OSAKA, Japan -- Australia concluded group play just as it began, with a 10-0 blowout win over No. 20 the Czech Republic in eight innings. That win, combined with USA's win over Brazil, means that the team finished in a 3-2 record and third place in Group A, and qualified for the Super Round.
The team's momentum increased over the course of the eight innings today, with Australia scoring in six of the eight innings. The Aussie side got the scoring started in the top of the second inning, when Dean Frew and Tristan King led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Two outs later, Ben Tsui drove in Frew with a single to left field and stole second base shortly thereafter. With two runners in scoring position, Nate Vankan drove in King on a single to first base. After Vankan stole his way into scoring position, Ryan Kift made the score 3-0 with another RBI single.
Australia added to the lead with one run in each of the next two frames, on George Callil's RBI single in the third and Kift's RBI double in the fourth. Two more runs crossed the plate in the fifth inning, driven home by an RBI single off the bat of Jess Williams and a Czech error.
Frew continued his strong day at the plate in the top of the sixth, driving in Australia's eighth run of the game on a double to centre field. He finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Two innings later, Frew picked up his third RBI on a bases loaded walk, making the score 9-0 Australia. King delivered the Aussies' final run of the day later that inning, driving in Mitch Holding on a sacrifice fly to right field.
Rhys Steedman picked up the win, tossing six strong innings and allowing just six hits. Josh Hendrickson and Jack Enciondo each contributed an inning of relief to seal the win.
The Super Round begins play on Thursday, 3 September. The schedule will be announced after the conclusion of the rest of today's games and can be found here.
OSAKA, Japan -- After consecutive wins to open the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederaton U18 Baseball World Cup, Australia's record currently stands at 2-2 after an 11-1 loss to No. 2 USA in eight innings.
The American side struck first, scoring one run in the top of the second inning and another two in the top of the third. Australia answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, when Jess Williams drove in Mitch Holding on a single through the right side.
However, the USA scored a pair of runs in the next frame, another four in the top of the sixth, and one run apiece in the seventh and eighth to pad the lead and eventually end the game.
Jye Deeble took the loss for Australia, surrendering three runs on three hits in his to innings. Mitchell Neunborn contributed three innings of relief and Lachlan MacDonald also tossed two innings. James McCallum closed out the game with an inning as well.
On the mound for the USA, Nicholas Pratto tossed a complete-game two-hitter, striking out eight batters and walking just two.
Australia wraps up group play tomorrow at 11:00am against No. 2o Czech Republic at 11:00am AEST. Follow the game's live scoring here.
On Sunday the 19th of July, the Minister for Sport John Eren officially opened the 2016-2017 Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.
The Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (formally the Community Facility Funding Program) aims to support the development of high quality, accessible community sport and recreation facilities across Victoria with a focus on increasing participation of all Victorians.
The funding categories for the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund include:
· Better Pools category – grants of up to $3 million;
· Major Facilities category – grants of up to $650,000 for projects with a total project cost over $500,000;
· Small Aquatic Projects category – grants of up to $200,000;
· Minor Facilities category – grants of up to $100,000 for projects with a total project cost up to $1 million;
· Female Friendly Facilities category – grants of up to $100,000;
· Cricket Facilities category – grants of up to $100,000;
· Planning category - grants of up to $30,000 for recreation planning or facility feasibility or up to $50,000 for regional planning initiatives.
Only Local Government Authorities are eligible to apply directly to Sport and Recreation Victoria, this means that clubs and associations must submit an expression of interest form to their local council for consideration.
Application Guidelines are able to be downloaded below, but for application forms and other resources please go to www.sport.vic.gov.au
OSAKA, Japan -- After winning its first two games of the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation U18 Baseball World Cup, Australia lost its first game of the tournament to host nation and the No. 1-ranked team in the world Japan by a 10-1 final score.
The game was a close battle until the late innings. Japan took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, getting on the board on a bases-loaded walk. Strong pitching on both sides kept the score that way for most of the game. Japan's Shinnosuke Ogasawara allowed three hits and one unearned run while striking out nine batters over six innings, while Victorian Max Barrett put up a similar line, surrendering one run on one hit over five innings, walking five and striking out three batters.
Japan took a 5-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a series of walks and a two-run single by Shoki Tsuda. Australia got one run back in the bottom of the same frame when James McCallum drove home Nate Vankan on an RBI groundout.
However, Japan put a five-spot on the board in the top of the ninth inning to pull further ahead late in the game. The Aussie side loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning but was not able to score, making the final a 10-1 win for Japan.
With the loss, Australia is now 2-1 in the tournament, while Japan remains undefeated.
Australia will take on No. 2 USA tomorrow afternoon at 4:30pm AEST. Though the game will not be live streamed, it can be followed via live scoring.
OSAKA, Japan -- After shutting out No. 12 Mexico in its opening game, Australia defeated No. 15 Brazil 11-1 in the second game of pool play at the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation U18 Baseball World Cup.
The game stood tied 1-1 after the first inning, with both teams getting on the board early. However, the Aussie side pulled ahead to a 5-1 lead with four runs in the top of the third inning. James McCallum had an RBI groundout with the bases loaded for the first run, followed by a three-run home run off the bat of Tristan King, which gave Australia its four-run lead.
Australia tacked on an additional two runs in the top of the fifth, with Mitch Holding scoring on a wild pitch and Josh Rawlinson tripling in Dean Frew. Rawlinson finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate with one RBI. Two frames later King padded the Aussie lead with his second three-run home run of the day, a monster shot to left field that made the score 10-1. Another RBI single in the top of the ninth brought the score up to the final line of 11-1.
One day after his twin brother Lachlan shut down Mexico, Alex Wells put together an equally-impressive start for Australia. Wells struck out nine batters and allowed one run in his six innings of work. Lachlan MacDonald and Jack Enciondo held Brazil scoreless in relief to seal the win.
Tomorrow's game against No. 1 Japan is at 6:30pm AEST and can be tracked via live stream or live scoring.
OSAKA, Japan -- As manager Steve Fish said, the Aussie side's strength is doing the little things right. That was the case in the team's 10-0 shutout win over No. 12 Mexico in the opening game of the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation U18 Baseball World Cup.
Lachlan Wells picked up the win, tossing five innings of two-hit baseball and striking out seven batters. Wells, a member of the Minnesota Twins organisation, joined the team directly from the USA, where he was pitching for the Twins' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate. In relief of Wells, Rhys Steedman and Jess Williams closed out the shutout with one scoreless inning apiece.
In addition to the strong pitching, each batter in the starting lineup had a hit, and the team's first runs of the game came with two outs. George Callil got Australia on the board early, smacking a clutch two-out two-run triple in the top of the second inning that drove home James McCallum and Dean Frew. Two frames later, Ryan Kift singled in Callil and Ben Tsui to give Australia a 4-0 advantage midway through the game.
The game broke open the next inning, when Australia cemented the win with a six-spot that gave them a ten-run lead. McCallum led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third base on Frew's double. Tristan King drove in McCallum with an RBI single, and Frew also came home on the play because of an error by the third baseman. Mitch Neunborn and Callil then walked to load the bases. One out later, Nate Vankan singled to right field, scoring Neunborn and King. Callil also came home on the play due to an error. Kift scored the team's six run of the inning and tenth of the game on an attempted pickoff.
Australia return to the field tomorrow afternoon for a 4:30pm AEST first pitch against No. 15 Brazil. Though the game will not be streamed, it can be followed via live scoring.
First round action of the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation U18 Baseball World Cup commences today in Osaka, Japan with group play. For No. 14 Australia, the first day of competition means facing No. 12 Mexico at 10:00am AEST.
Australia's final roster was selected from a group of players participating in the MLB Australian Academy Program in Surfers Paradise, Queensland. The roster was announced earlier this week and came on the heels of a successful 7-1 finish for Australia in an eight-game WBSC sanctioned pre-Baseball World Cup series against No. 7 Canada.
The first round of play runs until Tuesday, 1 September. After the opening match against Mexico, Australia will face No. 15 Brazil on Saturday, 29 August at 4:30pm AEST, and No. 1 Japan on Sunday, 30 August at 6:30pm AEST. The match against Japan will be live streamed on WBSC Channel 1. The final two days of group play will see Australia facing No. 2 the USA and No. 20 the Czech Republic.
Today's game against Mexico can be tracked via live scoring and will be live streamed on WBSC Channel 2.
Recently the Federal Government launched the $100m Sporting Schools initiative, which enables Schools to link with State Sporting Organisations (SSO’s) to deliver sport in Schools.
To take advantage of the Sporting Schools opportunity, SSO’s required the on ground resources to cater for demand, and this is something that Baseball Victoria (BV) did not currently have in place. Although BV was increasing its workforce through the employment of part time Development Officers in its newly created Charter program, we were still short of the required resources.
The Bluearth Foundation has been active in the Schools space for many years delivering sport and educational programs to Children, and professional development for Teachers, and is known for the quality of its programs, and program delivery. Bluearth also has 14 fully trained staff working in Schools across the Metropolitan and Regional areas of Victoria.
BV and Bluearth are delighted to have been able to create a partnership that will see Baseball delivered in Schools across the whole of Victoria, assisting with the critical link from Schools into Clubs.
Please find attached the media release detailing the launch of this partnership.
To find out more about bluearth go to the link below:
Inside Sport and the Confederation of Australian Sport are proud to announce The Clubbie Awards, recognising the fabulous contributions made to grassroots sport by enthusiasts around the country.
We want to find the truly unsung heroes of Australian sport – and then reward their clubs with great prizes to improve their services and facilities.
It’s grassroots sport that is the heartbeat of all Australian communities. And grassroots sport is populated and supported by a legion of characters of all ages, shapes and sizes, abilities and disabilities. By definition, these “legends in their own backyards” go unrecognised.
Let’s put that right! Enter now, nominating someone or some team you know who inspires others.
The Clubbies will be presented in SIX categories.
1. BEST COACH
2. BEST PLAYER
3. BEST STALWART
4. BEST TEAM
5. BEST SPORTING EDUCATION
6. BEST CLUB – SPONSORED BY HYUNDAI
We know there are a million great stories out there to tell. Let’s shine a light on our local heroes. And reward their club with great prizes!
The grand prize for the Best Club award is a Hyundai iMax worth $40,000. The five prize packages for Best Coach, Best Player, Best Club Stalwart, Best Sporting Education and Best Team are each valued at a minimum of $1,000.
Full information on how to nominate and great prizes at insidesport.com.au/theclubbies
Inside Sport and the Confederation of Australian Sport are proud to announce The Clubbie Awards, recognising the fabulous contributions made to grassroots sport by enthusiasts around the country.
We want to find the truly unsung heroes of Australian sport – and then reward their clubs with great prizes to improve their services and facilities.
It’s grassroots sport that is the heartbeat of all Australian communities. And grassroots sport is populated and supported by a legion of characters of all ages, shapes and sizes, abilities and disabilities. By definition, these “legends in their own backyards” go unrecognised.
Let’s put that right! Enter now, nominating someone or some team you know who inspires others.
The Clubbies will be presented in SIX categories.
1. BEST COACH
2. BEST PLAYER
3. BEST STALWART
4. BEST TEAM
5. BEST SPORTING EDUCATION
6. BEST CLUB – SPONSORED BY HYUNDAI
We know there are a million great stories out there to tell. Let’s shine a light on our local heroes. And reward their club with great prizes!
The grand prize for the Best Club award is a Hyundai iMax worth $40,000. The five prize packages for Best Coach, Best Player, Best Club Stalwart, Best Sporting Education and Best Team are each valued at a minimum of $1,000.
Full information on how to nominate and great prizes at insidesport.com.au/theclubbies