Baseball Australia will continue its commitment to player safety, joining forces with Sportsarmour Australia to provide baseball players all over the country with state-of-the-art protective gear.
Everyone from little leaguers to Team Australia stars will have the ability to wear Sportsarmour's range, which includes world-leading brands G-Form, 2nd Skull and LP Support.
Baseball Australia chief executive officer Cam Vale said the partnership elevated Baseball Australia's continued commitment to player safety.
"Sportsarmour's products will provide the opportunity for baseball players all over the country to wear state-of-the-art protective equipment," Vale said.
"We have seen the technological advancements baseball has taken over the past decade, and believe Sportsarmour's equipment can provide a safer experience on the diamond for baseball players of all ages and abilities."
Sportsarmour - which distributes world-leading brands G-Form, 2nd Skull and LP Support in Australia and New Zealand - will become the Official Batting Glove, Official Protective Gear Partner and Official Medical Tape Provider of the Australian Baseball League and Baseball Australia.
Sportsarmour Business Manager Brad Shefelbine believes the Sportsarmour range will assist everyone from Team Australia stars to club-ball players nation-wide.
"Sportsarmour is proud to be teaming up with the Australian Baseball League and Baseball Australia, bringing together the most capable protective gear with one of the most exciting world sports," Shefelbine said.
"Sportsarmour is dedicated to ensuring that everyone - from professional athlete to casual sportsperson - has the proper protection to enable them to have fun and play hard.
"We look forward to supporting the stars of the present as they inspire the stars of the future to greater heights."
Click here to browse the range of batting gloves and protective gear.
Click here to browse the range of medical tape and compression gear.
As one of the most promising up-and-coming baseball players in Victoria, Genevieve Beacom is making a name for herself on the diamond.
She may only be 13 years old, but Genevieve has already made her way to state, national and even international competitions. Most recently, she became the first ever female representative selected to attend the Australian MLB Invitational, a coveted invitation and a testament to her undeniable pitching prowess. At this year’s event in Lismore, NSW, she joined 63 other talented baseball players from around the country for a week of highly competitive games under the eyes of both local and international coaches.
There, like always, Genevieve stood out from the crowd, and for good reason. Not only does she conduct herself with great professionalism on and off the field, but her accuracy and command are commendable. She says having such an opportunity, made possible through Baseball Victoria’s Development Pathway, was amazing, especially considering the rigorous training and level of competition at the Invitational. “The training was really good, and I felt like my arm got a lot stronger up there,” Genevieve said. She made herself at home and fit right in with her teammates. “I generally don’t have a problem playing with guys ever, because I always have. Most of them respect my talent and don’t really factor in that I am a girl.”
The Somerville standout pitched in two games for Team Nilsson, which finished 3rd after an exciting week of six games. She was also introduced to innovative technology, including hitting cameras that tracked bat speed and pitching cameras for arm speed. It’s not everyday that junior players like Genevieve get such access to professional tools like that, and she’s thankful for such an opportunity, especially for a young woman who is pushing for a level playing field for all. “It’s pretty amazing to be the first girl at the invitational. I feel happy that they are including girls and looking at girls and picking them,” she said. “It makes me feel proud of myself, knowing that if I did well up there they might consider other girls.”
This wasn’t Genevieve’s first time making headlines, as in September 2017 she became the first girl to play for Australia in the Carl Ripken World Series in Branson, Missouri. In fact, she was the first girl to take the mound as a starting pitcher in the tournament’s history, throwing the first four innings in Australia’s game vs. Canada. Despite the intense pressure, limelight and even TV interviews, Genevieve kept her calm composure and focused on what she loves the most: playing the game.
Genevieve, who plays first base and pitches for Dingley Baseball Club in the Dandenong Baseball Association, first picked up her bat and ball at the age of five after watching her big brother play. Now, the siblings share an obvious passion for the sport, and her brother, Sam Trend-Beacom, brings back all the tips and tricks he’s learned throughout his college baseball career and back-to-back championship titles in the U.S. to help Genevieve improve her skills. She credits her brother’s success with inspiring her. “There’s such a good pathway to keep going and play in America. My brother is my role model and I strive to be like him because he always puts in 100%.”
Since her T-Ball and rookie ball days, Genevieve has gotten a lot better both on the mound and in the batter’s box. She’s received guidance and support from local baseball legends, including Al Tanner from Cheltenham Baseball Club, who recognised her talent and worked patiently with her to develop her abilities and boost her confidence. “For me, I like having a good friendship with a coach. I find that if I can talk to them and feel comfortable, I get a lot more out of it.”
Having fantastic coaches by her side in the Aces Baseball Academy, Mariners Charter and Victorian Mavericks Women’s Academy in Japan has greatly benefitted Genevieve on her path to her baseball dreams. She says Baseball Victoria’s High-Performance Manager Damian Shanahan and his team of coaches have taught her and her fellow Aces Academy participants how to better their batting and fielding. “I’ve learned about staying in my legs to get more power.” Learning alongside the boys only fuels her fire. “It makes me want to try harder than them and it gives me more of a drive to play.”
Having traveled across the world in pursuit of the sport she loves at a young age, it’s safe to say Genevieve is looking ahead to a promising future. While playing in front of a big crowd may seem daunting to other players, Genevieve takes it all in stride. “When I get to national tournaments, like in the grand final, I get a bit nervous but then I settle into the innings and I’m fine.”
This impressive approach was on full display at the Australian Women’s Championships earlier this year, where she led the Victorian Youth Women’s team to a gold medal finish with a stunning start, striking out 17 and giving up one hit and no runs. Even with all this success, she’s still a very humble teen who wants to open doors for more female players. “I think in general there needs to be a lot more womens pathways and more traveling teams.” She is a proud supporter of pushing more development programs for young girls and showing them baseball is for all genders, not just boys. Genevieve herself has felt the pressure to be the best in order to be selected, but she says her Victorian coaches have made her feel like a valuable member of any and every team.
As she continues to challenge herself with a dedicated training and exercise routine, she keeps her eyes on the prize. While she loves staying active, and has played basketball on and off in addition to swimming and horseback riding, her heart belongs to baseball. She tries to strike a balance between her schoolwork at Flinders Christian College, her friendships and baseball, but she’s always looking for more time to practice and prepare for her sport. Her teachers, family and friends are supportive of her busy schedule, and love watching her succeed. At home on the Mornington Peninsula, she has plays catch every night and focuses on her velocity and accuracy, in addition to training several times a week at Aces Academy or her local club.
Genevieve’s drive to succeed is obvious to all those who know her, and she looks up to several notable women in sports, including the hardworking and helpful women from Springvale Baseball Club and Moana Hope from the women’s AFL. “She’s a good role model for me because she’s always putting in work,” Genevieve said.
She has her hopes set high, and won’t let anything get in her way. During the odd times she’s tired or discouraged, she finds herself thinking about the future and how thankful she would be that she kept playing. “I just want to find out what baseball brings me. It’s already brought me a lot of Victorian and national teams, and I’d love to see if it will lead me to college or playing professionally in Japan.”
Genevieve’s proud father, Brendon Beacom, says having coaches like Dean Marnell and Grant Irving look after her has been a great feeling. “It’s a big thing when you go to a tournament and you’re the only girl on the side,” Brendon said. “They look after her and really care about her best interests.”
Baseball Victoria would like to announce the tryout dates for the 2019 State Teams, which will compete at the National Youth Championships from Friday 11th January through Sunday 20th January at the Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney.
Baseball Victoria will be entering two teams in the 18U (blue and white) and two teams in the 16U (blue and white.)
All trials will be held at Melbourne Ballpark. We’re in the process of setting up a registration portal which will be released in the coming days with trial times included.
Any player wishing to trial is reminded that you MUST register prior to your trial date.
Under 18 Blue & White Team
Saturday 6 October
Monday 8 October (Position Players)
Wednesday 10 October (Pitchers & Catchers)
Monday 15 October (Position Players)
Wednesday 17 October (Pitchers & Catchers)
Wednesday 24 Oct
Under 16 Blue & White Teams
Saturday 6 October
Saturday 13 October
Saturday 20 October
Saturday 27 October
Under 16 Blue & White Teams
Saturday 6 October
Saturday 13 October
Saturday 20 October
Saturday 27 October
Please note that players may be cut at any stage during the trials process.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
All players MUST meet the following requirements:
Hold a current membership with a Baseball Victoria club and be registered with a Baseball Victoria club;
Meet the age requirements for each National Championships;
Under 16 - born in 2003 or 2004
Under 18 - born in 2001 or 2002
Be prepared to pay the specified levy in full prior to arrival at the National Championships;
Uphold all parts of the Baseball Australia and Baseball Victoria Code of Conduct;
Complete the forms required by both Baseball Australia and Baseball Victoria (to be distributed by the EO);
Purchase the required uniform and clothing through Baseball Victoria's supplier, and wear as stipulated within Baseball Victoria policies and as directed by team staff;
You must attend selection trials as set out above and all further sessions as advised; and
Baseball Victoria is thrilled to confirm the dates and details of our upcoming spring school holiday camps. Our previous school holiday camps have been a big hit, and we are proud to be offering this popular program once again and giving young players the support they need to grow and flourish, on and off the field. With appearances from Melbourne Aces All-Star Allan de San Miguel and other Aces players, these camps will offer amazing opportunities for junior players ages 7-15 to develop their skills under the leadership and watchful eyes of professional players and trusted local coaches and club staff.
The School Holiday Program will consist of two separate clinics taking place over the two weeks of school holidays. Week 1 will be held at Waverly Baseball Club on September 25th, 26th, and 27th while week 2 is set for Preston Baseball Club on October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. These camps will run from 9 am to 3:30 p.m. each day, giving kids plenty of time to pick up their bat and ball to improve their skills and techniques while in a safe and fun environment.
The cost to attend is $50 per day and $130 for any 3 days. Kids are welcome to attend just a single day or the entire session. Registrations are due by 11:59 PM on Sunday, September 23rd and refunds will only be given if advised before this time. There’s no limit to how many kids can attend, so invite your family and friends as the more the merrier!
Kids are encouraged to bring their own baseball equipment if possible, along with water bottles, snacks and lunches. The club canteen will be open over lunch and a lunch pre-order form will be provided to those who are interested.
We strongly encourage kids of all skill levels to join us for a memorable experience filled with baseball, friends and fun. Please register online here:
Week 1:
https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=29962&OrgID=16724
Week 2:
https://eventdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=29963&OrgID=16724
Some of our brightest young baseball players have set sail for a brand-new adventure as they start college careers in the United States. These are incredible opportunities for our ambitious athletes to further pursue their passion for baseball and make amazing memories in America – chances that don’t come around too often in other sports. Baseball Victoria would like to highlight and congratulate our Victorian players, including ten state team members, who are starting school overseas. We wish all of them the best of luck and we invite you to learn more about these standout student athletes below.
George Polley Congratulations to catcher George Polley, who will head to Pierce College in Lakewood, Washington at the start of September. He will be competing in the Northwest Athletic Conference, where he will continue to pursue the sport he's been playing since he was just six years old. In fact, even as a toddler George took a liking to baseball, as when he first laid eyes on a nearby field and saw what local players were up to, he told his mother he would be playing, too. True to his word, George threw himself into baseball, which he quickly realized was more than just a pastime, but a passion.
Even at a young age, George displayed undeniably impressive arm strength that had his teachers ducking during gym class. He was always hitting a ball, whether it was with a tennis racket, a cricket bat or a baseball bat, and it wasn't long before he was showing up his older sister on the diamond. George went on to great success in his junior career, heading to Myrtle Beach for playing opportunities, as well as participating in tours with the Kookaburras and Cal Ripken Tournaments. At some point in time, he's played with many of his peers that are heading off to college, and he enjoys meeting old friends on the field.
Although George has tried cricket and several other sports, his heart belongs to baseball. From catching a foul ball at an L.A. Angels Game to moving to the US for college, baseball has given him so many great memories. As long as he’s out there on the field, he’s happy. George has made the most of many opportunities to play with his peers and improve his strength and coordination.
Although George has tried cricket and several other sports, his heart belongs to baseball. From catching a foul ball at an L.A. Angels Game to moving to the US for college, baseball has given him so many great memories. As long as he’s out there on the field, he’s happy. George has made the most of many opportunities to play with his peers and improve his strength and coordination.
He’s played for several clubs, from Guild and Lara to Werribee and Geelong. Currently, he’s playing for East Belmont Saints, and he sent a grand slam over the fence in his second-last game in Australia before leaving for America.
Good luck, George!
Hamish Foreman
Off to College! Victorian State Player Hamish Foreman has earned a spot on the Williston State College Baseball Team in North Dakota. Hamish, who played second base for the Preston Pirates 1sts this past summer as they won the VSBL Division 2 premiership, is one of 4 Australians starting at the school this year.
We wish Hamish all the best and are looking forward to hearing about his accomplishments over in America as he continues his baseball career!
Luke Cartwright
College-bound Catcher! Congratulations to Luke Cartwright on starting college in the U.S. Luke is enrolled at Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa in a 2-year college, Division 1 program. The catcher and outfielder took up baseball through Syndal South Primary School’s T-ball and softball teams. Since then, he’s made the most of his playing opportunities, stepping up to the plate for Ringwood Saints in Melbourne Winter Baseball – A Grade and the Blackburn Orioles in the Victorian Summer Baseball League – Division 1. He’s also played for Forest Hill in winter. Luke represented Victoria Blue in the national championships from 2013 to 2017, and he was also part of the Victoria Schoolboys last year. Good luck Luke! We can’t wait to hear about the next step in his baseball career.
Aussie in Iowa! Congratulations to Samuel Reale, a passionate baseball and softball player who started a new chapter at Iowa Wesleyan University last week after receiving a scholarship. He’s played for Werribee Giants and Geelong, and he received the Don Deeble Rising Star Award in March 2017. He also represented Victoria in the all-tournament team at the under-19 National Softball Championships. The center fielder is studying criminal justice and playing college ball for the Tigers NCAA Division III Baseball team. We wish him all the best and can’t wait to see what he can accomplish in America. Good luck Sam!
Kyle Morrison
Congratulations to Kyle Morrison on taking the next step in his baseball career overseas! The Victorian State player and right-handed pitcher from Newport Rams Baseball Club has received a full scholarship to Daytona State College, a junior college in sunny Daytona Beach, FL. While suiting up for the JCNCAA Division 1 Falcons, Kyle hopes to earn his Arts Diploma before moving on to a 4-year-college to earn his Bachelors Degree in Physiotherapy. He has his sights set on playing professionally one day.
Good luck Kyle! We're looking forward to hearing about his pitching progress at college and beyond!
Rhys De Highden
College Chapter Opens for Catcher! Baseball Victoria would like to congratulate Rhys De Highden on the exciting next chapter in his baseball career. He has signed with Pierce College in Lakewood, Washington where he will play for the Raiders alongside fellow Victorians Blake Hodgson and George Polley.
Rhys kicked off his baseball journey at age 11 with Melbourne Baseball Club and never looked back. With the support of some amazing coaches, both at the club and representative levels, Rhys flourished in his junior years and set his sights on the national, and eventually international, stage. Rhys benefitted from the BV Development Pathway, taking part in the Aces Baseball Academy from 2015 to 2017, the same years he was selected as a member of the Victorian state team. He was part of the Victorian Schoolboys team in 2016 and 2017, and he was named in the All Australian Team for the 2017 School Sport Australia Baseball Championships, where he took home a batting award. He also attended the MLB Australian Academy on the Gold Coast last year.
In addition to all these opportunities on representative teams, Rhys also played for Melbourne in Division 1 of the Victorian Summer Baseball League for the past three years. Last summer, he also stepped up to coach his first junior baseball team at Melbourne, an experience he absolutely loved.
Rhys has previously played for North Balwyn Baseball Club, and this winter he took to the field for Greenhills Montmorency Baseball Club in A-Grade as a catcher and outfielder. He recently participated in an 11-week summer ball program from May through July, which saw him play 41 games for the U18 Crimson Cannons team near Seattle, Washington with other Victorians Cooper Goodman and Blake Hodgson. This fantastic experience helped him and other aspiring professional players prepare for the next step: college ball.
Rhys will be studying kinesiology and exercise and plans to spend 2 years at Pierce before transferring to a 4-year-school to complete his education and collegiate career. He also hopes to earn a Master of Physiotherapy one day.
It sounds like Rhys has a bright future ahead of him, and we wish him all the best as he continues to follow his dreams. Good luck Rhys!
Blake Hodgson
Victorian State Player Blake Hodgson is off to America! He’s accepted a spot on the Pierce College Raiders Baseball team outside of Seattle, Washington.
Blake has played for Blackburn in the Victorian Summer Baseball League and Ringwood in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League. His exposure to representative baseball led him to take part in an 11-week Summer Ball program with the U18 Crimson Cannons over the winter alongside fellow Vic players Rhys De Highden and Cooper Goodman. He will look to continue his successful pitching career at the collegiate level alongside several familiar faces from Victorian baseball.
We wish Blake all the best in his collegiate baseball endeavors and we look forward to seeing what he can accomplish!
Good luck Blake!
Tim Lane is taking the next step in his baseball career! He’s one of only 3 left-handed pitchers on the roster for the Indian Hills Community College Falcons baseball team in Centerville, Iowa. He’s rooming with fellow Victorian representative Luke Cartwright as they take their baseball skills to the next level in the U.S. Tim has spent his junior years playing in the Victorian Summer Baseball League with the Sandringham Royals, while in the winter he played for Dingley Baseball Club in the Dandenong Baseball Association. He’s benefitted from many opportunities to play on a representative level, including earning a spot on the Victorian schoolboys team. This won’t be his first time playing ball in America, as he was part of the Southern Mariners senior league team that won championships in Victoria, Australia and South East Asia before finishing as runners-up in the 2016 Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine.
We have a good feeling about Tim’s future in baseball and beyond. Congrats Tim and best of luck to you!
Jack Dunn
Outfielder Takes on Texas! Congratulations to Jack Dunn on the next step in his baseball career: a spot on Galveston College’s NJCAA Division 1 team. Jack has enjoyed a successful junior baseball career in Victoria, which all began when he was 8 years old and joined Cheltenham’s T-Ball program. He’s remained with the Rustlers in the VSBL competition ever since. He’s also played winter baseball with Dingley, and spent his last 3 seasons at North Balwyn. In addition to club ball, Jack has represented Victoria at the state level from the age of 14. He was selected to represent Australia in the 15U World Cup in Mexico, as well as with the Southern Mariners at the World Series in Bangor, Maine. Jack and his family are thankful to everyone who has supported him along the way, especially Neil Burke for all his coaching.
We wish Jack the best of luck as he pursues his baseball dreams!
Brayden McTigue
Congratulations to Brayden McTigue on his move to college in the US! The North Coburg Rebels player is now at Scotland Campus Sports in Pennsylvania, where he plans on studying Paramedicine and Paediatric Nursing while improving his skills and learning more about the game he loves so much. He and his family are very thankful for the Rebels who have guided him throughout his baseball journey.
Good luck Brayden! We wish you all the best in the US!
Grant Svikulus
Congratulations to Grant Svikulus on starting his college career in the US! Grant is attending Williston State College in North Dakota, where he hopes to follow his lifelong dream and continue progressing in his baseball career. Grant first discovered his passion for baseball at the age of 9 when he started playing with Greenhills Montmorency. Since then, Grant has participated in both the winter and summer seasons and has represented Victoria as part of the U18 State Team. He has also been to America with the Kookaburras and toured with Steve Fish, who mentored Grant and invited him to play in tournaments with the Perth Heat Colts over the past two Christmas breaks.
Grant joins fellow Victorian Hamish Foreman on the Williston Tetons roster, where they will continue to develop and improve their skills. Best of luck to Grant as he makes the most of his time at college! We can't wait to see what he accomplishes in his bright future!
Games concluded at the Australian MLB Invitaitonal in Lismore today, with Team Nilsson picking up a win, while Team Balfour and Team Lloyd played out a thrilling tie to cap off proceedings.
TEAM NILSSON 7-4 TEAM SHIPLEY (F/7)
Team Shipley tied things up in the top of the sixth with three runs, however Team Nilsson found a way to win, plating three runs of their own to claim a hard-fought 7-4 win.
In a high-quality ballgame where both defences were faultless, Aidan Miller was one of Team Shipley's best, striking out an invitational-high six batters, as well as nailing a two-RBI single in the top of the sixth.
Stephen Courtney went 2-for-2 with a triple while Miller Bell nailed an RBI double to score one of Team Shipley's four runs.
Harrison Dobb claimed a team-high two hits for Team Nilsson and impressed on the bases, swiping three bags on the day. Gabriel Valdez gave his team a perfect start, tossing two scoreless innings to begin the ballgame.
The final act of the ballgame went to ACT native Toby Carlton van Buizen, who roped an RBI double for Team Nilsson.
| BOX SCORE |
TEAM BALFOUR 7-7 TEAM LLOYD (F/7)
The wildest ballgame of the week was saved til last, as Team Lloyd scored runs in the final inning to peg back a five run deficit and end the Australian MLB Invitational with a tie.
Caleb Goodwin got things going for Team Lloyd with an inside-the-park home run which sparked his team's offence into action. Jaxon Limpus completed the comeback with an RBI single which drove in Jordan Hodges.
Nathan Howarth was one of Team Balfour's best with bat in hand, claiming two hits and a pair of RBI, while Tyler Ellis, Campbell Shaffer and Caden Crouch all picked up two hits apiece.
Team Balfour scored six runs in the first three innings, however some solid relief work from Tom Stancic, Nick Bertucci and Hayden Peoples kept Team Balfour off the scoreboard.
Nikau Pouaka-Grego was particularly efficient for Team Balfour, tossing two scoreless innings in 13 pitches.
| BOX SCORE |
The Australian Emeralds have completed their #WomensBaseball World Cup in Florida with a third-straight win this morning.
Australia scored six early runs and rode a strong start by Sinead Flanigan to a 7-1 victory over Korea in their consolation game.
The Emeralds finished 5-0 against consolation group teams, sealing a seventh-place finish.
Australia opened the scoring in the second on an Elodie O’Sullivan single and added to its lead on a wild pitch and Leslie Anglin sacrifice fly.
The Emeralds piled on another three runs in the bottom of the third to make it 6-0.
On the mound, Flanigan worked four solid innings.
She allowed one unearned run on three hits before Amy Collins and Maddison Tabrett combined to throw three scoreless frames in relief.
O’Sullivan finished with two RBIs on a pair of hits.
Anglin also drove in two runs in the win.
Chinese Taipei will play Japan in tomorrow's final.
Baseball Victoria is calling on expressions of interest for volunteer positions on the Victorian Summer Baseball League Tribunal Panel.
We are currently in need of four additional tribunal members who will play a valuable role in ensuring another successful summer season and a fair and safe experience for all our participants. Tribunal members will hear appeal cases over player penalties and meet at most once a week, depending on the previous week’s games and any player ejections during the competition.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please keep in mind that in order to be successful with your application you must:
• Have a clear understanding of the rules and processes while adhering to the Victorian Summer Baseball League
rules and regulations, Baseball Victoria By-Laws and the rules of Baseball.
• Be reliable and prepared to attend hearings on a weekly basis.
• Hold a high level of confidentiality.
• Provide feedback and assist in any further review in conjunction with the Victorian Summer Baseball League
Pennant Committee.
Candidates should be confident in their proven abilities and experience in these areas. All interested applicants must submit a resume to the Competitions Coordinator via email Kelsey.quinn@baseballvictoria.com.au by Friday the 14th of September.