GIJANG, S. Korea – A monster inning from the Australian Emeralds, presented by Boral lifted them over Hong Kong 13-0 at the LG Presents WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2016.
The Emeralds piled on six runs in the third, capped off by a two RBI single from Laura Neads. Olivia Bannon also nailed a ball to left field in her first world cup, driving in another two runs to extend the Emeralds lead to double digits.
Kim McMillan started on the mound for the Emeralds and threw strongly, getting ahead in counts and getting the Hong Kong hitters to swing at pitches. McMillan threw a complete game shutout, only allowing 4 hits and striking out seven in a dominant performance.
After conceding early runs yesterday against Chinese Taipei, the Emeralds came out swinging early, scoring a run in each of the first two innings.
Karina Connors and Kim McMillan made sure the third started well with back to back hits, before some errors, wild pitches and passed balls capped off by a massive two RBI single from Laura Neads extended Australia’s lead to eight. Some solid defence from Tammy McMillan in left field and quality pitching from Kim McMillan saw the Emeralds continue their momentum following the massive offensive inning.
Olivia Bannon claimed a pair of RBIs in the fourth, while back-to-back sac flies in the fifth from Kim McMillan and Morgan Doty extended Australia’s lead to 13.
At the Women’s World Cup, if a team leads by 10 runs or more after five complete innings, the game is over, and three strikeouts in the fifth and final inning from Kim McMillan sealed the deal for Australia.
Australia now face a stern test in the second ranked USA in tomorrow’s final pool game, which looms as a must win for Australia if they are to qualify for the super round. First pitch is at 1.30pm AEST.
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GIJANG, S. Korea – The Australian Emeralds presented by Boral fought back from an early deficit, but ultimately fell to Chinese Taipei 12-4 in their opening game of the LG Presents WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2016.
Three hits and two RBIs from Chelsea Forkin, and a pair of hits from Bronwyn Gell wasn’t enough, as Chinese Taipei’s runs came in bunches, scoring at least two runs every other inning.
Brittany Hepburn was given the honour of the first start of the Women’s World Cup for Australia, but was quickly in some trouble as Chinese Taipei scored two runs in the opening inning.
Chinese Taipei tacked on another two runs in the third and lead by four, but after Bronwyn Gell roped a ball to right field and advanced Olivia Bannon to third, Chelsea Forkin stepped up to the plate and drove in Australia’s first run of the tournament.
Gell hustled home from third on the next play after an errant throw, and when Karina Connors’ sac fly scored Forkin in the same inning, the Emeralds only trailed by a run.
Chiao Yun Huang only gave up on earned run in 4.1 innings of relief for Chinese Taipei. Huang’s only earned run came in the fourth inning. Olivia Bannon claimed her first hit in national team colours, and when Gell split first and second with a ground ball, Bannon scampered to third. Chelsea Forkin again drove in Bannon, and in the blink of an eye the game was tied.
From there though, the defence from Chinese Taipei shone through, and a couple of big innings squashed the Emeralds rally.
The Emeralds next game of the Women’s World Cup sees them match up with Hong Kong (0-1) on Sunday at 6pm AEST.
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After more than 18-months with Baseball Victoria, Operations Coordinator Daniel Garrood has decided to move on.
Daniel’s current role sees him providing administrative support across BV’s high-performance programs, leagues, communications as well as general office management, but he is known mostly within the baseball community for his work with Clubs and the IMG system.
Daniel will remain in his current role until the end of September and BV is currently in the process of appointing his successor.
If you are interested, or know of anyone that may be interested in applying for the role of Baseball Operations Coordinator with BV they are encouraged to apply by forwarding their CV and covering letter to Ashley Blair via Ashley.blair@baseballvictoria.com.au.
READ THE FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION HERE
The Australian Emeralds, presented by Boral are the third ranked women's baseball team in the world and have high expectations heading into the LG Presents WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2016, and you can see every game of the Emeralds' campaign LIVE on ESPN Australia/NZ thanks to Fielders Choice (check your local guides).
For all of your baseball, softball and t-ball equipment needs, check out the unbeatable range at Fielders Choice.
SCHEDULE:
Saturday 3 September vs. Chinese Taipei - 2pm (3pm AEST)
Sunday 4 September vs. Hong Kong - 5pm (6pm AEST)
Monday 5 September vs. USA - 12.30pm (1.30pm AEST)
Super Round and Championship rounds: 7-9 September - TBD
For more information on the Emeralds, stay tuned to the Team Australia Facebook Page, and Emeralds website.
Following some recent enquires to our office it is apparent that many associations and clubs are unaware of the National Baseball Australia Property Insurance Program.
There are still a number of associations and clubs arranging their own property insurance and paying more than they need to.
Hopefully you are aware that the National Baseball Australia Property Insurance Program includes $10,000 worth of property cover for every affiliated association and club in Australia.
There is also the option for associations and clubs to increase their $10,000 limit at a very low cost compared to what is available as an individual association/club.
The cover provided under this program is comprehensive with cover for flood, items in open air, glass and money as standard.
With your assistance we would like to promote the Property Insurance program to your affiliated associations.
To provided added incentive we would like to offer the following;
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM AND ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
Baseball Australia are calling for nominations for Selection and Induction into the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame.
There are two documents below required for nominations:
To enable an orderly time frame to allow for the contacting of newly appointed inductees and the organisation of the annual function,nominations from within Victoria should first be forwarded to ashley.blair@baseballvictoria.com.au by no later than Monday 5th September 2016.
Should you have any questions please contact:
ashley.blair@baseballvictoria.com.au
One of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) leading global authorities on stadiums and facilities, Murray Cook, has visited Lismore’s Albert Park Baseball facility, in another significant step forward for the Regional Centre’s drive to become the home of baseball operations in Australia.
Cook is familiar with Lismore City Council’s and Baseball Australia’s joint submission and plans to upgrade the Northern Rivers facility, to a level that will see it able to host International teams and training camps, as well as various Australian National Team baseball programs.
Cook has been flown out to Lismore from the US by the MLB to provide further insight and support to the Albert Park facility master plan and its ability to provide an international baseball training and playing facility.
With over 25 years experience in delivering gold-standard international baseball facilities in over 60 countries around the world, Cook is simply known in baseball circles as “the field guru.” He delivered the MLB Opening Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2014, has multiple World Baseball Classic tournaments, Olympic facilities, and IBAF Tournaments, so Cook is well placed to comment on the Albert Park facilities ability to provide a world-class training facility.
“Clearly, the established footprint of the facility provides a great foundation, and with the right level of investment, proper design and construction, this facility can certainly host elite baseball programs and spring training camps for international teams,” said Cook.
“Whilst I have previously only reviewed the conceptual facility plans - it’s not until you actually have the opportunity to walk the site , look at the structure of the land and grass, view grading concepts and understand how these areas will all work within the proposed building infrastructure – that you can fully Envision the positive impact it will have on Australia's future youth baseball programs ”
“This is a very exciting project and those involved should be confident that if funded , design and constructed properly, it has the potential of becoming the best baseball training venue in Australia”
Cook will spend some time in Lismore meeting with Baseball Australia and Lismore Council Officials to work through the operational delivery of the $4.47 million facility upgrade submission currently before the NSW Government for consideration.
Lismore City Council Tourism and Events Manager Mitch Lowe said it was exciting to see MLB’s top field and facility expert travel all the way from New York to provide input into our plans of developing a national and international baseball hub seriously.
“Murray is considered the world baseball facility guru and to have his input into our Albert Park Facility will ensure we get things right from the start and deliver a world class facility,” said Lowe.
“Baseball Australia has indicated it would commit to hosting key national events, international team training camps and National Team activities in Lismore for at least five years if the upgrade was funded.”
Lowe continued, “an upgraded facility would inject more than $9 million per annum into Lismore’s economy. It's fantastic to have MLB officials in Lismore inspecting our facilities to see what programs and events could be possible if an upgrade occurs. We could see a raft of international activity at Albert Park in years to come. With the support of government and partners this project is close to being a reality.”
Baseball Australia Chief Executive Officer Brett Pickett was equally buoyed by the increasing support being thrown behind the Lismore bid.
“The Lismore community have a proud baseball history and there is clearly a willingness at Council and community level to make this unique opportunity a reality,” said Pickett.
“With Murray’s site inspection and input into this project, what we are proposing is becoming more ‘real’ every day, and will provide a great economic benefit to the Lismore community, and provide a great home for Australian Baseball Operations as we prepare for qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”
WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. -- For the second year in a row, Mexico had Australia's number in the Little League World Series. After winning more games than any other Australian representative in history, the Hills Junior Baseball Association were shut out by Mexico's San Nicolas Little League by a final score of 10-0, ending their run in the tournament.
"[The loss] was a bitter pill to swallow but I didn't want [my team] to lose sight of what they've achieved," Hills Head Coach Les Stockdale said. "[Mexico] fought, and we were out-played today. They're a great team; I'd love to see a team like Mexico go all the way."
Mexico got on the board early and often, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning and putting a six-spot on the board in the top of the third. A two-run fourth sealed the four-inning run-rule win. Jose Angel Leal dominated on the mound for the visitors, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing just one hit while striking out 10 of the 12 batters he faced.
For Hills, Clayton Campbell continued his strong performance in the tournament, smacking a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning that represented Hills' lone hit of the afternoon.
"Whilst the score probably reflected the game it was, I didn't want it to come down to that," Stockdale said. "I thought we were better than that. But as I said to the boys, keep your heads held high, walk out of this thing being very proud."
Stockdale said that his team's goal at the beginning of the tournament was to win two games, and in the process of achieving that goal Hills became the most successful Australian LLWS participant in history. That history continues to grow with each passing year.
"It's what we came here to do, and every team that will come to this thing will try to out-do what we've done, and eventually there could be an Australian team winning this thing," Stockdale said. "I think within 10 years we probably could. Each team that comes here learns a little bit more about how to play this tournament, and we've learned a lot and we can certainly take that back home to whoever qualifies next year. It's a wonderful experience and we can't wait to share it with everyone else."