The BV Umpiring Working Group, in conjunction with Melbourne Winter Baseball League, continued the delivery of the Behind the Mask program for new umpires over the past two Tuesday evenings.
Umpire Operations Officer David Welsh, Development Officer Geoff Dunn, and Member Engagement Manager Alan Sutherland led the sessions at Point Cook Baseball and Softball Club.
The first session was theory, dedicated to umpiring general principles, safety, and common rules, followed by the second session with on-field training. This primarily focused on a single-person umpiring system, including calling balls and strikes from behind the pitcher, moving around the umpire working area, and calling safes and outs at the bases.
We had 11 umpires complete the theory and five continued on to complete the practical session. These new umpires were mums, dads, carers, and juniors from Sunshine, Footscray, Newport, and Port Melbourne Baseball Clubs.
The Working Group would like to thank Neil Douglass from Point Cook Baseball and Softball Club and all of those who attended.
There are more dates for the BTM program being announced soon. If you would like to host an umpire training session, please email technical@baseballvictoria.com.au.
Baseball Victoria is pleased to offer VSBL participants the opportunity to provide feedback on the 2023/24 season with our Member Survey.
If you played, coached, volunteered, or umpired last season, please complete the survey to help us plan for next season and continue improving our grassroots baseball competition.
Click HERE to complete the survey by 31 May 2024.
Baseball Victoria is seeking expressions of interest for a Finance Director to serve on the BV Board, with applications now open via Sportspeople.
This is a voluntary leadership position to help grow an evolving state sporting organisation. The Finance Director is responsible for ensuring that directors and members have appropriate oversight of Baseball Victoria’s financial operations.
Click HERE to learn more and apply - applications close 31 May 2024.
Baseball Victoria is seeking expressions of interest for All-Girls Winter Invitational players and coaches.
The tournament is for players aged 12-16 and will run from 29-30 June in Bendigo alongside the U14 State Winter Championships.
Please click the following links to submit your interest: All-Girls Invitational - Players and All-Girls Invitational - Coaching.
It’s been a huge week at Geelong Baseball Centre with the 2024 Australian Senior League Championship featuring 30 games across ten charter teams.
Athletics and Rangers represented Victoria with pride and never gave up even when the score didn’t go their way.
Check out the event hub for results and recaps including some standout Victorian performances and head to Field of View Sports Photography for snapshots from the tournament.
Photos by Studio Honsa/Baseball.com.au
Victoria Aces finished in second place at the 2024 Australian Women's Baseball Showcase after an action-packed week in Lismore, NSW.
The tournament ran alongside the world’s first national Little League Girls Championship and was filled with World Cup players and AWC representatives.
Aces were 3-1 going into Sunday's gold medal game, where they faced Brisbane Bandits and eventually fell just short with a final score of 4-2.
Team Canada’s Raine Padgham proved too good on the mound as Aces were limited to four hits in the first five innings.
Team Japan Erika Nakae hit a late-game home run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead down to two. She went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI.
Jess Johnson pitched two perfect innings for Victoria with a strikeout, stifling the Brisbane bats and keeping the Aces at close distance.
Congratulations to all players and staff on an awesome tournament showcasing the best of the best in Australian women's baseball.
After an amazing week at the world's first Little League Girls National Championship in Lismore, Victoria Belles are happily coming home with a silver medal.
Belles made it all the way to the gold medal game after going 4-1 in pool play. They played NSW Blue for the championship title, and although it wasn't their day on the scoreboard, their infectious spirit and determination never wavered.
View this post on Instagram
The Belles took a leap in 2023 by entering an all-girls team into the Little League Division 2 National Championships. They helped inspire all states to come together and submit a team to the world’s first all-girls national title.
After dropping their first game of the tournament, the Belles won four in a row and came from behind in two of the games. They also got to meet incredible role models on the Victoria Aces, Brisbane Bandits, and Adelaide Giants teams competing in the 2024 Australian Women's Baseball Showcase alongside the Little League girls event.
“I don’t want to say I’m not suprised but I didn’t expect it to happen,” 10-year-old Taylor Elton said. “If I told myself four years ago you’re going to play in an all-girls tournament and be in a gold medal match I wouldn’t believe it.”
Elton feels this tournament has created a special bond between players.
“It’s really nice we get to share the experience together. I think there are friendships and bonds that could live on for years and years from now,” she added.
Head coach Leah Trebilcock radiates pride when talking about her team.
“Whilst we were incredibly privileged to break ground as the first all girls team at the Little League Division 2 Nationals, this year’s group of girls has redefined what it means to be a Belle," she said. "They have played with incredible heart and hustle, and refused to give up with their backs against the wall. This is by far the team-iest team I’ve had the pleasure to coach."
Congratulations Belles - our baseball community is so proud of you!
Players: Pia Amsing, Quorra Ridd, Eve McAndrew, Isabella McKenner, Georgia Brown, Emily Mills, Audrey Cheung, Emily Perks, Hannah Wilson-Powell, Lucy Gale, Molly Richards, Taylor Elton, Isla Theobald, Maddy SaundersCoaches: Leah Trebilcock, Delia Robey, Richard Elton
EO: Jess Morehouse
Scorer: Bobby Green
It was another action-packed day at the 2024 Australian Women's Baseball Showcase, with Victoria Aces playing a doubleheader in Lismore, NSW.
First up was Adelaide Giants, with Aces coming out on top 9-3 thanks to early runs and timely defensive plays.
Adelaide loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first inning, but Aces starter Morgan Doty was able to strand all three runners by getting the force out at home and then grounding into a double play.
But the highlight of the day belonged to Aces right fielder Jamie Bastian, who dove for a fly ball in the top of the second, stranding the runners at second and third to end the inning.
Japan representative Erika Nakae led the Aces bats, going 1-for-2 with a double and walk for 2 RBIs.
Aces ran out of steam in the second game, falling 10-3 to Brisbane Bandits after a big night for the O'Sullivan sisters.
Despite the loss, there were plenty of highlights, including Jasmine Bentley's impressive diving catch.
Team Japan representative Erika Nakae led the bats for the Aces, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double.
Bentley, Abbey Kelly, and Kira Kuwamoto each had an RBI. Kuwamoto also pitched one inning, allowing just a single base runner.
Victoria Aces and Brisbane bandits will meet again for Sunday's championship game at 5pm.
Check out the official ABL event hub for more details and follow along on BV Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates. Watch all the action on Baseball+
Victoria Belles improved to 4-1 at the Australian Little League Girls Championship with a 13-8 win over NSW White on Saturday morning.
One of the biggest highlights of the game was the world's first home run in a national Little League girls championship, which belongs to Audrey Cheung of the Belles. This was her first-ever home run, a two-run shot in a six-run inning that helped Belles recover from a 6-2 deficit and flip the game on its head.
Audrey was thrilled to send the ball deep to centre field.
“All my coaches have always told me to focus on hitting a line drive and if you’re early you will hit it over the fences,” she said. “I was thinking line drive, line drive and try to hit it right centre to score the run from second and then it went over.”
Audrey says the experience at this national championship has been unforgettable.
“This is the biggest tournament I’ve ever had in my life to play baseball. I’m meeting so many people like girls from New South Wales, South Australia and other states that I’m definitely going to see if I want to play up on women’s teams and hope to see them as professionals one day too,” she added.
Belles and NSW Blue will play for gold at 9am on Sunday -make sure to watch it on Baseball+
Check out the official baseball.com.au event hub for more details and follow along on BV Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.