Baseball Victoria would like to congratulate the U18 Victoria Blue team lead by head coach Kerry Gassner, for their strong finish at this years National Youth Championships held in Canberra.
"In what was one of the most even NYC Championships in recent memory, with any of the top 4 teams a chance for gold leading into the second last day. Victoria Blue narrowly went down to eventual champions Queensland 3-2, and held firm today to win the bronze medal 9-2 against NSW. A great job by manager Kerry Gassner to keep his team in contention, battling several early injuries to the roster. Congratulations to Kerry, Gavin Young, Tim Ballard and EO Trevor Bird for their leadership, professionalism and dedication to this group. I'm extremely proud of both our Victorian Blue and Victorian White teams, these young men are knocking on the door of some very bright futures in the game of baseball."
Baseball Victoria congratulates all players, coaches and staff for a successful 2014 campaign, and especially thank all the parents for their tireless support, and for providing these talented young men the opportunity to live their dreams.
The U4 and 16 State teams continue competitions in Sydney and Adelaide. For updates and scores follow Baseball Victoria on FACEBOOK
Coming Soon - 26th March - 2nd April
SPECIAL OFFER - Any kids who attend Summer Camp 2014 will receive a $75 discount on any fees for the Friendship Series.
The Baseball Victoria International Friendship Series is an annual event that allows Victorian children to host teams predominately from the International Boys Nankyu Baseball Association, Japan Incorporation (IBA Boys).
Teams from Japan, and recently Singapore and Taiwan, as well as NSW, come and experience new cultures, create new friends, reacquaint with old friends and play baseball.
The series is held in late March each year at venues across Melbourne. Our visitors are treated to local family hospitality and sightseeing attractions within Melbourne, including Puffin' Billy, the Queen Victoria Market and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
The series has been staged in Melbourne for over 15 years. It is available only for Under 12 boys and girls and games are played under baseball rules (as opposed to Little League rules).
UPDATE 19th Jan 2014
Itinerary
26 March U12 Teams arrive in Melbourne
27 March ( 木) 08:30 Opening ceremony Game 1 & 2 - Evening Welcome reception.
28 March ( 金) Game 3 & 4
29 March (土) AM Puffing Billy
PM Game 5 & 6
30 March ( 日) AM Free Day with Billets
PM Game 7 & 8
31 March ( 月) TBA Game 9 & 10
01 April (火) Free day
02 April (水) AM Free with billets teams leave in the evening
In the coming days and weeks we will be looking for players and host families - watch this space for information and updates.
Applications for Round 2 of the 2013/14 Sporting Uniform Grants Program open today, Monday 16 December.
The Sporting Uniform Grants Program provides grants of up to $1000 to assist Victorian grass roots clubs in purchasing sports uniforms. The program aims to encourage community participation in sport and active recreation as a way of strengthening communities across Victoria, and contributes to the Government's Sport and Recreation policy priorities of increasing participation, and supporting grass roots sport and recreation clubs to create physically active communities and nurture talent.
Funding Round 2 has the following key dates:
|-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------|
|Funding Round |Opening Date |Closing Date |Notifications |
| | | |Anticipated by |
|-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------|
|Round 2 (open) |16 December 2013 |4 February 2014 |5 May 2014 |
|-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------|
All applications including required documents must be received by DTPLI no later than 11:59pm on the closing date of the funding round. Late, incomplete or handwritten applications will not be considered.
2013/14 Sporting Uniform Grant Program guidelines are available online at:
http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/home/grants/all-grants/sporting-uniforms
Eligible clubs can apply online through MyGrants at the same site.
Applicants requiring assistance with the application process can call the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356 between 8.30am – 5.00pm weekdays.
If you have questions relating to the Sporting Uniform Grants Program please contact Danielle Cirillo on (03) 9208 3447 or danielle.cirillo@sport.vic.gov.au
Kind Regards,
Danielle
Danielle Cirillo | Project Officer
Physical Activity Unit
Sport and Recreation Victoria
Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure
Secure your place today for Summer Camp 2014.
This year's camp has something for everyone!
Everyone knows how much the kids enjoy our Baseball Summer Camp. It's the most amazing three days of Baseball training and crazy fun for kids 5-17 but this year we are including a few treats for the mums and dads.
Parents and friends are invited to join strength and conditioning specialist Tom Dicker each morning for a BOOT CAMP style workout. Find out how a qualified strength and conditioning expert works with senior level baseball players and athletes to increase fitness and performance - beginners to advanced welcome. Ideal way to kick start your New Years Resolution to get fit in 2014!
Tom will be available each day of the camp to answer your questions and give you tips, so make sure you introduce yourself to him and High Performance Coach Damian Shanahan.
Our coaching staff are looking forward to meeting campers and parents and giving you advice and the benefit of their years of baseball experience.
Beraldo Coffee are once again sponsoring a free morning coffee for those of you who are doing the morning drop off. If you can spare the time we love it when parents and friends hang out at camp for a few hours or all day!
We are also cooking up a breakfast from 8am - Yum!
Canteen will be open after breakfast for any drinks and snacks.
Baseball Victoria extends a warm Season's Greetings to all within the Victorian baseball community.
The Baseball Victoria office will be closed from 2.30pm on Tuesday 24th December 2013 and will re-open 9.00am Monday 30th December 2013. The office will also be closed on News Years Day.
With the office closed from 2.30pm on Tuesday 24th December 2013 to 9.00am Monday 30th December 2013, staff may be contacted via email or, in emergencies, on our mobile phones.
Staff will maintain an eye on activities including the preparation of the Victoria Under 14, 16 and 18 teams to participate at their respective National Championships in January.
Don't forget that the 'Jet Couriers' Melbourne Aces will be in full action at the Melbourne Ballpark, with the home series against the Perth Heat (2-5 January). Don't miss the action - buy tickets from the Melbourne Aces.
Office hours over Christmas and New Year period
Tuesday 24th December 9.00am to 2.30pm
Wednesday 25th December Closed (Christmas Day)
Thursday 26th December Closed (Boxing Day)
Friday 27th December Closed
Monday 30th December 9.00am to 5.00pm
Tuesday 31st December 9.00am to 2.30pm
Wednesday 1st January Closed (New Years Day)
Thursday 2nd January 9.00am to 5.00pm
Friday 3rd January 9.00am to 5.00pm
The Berwick Dodgers and Berwick City Cougar Baseball Clubs are sad to announce the passing of one of its members, Martin Kmet, after a long battle with cancer.
Martin was instrumental in the development of the Cougars Masters program, growing to 2 competitive teams playing in the Division 2 South competition.
Long time friend of the Berwick Dodgers and Springvale Lions clubs, Martin’s quick humour and friendliness will be sadly missed on Saturday afternoons during winter.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Marty’s family at this sad time.
A mouth-watering contest between an emerging Team Australia squad and the best of the international best playing in Australian Baseball League this summer, the All-Star Game has been a highlight of the Australian baseball calendar since its inception in 2011.
This will be the second time that the series has been held at the wonderfully revamped Melbourne Ballpark – now a jewel in the crown of Victorian baseball after losing favour as a venue when the earlier Australian Baseball League drew the curtain over a decade ago.
While the game will provide the Australian squad with an invaluable hit-out as it prepares for a Team Australia Challenge against Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks in March, it will be more, much more than that as our emerging young players seek to further establish their credentials against a group of playing professionals hungry to advance their own prospects in the sport.
“Australia will be playing two games in Sydney in March – one against each club,” Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble told Baseball Victoria. “It’s going to be a challenge to get some of our professionals back during spring training, but we’ll pick the best twenty-five that we can.”
“The All-Star game on Wednesday will give us a good look at what we have available for Sydney and for the years to come,” he said. "There are some players we would have liked who are not available - and a couple have pulled out with injury - but it is still an exciting squad that will acquit itself very well."
Heavily backed by Futuretronics, the All-Star Game will be televised (on Sunday) to a potential audience of millions by the ESPN network through Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Live commentary will be provided on ABC GRANDSTAND from 7.30 PM on Wednesday 18 December.
For those closer to home, the All-Star clash presents an opportunity for baseball lovers to see, feel and taste the game first-hand, to rub shoulders with baseball royalty and experience what is bound to be a memorable event between proud squads - both of whom have plenty of prove and both of whom will be going all-out for a win.
Overseen by long-term Manager Deeble, Team Australia will field a formidable squad that includes Victorians in right-armed pitchers John Hussey and Andrew Russell, left-armed wunderkind Lewis Thorpe along with infielders Josh Davies, Darryl George, Brad Harman and Justin Huber.
Both former Major League players with awesome hitting power, Harman and Huber are household names in Australian baseball who have been pivotal in the resurrection of Melbourne Aces fortunes during the current ABL season.
Injured players in Luke Hughes and Andy Campbell have been forced to withdraw and will be replaced by Victorians Sam Gibbons and Ryan Dale.
“The Australian side is going through a changing of the guard,” Deeble said.
“We’ve added some young kids to give them a taste of what it’s like playing for Australia.”
“The All-Star Game is going to be a really good test for them,” he said. “We ran out of spots this time but there will be others players definitely in contention for Sydney. Players like Rhys Niit, Luke Wilkins and Scott Mitchenson have done well in the ABL and will be getting a shot with the national squad.”
On his strategic approach to the All-Star Game, Deeble was clear and forthcoming.
“Every time now that an Australian team suits up it is out there to win,” he said. “We’ll play the game hard and we’ll do what we have to do with that purpose in mind.”
“Thorpe will pitch the first innings,” Deeble said. “He had an outstanding season with the Twins and he showed us what he can do against Brisbane on Friday night. Being a local boy, he will be a bit of a drawcard.”
“He’ll be followed by Ryan Searle, who touches 94 and dominated Canada in a game a couple of years ago. After that we’ll play it by ear, though we have plenty of arms at our disposal.”
Under impressive young Manager Michael Collins, the All-Stars will field a breathtaking array of professional talent drawn from four different baseball-playing nations – United States, Canada, Korea and Taiwan.
Former Major Leaguer Mike Ekstrom will head the pitching staff for an All-Stars squad that includes Melbourne Aces southpaw Joe Burns and evergreen Korean Dae-Sung Koo. The offence will present some fearsome hitters including Aces catcher Ryan Casteel, Blue Sox outfielder Keon Broxton, Brisbane Bandits slugger Joey Rickard and class acts from Canberra Cavalry in the persons of Jack Murphy, Casey Frawley, Michael Crouse and Jon Berti.
The 2013 All-Star Game is an occasion not to be missed by baseball aficionados.
It will be an occasion offering a golden opportunity for the next generation of Australian players to prove their worth against world-class professional players now helping set the benchmark of a resurrected national baseball league.
“Our immediate focus is on the All-Star game, although we are always looking to the future,” Deeble said. “There has been some talk about a Super Twelve international competition some time ahead – maybe travelling around the Australian states.”
“We definitely want to get more high-quality international games in Australia."
“With the media coverage that it will draw, the All-Star game is a magic opportunity for our players to again showcase Australian baseball and Australian players to the world.”
The All-Star Game will be played at Melbourne Ballpark on Wednesday 18 December, starting at 7.30 PM. It will be broadcast on ESPN Australia and New Zealand on Sunday 22 December from 8.00 PM to 10.30 PM AEDST.
While the series split was something of a letdown for the Aces after winning six on the trot, it nevertheless left the club with an 11-11 winning record that has it breathing down the neck of second-placed Canberra Cavalry and not far adrift of league-leading Perth Heat.
With Sydney boasting a similar record, attention will now be focused on the crucial four-game Aces versus Blue Sox series to be played at Melbourne Ballpark starting on Friday 20 December.
GAME ONE: MELBOURNE ACES 5 defeated BRISBANE BANDITS 2
Riding a wave of confidence after sweeping Adelaide at home, Melbourne turned on the offence at Holloway Field, with solo home runs by Brad Harman and Justin Huber giving the visitors a two-run break after the second.
And there was more grief to come for the Bandits, as Jared Schlehuber launched a two-run missile in the third, delivering great support to Aces starter Lewis Thorpe, who retired the first twelve hitters he saw in another stunning outing that ended as a four-hitter over six – with one earned run when Brisbane plated a run in the bottom of six.
Relieving Alex Kaminsky for Brisbane, Rhys Niit was taken for another long ball in the seventh – a solo shot by Josh Davies – while Eric Marzec conceded a fortuitous run in the eighth before fanning danger man David Sutherland and handing the pill to former Bandit Justin Erasmus to close out the game.
While the Bandits had their scoring opportunities, the Aces pitching and defence were impeccable in a terrific all-round outing in which home runs were damaging.
GAME TWO: MELBOURNE ACES 3 defeated BRISBANE BANDITS 2
The Aces made it sixth on the trot with another errorless defensive display behind a quality five-innings start by John Hussey before Trevor Holder and Brett Zawacki iced the game with an innings each in the abbreviated first of the Saturday double-header.
For the visitors, the scoring damage was done in the first, when a one-out Brad Harman double sparked a flurry of offence capped by RBI hits to Ryan Casteel (double) and Josh Davies after a Jared Schlehuber grounder drove Harman across the plate.
Continuing to play an aggressive game against Brisbane starter Craig Goodman, the Aces had a chance of scooting away in the third but were thwarted by a double play and the loss of two runners at the plate in an innings of frenetic activity.
Collecting eight hits to five, the Aces had the better of the scoring opportunities, although the Bandits stayed right in the contest and would be disappointed that they could not convert more productively than a sole run in the bottom of five.
GAME THREE: BRISBANE BANDITS 8 defeated MELBOURNE ACES 3
Down two zip for the series, Brisbane came out firing and chased Melbourne starter Joe Burns from the hill with a six-spot in the second – an outburst constructed around three doubles, two singles, two sacrifice fly balls and a home run by Joey Rickard.
While Yasuhiro Tanaka and Makoto Aiuchi stemmed the flow of runs, the Aces were always chasing tail in being out-slugged fourteen to six, with Ryan Casteel (two-run homer in the sixth) the only multiple hitter for the visitors.
Although the Aces drew back to within three on the Castell blast, the Bandits responded immediately with two more in the equaliser off Corey Kimes.
Living up to a recent Jon Deeble wrap as “the best starter in Australian baseball”, Ryan Searle was quite dominant for Brisbane in whiffing nine over eight innings of work to nail the win for his club.
GAME FOUR: BRISBANE BANDITS 5 defeated MELBOURNE ACES 2
It was looking bright for the Aces when Brad Harman cleared the leftfield wall off Casey Barnes in the first, although the lead was short-lived as Brisbane shrugged off a scoreless first two innings to collar Melbourne starter Freddy Flores.
With two in the third and three in the fourth – including moonshots by Patrick Leonard and Justin OÇonnor – the Bandits burst to a four-run lead that offered Barnes the protection that he required.
While Eric Marzec, Trevor Holder and Justin Erasmus each tossed a scoreless innings, the Aces were unable to convert a golden opportunity in the seventh when they loaded the bases with one out.
Out-hitting the home side seven to six and stranding six runners on base, the Aces had solid contributors in Jared Schlehuber and Justin Trapp – both with two knocks.
Baseball Victoria in conjunction with Cheltenham Baseball Club is pleased to announce details for the 2014 Tee ball/Rookie ball Gala Day, which will be held on Saturday 22 February 2014 at Cheltenham Baseball Club.
The main aim of this event is to encourage participation in Tee Ball which we all agree is the life blood and future of our sport. Many of the current Australian professionals playing at the highest levels of baseball started in a Tee-ball program such as this.
The Gala day will be split into two categories; U8 Tee-ball and U10 Rookie ball (Coach Pitch). Clubs have the opportunity to nominate as many U8 teams and U10 teams as they wish.
To help with the smooth operation of this event we ask that all teams provide their own balls and umpire for each home game. The first game will commence at 9am.
First Aid support will be provided.
The age criteria for the Gala day will be as follows:
U8: A player in eligible to participate in any match provided he/she is under the age of 8 on 1 January 2014.
No player may participate until the obtain their 5th birthday
U10: A player in eligible to participate in any match provided he/she is under the age of 10 on 1 January 2014.
No player may participate until the obtain their 6th birthday
Please contact Peter Leslie to register your teams
(Phone) 0418 323 584
(post) 7 Irene Crt Cheltenham VIC 3192; or
(Email) lesliesp@bigpond.net.au
Tee Ball is proudly sponsored Bendigo bank at Cheltenham Baseball Club
