching career. He once again played for the Bluejays in the VSBL competition and he also started playing for Dingley Baseball Club in the winter season, initially as an inspirational player and then as a club coach. This ignited his passion to coach and the Southern Mariners Charter offered Jack the opportunity to influence a wider range of junior players through the Academy program. Jack adjusted programs with the coaches in order to accommodate all players, male and female, because he believed everyone deserved the right to improve.

He served as the Southern Mariners Charter Development Coach and was instrumental in guiding the Charter to numerous Victorian championships for 3 years across various age groups. He coached the 2016 Southern Mariners Senior League team as they won the State, National and Asia Pacific Championships, creating a pathway for future teams to follow all the way to the World Series.

While the 2016 Senior League Team was ultimately defeated by Chicago in the final, held in Maine, U.S.A., they made history along the way by becoming the first Australian team to compete in a World Series Championship. Jack was too ill to travel to the Philippines and the USA, but he played an essential part in the planning and preparation leading up to and during these tournaments. As a result of the Senior League team’s success, Baseball Victoria honoured Jack with the Coach of the Year Award in 2016, a fitting tribute and testament to his compelling coaching style and tireless dedication to his role despite his debilitating illness.

Over the years, he has helped to shape many players and prepare them for greater successes on and off the field. He worked with kids in all grades, from Little League to Junior League and Senior League, allowing him to use his personal experience to support players and help them exceed their expectations and personal goals. With his guidance, many players who thought they were only capable of so much discovered they could do more on the mound and in the batter’s box. He was more than just a coach, he was also a mentor and a friend who continued to play an important role despite battling cancer these last three years.

Although his illness made travel difficult, he never complained or let his diagnosis stop him from coaching his beloved kids. Jack impressed many people with his gifted approach to coaching. Baseball was his life, and his passion for the game showed in the way he coached his teams and instilled confidence in his players before they went up to bat or headed out to pitch. He was a calm and collected coach, preferring to quietly inspire and encourage rather than rant or rave. Junior players loved playing for him and wanted to make him proud, this unique ability to get the best out of his players did not go unnoticed.

A regular figure at tournaments and events, Jack did his best to attend everything when physically possible. His friends and fellow coaches noted that Jack just wanted to be there for every game and every moment, even if his doctors advised him otherwise.

Rather than be preoccupied with technical statistics like arm and bat speed, Jack challenged his players by putting them in positions to succeed and placing his confidence in their abilities. Many of the players he’s coached, including U23 World Cup Team player Jackson Boyd, have gone on to achieve great things in Victorian programs, college and beyond. He truly knew how to get the best out of players, and all those who knew him benefitted from his infectious spirit, fantastic sense of humor and obvious love for baseball. He had an insatiable appetite to help younger players and a unique respect and appreciation for the game. He was known for his calm positivity, choosing to inspire players through encouragement and positive reassurance. Jack cared so much about his players that he remained in contact with many right up to his unfortunate passing.

From coaching his teams to massive comeback wins to running morning clinics on the weekend and getting medical approval to fly to Japan with the Australian 15U Team for the Yomuri Cup last year, Jack never gave up on his baseball pursuits. In a fitting finale to Jack’s final year of coaching, the Dingley Baseball Club were presented with Club Champion status this season.

Jack relied on a positive purpose and mental approach that have inspired countless other individuals, and his legacy will live on far into the future.

A funeral service for Jack will be held next Monday, October 22^nd, at Bunurong Memorial Park’s Stratus room in Carrum Downs.

We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Larner family, friends and the entire Baseball Victoria community. Our thoughts are with his parents, Steve and Liz, as well as his sister Taryn and beloved canine companion Harley, along with all those who knew him. Jack will be greatly missed and his contributions and passion for Victorian baseball will never be forgotten.

The Victorian government recently made a large contribution to a project close to the hearts of many in our local baseball community.

Victorian Minister for Sport Mr. John Eren joined Baseball Australia chief executive officer Cam Vale at Essendon Baseball Club late last month as the Victorian government committed $100,000 to the Chris Lane Memorial Field project.

Chris Lane was a beloved member of EBC with a bright future ahead of him when his life was tragically cut short in August 2013. Named in his honour, the memorial will provide a dedicated junior field for baseball, softball and t-ball complete with natural turf, drainage, fencing and seating to meet little league baseball standards."This is an important recognition piece to honour Chris, his family and his connection to the sport of baseball," Vale said. "On behalf of Baseball Australia, we would like to acknowledge our gratitude to Major League Baseball who championed this project in 2014 as well as Essendon Baseball Club President Tony Cornish for his tireless work and unwavering commitment to this project."

The Victorian government recognised just how important this project was not only to the Lane family, but also to the local families who want to play baseball for years to come.

“Growing numbers of boys and girls, men and women are signing up to play baseball at local clubs like the Essendon Baseball Club, however many are struggling with inadequate facilities,” Minister Eren said. "These new junior baseball field facilities will provide more opportunities for Essendon juniors to get active and play the sport they love.”

For more details, please visit the full press release from the Victorian government HERE.

The Australian roster for the 2018 U23 World Cup in Colombia was recently announced, and six talented Victorians have made the elite squad that includes Australian Baseball League stars and MLB prospects.

Mitchell Ellis, Jack Enciondo, Mitchell Holding, Lachlan Madden, Jeremy Young and Jackson Boyd are the six VIC players on the team, joining 18 other impressive players from around the country.

Seven players will return after taking home a silver medal at the 2016 tournament in Mexico, including Detroit Tigers prospect Zac Shepherd. Shepherd, along with Robbie Glendinning and Alex Hall, made their debut for the Men’s National Team in their two-game series against Japan in March. Australia defeated powerhouses Panama, Korea and Chinese Taipei en route to the 2016 U23 World Cup final.

Seven members of the 2017 U18 World Cup team that finished 5th in Thunder Bay will travel to Colombia, including Milwaukee Brewers prospects Jess Williams and Alex Hall. Team Australia general manager Glenn Williams said the team was well placed to continue Australia’s success at the U23 level.

“2016 was a great example of a team that brought energy, competitiveness and a great attitude to the ballpark every single day,” Williams said. “We’ve retained a number of key athletes from our 2016 campaign, and added some new faces with experience at the international level. With many of these athletes keen to feature in our broader plan for 2020 Olympic qualification, we’re excited to see how they handle the high-pressure moments that international baseball throws up."

Williams added that a lot of coordination and preparation goes into successfully preparing for the event. “As always, there are many logistical challenges when putting together a team like this. We are grateful for the cooperation of many college and professional organisations who have made their players available for the U23 World Cup.”

Australia will take on Korea, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic in Group B, with their opening game against Venezuela on Friday, October 19. The top three teams will progress to the Super Round.

To view the full team list, please visit here: http://web.theabl.com.au/documents/9/1/0/297346910/BA2018_U23_World_Cup_Camp_roster.pdf

Baseball Victoria would like to announce two fantastic additions to our staff, Luke Hughes and Kellie Thomas.

Luke has been appointed to the Commercial Operations & Marketing role. An Australian national player, Luke is well-known for his decorated baseball career, both in the major leagues and the Australian Baseball League. As he makes the move to Melbourne and joins the Melbourne Aces as a player and hitting coach, he also takes on a full-time role with Baseball Victoria that will allow him to have a positive impact on the future of our sport and help our organisation achieve our mission. Anyone who knows Luke understands his intense passion for the game, and this enthusiasm and excitement will help him succeed in his position at Baseball Victoria.

In his new role, Luke will have a direct impact on the growth of our sport at a grassroots level. He will spend much of his time out in the community, interacting with stakeholders and potential members while representing our organisation and showcasing our strengths.

This wide-ranging and pivotal role will encompass essential commercial components for both Baseball Victoria and the Melbourne Aces, including sponsorships, corporate and group packages, membership and participation, development programs and special events. Luke will be hands-on in all areas of sports business, using his leadership and initiative to lead Baseball Victoria and the Melbourne Aces in a positive direction.

This next chapter of his career will give him the opportunity to work directly with the Victorian baseball community to improve member services and increase awareness and participation in baseball. Some of his responsibilities will include securing sponsorships, organizing special sponsor events, encouraging greater attendance at school holiday camps, and actively promoting Aces corporate and group sales.

Baseball Victoria members can expect to see and hear from Luke as he concentrates on his new endeavors within our organisation and with the Melbourne Aces as well. By working directly with our member base, Luke hopes to advance and enhance Victoria’s baseball scene while introducing new members and supporters to our beloved sport.

Also joining Baseball Victoria is Kellie Thomas, who is taking over the role of Operations Coordinator. Kellie is no stranger to the world of baseball, having volunteered for the Melbourne Aces over the past two years. She holds a degree in sports business and has been a sports administrator for 30 years in netball, tennis, cricket and swimming.

Kellie is heavily involved in local netball and currently serves as an umpire following her retirement from playing after more than 35 years on the court. She brings a natural enthusiasm for sports and a wealth of experience in member registration and administration. She is looking forward to working with clubs and players to ensure the most simple and straightforward registration process, as well as answer any questions about the SportsTG registration platform.

We would also like to recognise departing Operations & Events Manager Taylor Crotty for her valuable contributions to the baseball community and our members. She made a big difference to clubs and players by helping them set up their registrations and taking care of any registration issues. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

Welcome to Baseball Victoria, Luke and Kellie! We are looking forward to a bright future ahead at Baseball Victoria.

Baseball Victoria would like to announce two fantastic additions to our staff, Luke Hughes and Kellie Thomas.

Welcome to Baseball Victoria, Luke and Kellie! We are looking forward to a bright future ahead at Baseball Victoria.

Baseball Victoria is pleased to offer excellent development opportunities for female players. This includes our Women's State Teams and Women's Spring Training Academy. We are pleased to confirm the 2019 Women's State Team Head Coaches as follows:

Womens Blue Team: Dean Anglin

Womens White Team: Tony Culph

Womens Youth Team: Ursula Howard

These fantastic coaches will lead our talented players on their journey to the National Championships, with the Australian Youth Women's Championships in Canberra set for Sunday, April 14^th - Sunday, April 21^st and the Australian Women's Championships in Canberra set for Monday, April 15^th - Saturday, April 20^th.

These coaches will also be involved in the upcoming Women's and Girls' Spring Training Academy, an intensive program designed to instruct and improve the fundamentals of the game. This program will be open to all female players and will cater for all abilities. The Spring Training Academy will be designed and instructed by the Women's State Team Staff as well as members of the Australian Emeralds Team. This program will be used to help develop female players throughout the state as well as provide training prior to the 2019 Women's State Team Program. Dates for the sessions are:

Saturday 27^th October

Saturday 3^rd November

Saturday 10^th November

Saturday 17^th November

Saturday 24^th November

Saturday 1^st December

All sessions will be held at Springvale Baseball Club from 8:30 am - 11:30 am.

Registrations are now open for the Women's Spring Training Academy. Spots are limited so interested players are encouraged to sign up soon. Registrations will close on Wednesday, 24^th October at 5 PM.

The cost of the program is $198 and includes a Spring Training T-Shirt and cap.

We look forward to seeing our amazing female athletes take part in these valuable opportunities for growth and development. Please register here:

https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=30237&OrgID=16724

Twenty-two-year-old Sam Kennelly has endured his fair share of adversity when it comes to baseball.

Within the space of a few months, Kennelly’s services were no longer required by the Pittsburgh Pirates and the talented infielder heard the two words that send shivers down the spine of every baseball player.

Tommy John.

After the Perth Heat were narrowly beaten by the Adelaide Bite on January 15, 2017, Kennelly sensed ‘something wasn’t right’ with his elbow.

Kennelly’s worst fears came to be, as week later he underwent surgery to reconstruct his ulnar collateral ligament.

“Long-term injuries like that (Tommy John) are always tough to come back from,” Kennelly says.

“A lot of things go through your mind. You start to think a little bit more about your future and whether or not you can get back to your best. It’s the last thing you want to hear as a position player.

“Thankfully I had a lot of support from my friends, family, the Perth Heat and the Melville Braves (Kennelly’s club team).”

That support gave Kennelly the strength to keep going, as the star infielder reignited his career with De Glaskoning Twins in the Dutch Baseball League this year.

Kennelly was one of the Twins’ best, hitting .255 and finishing with a league-leading six home runs.

“The experience (with Twins) in The Netherlands was unbelievable,” Kennelly says.

“It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, getting 165 at-bats against quality opposition that I missed during rehab.”

That decision has helped Kennelly get back to the U23 World Cup, after being part of the 2016 team that claimed a historic silver medal.

Australia knocked off Korea, Panama and Chinese Taipei on the way to the championship game, where they fell to Japan.

“There was a special vibe around that group,” Kennelly said of the 2016 Australian team.

“We had a great mindset, put everything on the line each game and most importantly, we played for each other.

“It’s a memory I’ll never forget.”

Seven members of the history-making 2016 team will return to the fold this year, with the full squad released by Baseball Australia earlier today.

“Whether or not we have the most talented team, we need to stick together and play the game the right way,” Kennelly said of this year’s U23 team.

“We know we can match it with the best in the world, and we have the potential to win the whole thing.”

Australian Baseball League stars, affiliated talent and significant international experience highlight the team that will represent Australia at the 2018 U23 World Cup in Colombia.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL TEAM LIST

Seven players will return after taking home a silver medal at the 2016 tournament in Mexico, including Detroit Tigers prospect Zac Shepherd.

Shepherd, along with Robbie Glendinning and Alex Hall made their debut for the Men’s National Team in their two-game series against Japan in March.

Australia defeated powerhouses Panama, Korea and Chinese Taipei en route to the 2016 U23 World Cup final.

Seven members of the 2017 U18 World Cup team that finished 5^th in Thunder Bay will travel to Colombia, including Milwaukee Brewers prospects Jess Williams and Alex Hall.

Team Australia general manager Glenn Williams said the team was well placed to continue Australia’s success at the U23 level.

“2016 was a great example of a team that brought energy, competitiveness and a great attitude to the ballpark every single day,” Williams said.

“We’ve retained a number of key athletes from our 2016 campaign, and added some new faces with experience at the international level.

“With many of these athletes keen to feature in our broader plan for 2020 Olympic qualification, we’re excited to see how they handle the high-pressure moments that international baseball throws up.

“As always, there are many logistical challenges when putting together a team like this. We are grateful for the cooperation of many college and professional organisations who have made their players available for the U23 World Cup.”

Australia will take on Korea, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic in Group B.

The top three teams will progress to the Super Round.

Australia's opening Group B game is against Venezuela on October 19.

Baseball is part of Chris Burke’s DNA.

His father Neil is a former national team representative and current scout for the Kansas City Royals, and his brother Justin is a former Australian underage representative.

Now it’s Chris’ turn to make an impact. Next week he’ll take on some of the best young talent in the world, suiting up for the MLB World Select Team at the Arizona Fall Classic.

Burke says his father ignited his passion for the game. "I see dad as my biggest role model in life,” Burke said. "All I wanted to do as a kid was be around baseball as much as possible. Having a father involved in the game at such a level has allowed my summer holidays to be spent at the field and in clubhouses with him."

Burke would love to achieve as much as his father, and this motivation has driven him to new heights. Burke has been a regular in the Victorian state setup over the past few years, and sees the Arizona Fall Classic as an opportunity to play against some of the best young talent in the world. “I'm confident in my preparation and ready for the challenges that lie ahead,” Burke said. “Two of my Aces Academy teammates (Jamie Young and Jackson Boyd) were on the same tour in 2017, and both had a great time. They’re both in college programs in the US right now, and I’m keen to create chances for myself to play in the US.”

In the last few years, high-quality Australian talent including Jordan McArdle (Diamondbacks), Jess Williams (Brewers) and Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis (Grand Canyon University) have all suited up for the MLB World Select Team.

Burke, along with 11 others in the 2018 class, will have the opportunity to take on professional and college teams in front of hundreds of scouts from all across the USA.

You can keep up to date with the MLB Select Team’s journey on the Baseball Australia Facebook page.

Baseball is part of Chris Burke’s DNA.

His father Neil is a former national team representative and current scout for the Kansas City Royals, and his brother Justin is a former Australian underage representative.

Now it’s Chris’ turn to make an impact. Next week he’ll take on some of the best young talent in the world, suiting up for the MLB World Select Team at the Arizona Fall Classic.

Burke, along with 11 others in the 2018 class, will have the opportunity to take on professional and college teams in front of hundreds of scouts from all across the USA.

You can keep up to date with the MLB Select Team’s journey on the Baseball Australia Facebook page.