On Monday 14 July 2014, the Victorian Summer Baseball League P&S meeting was held to vote on the final amendment to the playing conditions for season 2014/2015, which was to establish a process to determine the Conferences in Division 1.
As per the Amendment voted by the clubs (S25.1) the conferences will be aligned as per the below with the top two (2) teams from each conference progression through to the finals.
Lower Grade Division 1 Competition will be aligned to the Division 1 First team; however will be in a single Competition format with the top four team progressing through the finals.
Division 2 will again be drawn into a Single Competitions with the Division 2 Firsts scheduled to play 27 games, which is an increase from 24 games the previous season. This reflects the priorities of consistency from the preceding season and equal participation experience between Division 1 and Division 2.
*Accepted first year of Probation as per amendment S10.3
Division 3 have seven (7) confirmed clubs participating for season 2014/2015. To eliminate the Bye were possible, Summer League clubs are invited to nominate to the Competition Manager two teams into the Division 3 and Division 3 Reserves for the upcoming season.
It has been highlighted that the Competition will be structured the same as Division 1 and 2 First and Reserves which include wood bats, Re-entry Rule, Designated Pitchers. Division 3 First will also be nine (9) inning games and the Reserves a two (2) hour game.
The Introduction of Carrum Downs, who have previously entered teams in Division 4, Masters and also participate in the Dandenong Baseball Association (Winter) along with Research who entered the Summer League last year with two teams and also participate in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League, sees the Division 3 competition increasing in status for the upcoming season.
With the introduction to a Promotion / Relegation system as voted by the clubs (amendment W1.3), the following Divisions have been allocated and are subject to team nominations.
Once nominations have closed, scheduling will commence as per amendment (W1.2) with the possibility of midweek games being scheduled.
| Division 1 Women's |
| Doncaster Essendon Footscray Malvern Springvale Werribee |
| Division 2 Women's |
| Bundoora Footscray Melbourne Moorabbin Springvale Waverley |
| Division 3 Women's |
| Doncaster Malvern Melbourne Newport Sandringham Springvale |
Masters competitions will again include the 38 Plus competition for season 2013/2014 season. With the steady growth of the Masters competition, The VSBL Clubs voted to also introduce a plus 45 age group.
Players must be 45 years of age to participate in the plus 45 division however teams may have two player that are at least 43 years of age participate in the plus 45 division.
As of Tuesday 29 July 2014, the following clubs have submitted team nominations for season 2014/2015.
Team nominations for all Senior, Masters and Women’s Competition are now open and are due by Monday 18 August 2014. Members are encouraged to contact their clubs to insure team entries are confirmed by the close date.
All Senior Division 1, 2 and 3 draft schedules have now been released to all VSBL clubs which will be finalised and available on the new Victorian Summer Baseball League website from Monday 25 August 2014. All Division 4, Womens and Masters divisions will be made available from Monday 15th September 2014.
Winter clubs who are interested in entering teams for season 2014/2015 are welcome to contact Competition Manager David Zucchet on 03 9645 8000 or email david.zucchet@baseballvictoria.com.au for further information on how to enter a team.
Ringwood and Dandenong came into the last game of the weekend with four wins and a loss apiece, meaning that although this game was not listed as a final the winner would take the Under 14 Division 1 State Championship.
Interview with Jade Hough DBA head coach Under 14.
Direct link to the podcast with Jade is here.
Ringwood started the game with the same aggressive batting that they had shown in other games when they got 3 hits in the top of the 1st. Dandenong however were on their game catching a runner stealing 2nd for their first out of the game and then pressuring Ringwood out of the early innings with no runs. Chris Burke looked good starting on the mound for Ringwood but Dandenong applied their own pressure in reply and had bases loaded with one out. Croker's hit to left looked dangerous but Ringwood restricted Dandenong to one run on the play when they tagged the runner going to 3rd and the score stayed at 1-0 to start the 2nd.
McKenzie Salmon of Ringwood continued his form and power with the bat when he started with a hit that bounced over the head of the 3rd baseman. Fierenzi was pitching well for Dandenong throwing a lot of strikes and challenging the Ringwood hitters who were up for whatever he had. Mitchellhill singled and took a base on the throw to home to give the Ringwood batters 2nd and 3rd occupied but Dandenong were again strong in the field and shut them down without scoring. The game looked like it might even out as Ringwood had five hits after 2 innings but were losing 1-0.
In the 3rd innings, Dante Caruso of Dandenong made good contact with a line drive that went straight to the centre fielder, to keep 2 runners in place with 2 out . This was a critical part of what was to come in the match as Dandenong repeatedly put the ball into play and scored twice on errors. With the score at 3-0 Conor Myles batted in another with a workmanlike hit up the middle, then Dandenong scored another on an error to make it 5-0. Burke steadied the Ringwood ship when he struck out the last batter of the dig looking at the outside corner.
Top of the 3rd Innings and Ringwood took something from their pitcher's effort. They forced the issue and scored on an error after Kahui popped up for a hit that landed 2 metres in front of the plate. Salmon then walked and Ringwood were back in it with score at 2-5.
In the bottom of the dig Dandenong showed plenty and loaded the bases again. Liam Evans took the mound for Ringwood to see if he could give his team another opportunity to chip into the 3 run deficit. However, the game started to slip from Ringwood when Dante Caruso scored Trad on an error and Socic came in as well to make it 7-2 in Dandenong's favour. With time running out the pressure was right on Ringwood. Myles of Dandenong hit a line drive to left that rolled through the cones and Dandenong lead by 7. Myles' effort was only a precursor though to the three run home run by Aiden Flynn that slammed the door on the game and secured the Division 1 title blowing the lead out to nine runs with less than 15 minutes to play.
Ben Fierenzi gave way on the mound for Dandenong to much applause after some good pitching. Croker finished for Dandenong, but the game had timed out. Ringwood forced one across the plate to make the final score 12-3 and Dandenong ran out winners of the under 14 State Winter Championship.
It was double celebrations for Dandenong as they also claimed the Division 2 title, winning five of their six matches. Their first match of the carnival against Sunraysia would be the most significant, coming back late in the match to secure a 1 run win. Two more wins against Bendigo and Ringwood on Day 1 had Dandenong on top of Division 2 ladder. Their re-match against Sunraysia on Day 2 was a more comfortable win 10-3. With just two matches remaining this meant Dandenong could not lose top spot. A loss to Ringwood in their fifth match was their only defeat of the weekend and a win over Bendigo in the last game capped of a big weekend for Dandenong.
Diamond Valley: Oscar Hargreaves
Ringwood Districts 7 Defeated Diamond Valley 5
Under 14 State Championships Game 13 Ringwood Districts 7 defeated Diamond Valley 5
Ringwood and Diamond Valley both came into the game evenly poised at 2 wins and a loss after Day 1 of the Under 14 State Championships. It was cold wet and foggy but that only applied to the weather. Both teams knew that this game was effectively an elimination final and it hotted up from the start. Ringwood seemed to have the edge for most of the game but Diamond Valley didn't see it that way and pulled out some great 2 out batting and a clutch bang bang double play late in the game.
It was all tied up at one run all after the 1st innings, then Ringwood scored a second run in the 2nd and McKenzie Salmon (in green) blew it out with a 2 run home run bomb, to take his teams’ tally to 4.
The first pitching change came when Clute took the mound from Hargreaves for Diamond Valley and got the last out catching a batter looking at a low and away pitch.
Ringwood caught a runner stealing 2nd and looked in control, but Ewings and Cookson for Diamond Valley hit with 2 out, to have two runners in scoring position for Hargreaves. He walked to load them for Clute who worked the count full then walked in a run. Diamond Valley left bases loaded and Ringwood went into the 3rd leading by 2 runs.
Skinner of Diamond Valley made a good play at shortstop for the last out in the top of the 3rd, and his team had all the work to do. Diamond Valley forced the 1st pitching change when Jones vacated after a top effort on the hill. Diamond Valley then closed the gap to just two runs and upped the tension when they scored on a wild pitch. Keyhoe who came to the hill for Ringwood with two out and halted the scoring there with 15 minutes to play.
The bats were still aggressive for Ringwood in the top of the last. Busch stole and Hosking bunted beautifully into the gap to move him to 3rd. Pahos singled and scored the light-footed runner to reinstate the lead to 3 runs. However, Diamond Valley again showed real class in the field with a tight 4-6-3 double play (probably the best of the tournament). Both teams knew they had 10 minutes to go with their place in the championship on the line. Diamond Valley needed to score 4 to win and Ringwood needed 3 outs.
Another pitching change brought Keam to the hill for Ringwood. Diamond Valley got the tying run to the plate with one out and scored on a 1st and 3rd steal with 2 minutes of regular time left. The crowd was tense but that’s where the ledger stayed as Ringwood held their nerve for the win. The final score in a well played, high-pressure and entertaining game was 7-5. Ringwood go on to play off against Dandenong Red in the last round-robin game at 1.30pm. That match will decide the Division 1 Championship for 2014.
By Cam Gleeson
(follow on Twitter @valiantcam)
• Players will be eligible to participate in Little League International - Junior League State Championships. Tournament will be held in the January/February 2015 period at a venue to be confirmed.
• Top finishers will qualify to compete in Little League International – Junior League National Championships. This tournament will be held in April 2015.
In alignment with Little League International and Baseball Australia’s National Pathway, Junior League is the next progression beyond the current Little League International – Major League. Currently being introduced Australia wide, Major League is fast becoming a significant driver of participation and player development at the Under 12 level, and it’s only fitting that our Under 14 participants experience the many benefits of this exciting program Junior League.
Little League Major will again be the first level of the National Competition Pathway, and will underpin the new Junior League.
Players born between 1 May 2002 and 30 April 2004 are eligible for both Junior League and Little League Major. It is important to note that player’s eligible by DOB for both Junior League and Little League Major need to choose which competition they would like to participate in, as they cannot participate both in the same season.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Baseball Umpiring is an excellent way to stay in the great game of Baseball, earn some extra money and be in the best positions to experience the best plays on the day.
When you become an umpire there are many opportunities for you to progress to a higher level. The pathway for umpires is very similar to that of a player. You can start at your local club and progress your way through to the international level umpiring both tournaments and overseas competitions.
The Seminar will commence on Friday 19 September 2014 from 7:00 PM till Sunday 22 September 2014 at Essendon Baseball, Boeing Reserve Strathmore.
All new Umpires are required to attend FAll new Umpires are required to attend Friday 19 September 2014. Friday 19 September 2014.
The cost involved is $80 or $50 and for full time students.
Particpans will experience the following key areas of umpiring
Understanding the Rules of Baseball
Understand thecore values of umpiring
Correct positioning and where to make the right calls from
Assesment carried out by experienced Australian Baseball League Umpires
Receive a National Accreditation once completing the course
This is your chance to learn about umpiring, update your skills and become an accredited umpire within Australia.
For further information or to book your place, please contact;
David Milton, dmilton2369@gmail.com or 0418 342 162
Ian McKenzie, Ian@IDMcKenzie.com or 0409 704 459
Under 18 Winter Championships Final 2014
Ringwood vs Diamond Valley
at Geelong. Sunday 13th July
Game Duration 1 hour and 45 minutes
A direct link to the audio is here.
Limberg and Bromley of Ringwood got on base with hits to start things off in the top of the 1st. But the Diamond Valley pitcher Van Wyngaarden was showing good control and ended the dig there with no score.
Diamond Valley replied in the bottom of the frame when Purchase walked with one out. The left handed Bromley pitching for Ringwood was also in command though, throwing low strikes to take out the last two batters and move the game into the 2nd innings.
Corey Poke for Ringwood bunted to push sub runner Hall (for Hodgson) to 2nd.. This was good team batting by Ringwood to force a runner into scoring position. The next batter Mitch John made good contact but was undone when Diamond Valley forced a double off a line drive back to the pitcher. The game went into the bottom of the 2nd scoreless.
Oliver Dunn of Ringwood hit to lead off the bottom of 3rd innings then increased the pressure by stealing 2nd on the first pitch. Van Wyngaarden responded to that by striking out one and forcing a pop up to Appleby the catcher, putting the pressure back on the batting team with two out. Bromley who was just beginning his day out scored Dunn from 2nd with a (well reached for) hit to right .
Synnot of Diamond Valley got on with a error to 5 then took off in an attempt to steal but the ball went Ringwood’s way. They got their own back with an almost identical double play (to the previous one that went against them) when Wilson of
Diamond Valley hit a line drive comebacker to Bromely on the mound and he finished the dig by running the ball to 1.
Hogdson started it off in the 3rd with a double to left and Poke singled to the same place to make it 1st and 3rd occupied for Ringwood with 0 out. The pressure on the defense then looked to be mounting when Diamond Valley threw the ball into the outfield to let the run in from 3. Mitch John grounded to the infield but DV couldn’t make the fielders’ choice at home, Poke scored, but the runners stayed where they were when Ringwood went back into the dugout leading 3-0.
Bromley looked at ease on the mound in the bottom of the 3rd with 2 strike outs and a ground ball, showing great command. He then showed the way with the bat by beating out an infield single to 6 and followed up by stealing 2nd. Kayne Hillier batted him in when he cleared the left fielder’s head with a stand up double, he also scored to take the Ringwood lead to 5. Medlin of DV eased the pressure a bit when he made a tight play at 1 for the 1st out of the 4th. The Valley boys then looked like they might lift when Appleby (in the dish) caught the sub runner trying to steal 3rd.
Christie-Dosseter of Ringwood drew a walk and that finished the day for Van Wyngaareden who pitched extremely well with no run support. This bought Abbey Kelly to the mound to finish the dig for Diamond Valley.
Appleby of Diamond Valley walked in the bottom of the 4th but the runner then got picked off in a run down when he tried to steal 2nd, on the 1st move from the left handed Bromley.
Dunn of Ringwood started the batting in the 5th with a stand up double that rolled to the fence at left. Evans stole 3rd and Bromely got a free pass to the vacant 1st base. However, Kelly had a trick of her own when she completed (yet another) double play on a line drive comebacker to strand the runner between 1st and 2nd and take the game into the bottom of the 5th.
Ringwood got two on in the top of the 6th and final frame and DV were unlucky to miss a play at 3rd when the ball appeared to bounce out of Boyd’s glove. Shen Enoch of Ringwood batted in 2 runners to increase the lead to 8. Bromley ended his day out with a stand up double and handed the ball to Limberg to finish off the bottom of the dig with a lead of 11. Limberg looked like he had been waiting for his opportunity to pitch when he closed it out with three up and three down.
Bromley was the star with bat and ball but it was all hitting from Ringwood as well.
Hits for Ringwood- Bromley 4, Hodgson 3, Dunn 2, Poke 1 +1 sac bunt, Hillier and Limberg.
Pitching- Bromley 68 pitches, 25 balls, 43 strikes, 2 BB, 7Ks. Congratulations to Ryan Bromely of Ringwood Districts on pitching a no-hitter in the under 18 State Winter Championships Final.
In the other finals games.
Playoff Game for 3rd Place - Dandenong (8) DEF Geelong (2)
Playoff Game for 5th Place - Sunraysia (16) DEF Bendigo (0)
Most Valuable Players for the respective teams were:
Bendigo: Lachlan Jack
Dandenong: William Day
Diamond Valley: Riley Hill
Geelong: Tyler Huisman
Ringwood: Corey Poke
Sunraysia: Tanner Parmenter
Baseball Victoria wishes to thank the following who made the Under 18 Winter State Championships a huge success.
City of Greater Geelong
Ausport Superstore
Geelong Baseball Association
Guild Baseball Club
East Belmont Saints Baseball Club
all umpires, coaches, team managers, scorers, parents and players.
By Cam Gleeson
(@valiantcam)
See more photos courtesy of Memento Sports Photos
Melbourne Aces Press Release
The Baseball Victoria Spring Camp is the biggest baseball holiday camp of the year.
Supported by the Major League Baseball "Training with the Pro's", and sponsored by TGI Fridays, this camp is set to be one of the biggest school holiday programs in Baseball Victoria's history.
Spring Camp is where our junior players get to meet and train with some of the best Australian baseball talent who are starting their preseason with their summer clubs, and joining The Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces professional baseball team.
We have players and coaches from the highest levels of baseball, the tools and equipment that the professionals use, all in one place to give your junior player the best possible baseball experience and get them ready for the summer season.
This year we will also be offering our Junior Coaches Program and a limited number of places are available. A select number of campers can make the transition to be assistant coaches and earn their coaching accreditation on the job at camp.
Benefits include helping plan and organize activities and sitting at the much coveted coaches lunch table to listen to their stories and learn from some of the greats of the game.
LOCATION IS CHELTENHAM BASEBALL CLUB
JUNIOR COACHING PROGRAM
NOTE -This will be the first camp where we will be offering an official Baseball Victoria Junior Coach Program. The program is open to upper age juniors and adults who would like to learn more about coaching and gain their coaching accreditation.
Coaches in training will be need to be available at least one full day of the camp, preferably all three days, and adults must have their working with children's check. There will be a fee of $50 to participate (level 1) Other levels available by application.
PLACES ARE LIMITED
Those people interested in gaining their coaching accreditation at Spring Camp please email Thomas Dicker
