Team Australia has announced the 30-man roster that will travel to Tokyo to compete at the World Baseball Classic next month, with six BV Performance Pathway alumni making the cut.
Victorians Darryl George, Dan McGrath, Jon Kennedy, Liam Spence, Blake Townsend, and Jarryd Dale will suit up for Team Australia. BV High Performance Officer Damian Shanahan has been named to the coaching staff.
Team Australia is set to compete in Pool B, which features current world No.1 Japan, as well as Korea, China and Czech Republic.
Pool B will compete in Tokyo from 9-13 March. The top two teams from Pool B then advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held in Tokyo on 15-16 March.
Securing a top-two finish in the quarterfinals would then qualify Team Australia to travel to Miami, Florida to compete in the semi-final and championship games on 20-21 March.
Congratulations to all representatives! Read the full release HERE.
Baseball Victoria is excited to reveal our new strategic plan for 2023-2026 following a dedicated planning process with the BV Board of Directors, office staff, and stakeholders.
Vision: Baseball at its best
Mission: For all people to experience the joy of baseball in Victoria
Baseball Victoria Values: Integrity, communication, innovation, collaboration, access
“We are pleased to launch our new strategic plan to benefit baseball in Victoria and guide our grassroots sport to greater success over the next few years,” Baseball Victoria CEO Chet Gray said. “We greatly appreciate the feedback from our stakeholders, which helped us identify our strategic priorities and the operational measures needed to reach our goals.”
“We look forward to following this strategic plan and working with all our clubs, associations, and members to ensure a bright future for baseball across the state.”
The BV operational plan is being finalised internally in line with the strategic plan for 2023-2026.
Click HERE for an overview of our strategic plan, including details on our values and pillars.
Dear VSBL Club Presidents, Secretaries and Members,
Thank you for your continued efforts to deliver grassroots baseball and support our great game. As we approach the end of the 2022/23 VSBL season, there are several ongoing issues that must be addressed. While there are certainly many positives to our Victorian baseball community, we continue to see a concerning trend of inappropriate behaviour from players, coaches, and spectators. There have been numerous violations of the BV Codes of Conduct, which set the standards for all participants in our sport.
It is simply unacceptable to verbally or physically abuse anyone in any baseball game or activity. While we acknowledge the competitive nature of our sport, at the end of the day it is a game, and an experience everyone should get to enjoy. Inappropriate gestures, name-calling, and obscene language bring our sport into disrepute and make it an unwelcoming, unenjoyable environment.
Week after week, we receive reports of verbal and physical altercations at various clubs, and responding to these incidents takes up valuable time and resources when we would much rather focus on supporting and growing the sport. Such negative behaviour also makes it very challenging to encourage more people to step up to the plate and lead the way in gameday management and umpiring.
We currently have very low umpiring numbers with long-standing officials retiring from the game, and we need to build up a new generation of officials to follow in their footsteps. We cannot do this when officials of all levels are harassed and left feeling discouraged and disheartened when they are just trying their best. We understand that not every call will go your team’s way, but it’s essential that all participants remain respectful, from players and coaches on the field to spectators on the sidelines.
It’s become apparent that it’s not just one or two clubs involved; this is a widespread problem within the culture of our sport. We need your help to change this and make baseball better for everyone. Poor behaviour not only affects senior players but also junior players and parents who see this negativity and don’t want to be involved anymore. Equipment abuse, verbal abuse, and physical altercations must stop if we are to grow our sport and build a bigger, brighter future for baseball in Victoria.
As part of the Victorian Government’s 2022 Fair Play Code, clubs are required to draw attention to their own member and spectator behavior and address all unsportsmanlike conduct. This includes social media as well as training sessions, competitions, and tournaments. Clubs with repeated incidents will face sanctions in an effort to stamp out this negative behaviour.
We need your support to improve the baseball environment and experience at grassroots clubs so our sport can thrive. We also want to remind all VSBL clubs of our ongoing umpire recruitment initiatives, including the BV Green Vest & Green Shirt Umpire Programs. All summer clubs have received green vests for beginner officials to wear, yet we’ve observed many clubs not using these vests.
Please make good use of this resource and help create a safe, respectful environment for those stepping up to umpire junior games. If you choose not to implement this program for the safety and well-being of volunteer umpires, please return your vests so we can reallocate them to other clubs that are successfully participating in this program.
We’ve also given clubs several reminders to provide three recommendations for potential green shirt umpires who may be interested in a basic umpiring course. We’ve had a very disappointing turnout with just a handful of clubs providing recommendations thus far. Our BV Umpire Officers have offered to hold umpire info/training sessions for all clubs and while a few have participated, we want to see much more interest and involvement.
We cannot build our umpiring ranks on our own – we need to know from our clubs which current and past players, coaches, parents, and supporters may be a good fit to get behind the plate and see what umpiring is all about.
We ask all clubs to recommend three individuals for the BV Green Shirt Program by Wednesday 15 February 2023. As a show of good faith, we will offer free BV/BA member fees for those who sign up to the program.
Please submit your recommendations online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/greenshirtumpires. Recommendations must be received by 15 February for your club to be eligible for a free box of balls from BV (maximum one box per club).
We would like to thank the clubs that have participated in these umpire recruitment initiatives, and the clubs that have demonstrated zero tolerance for negative behaviour throughout the season. We acknowledge the many challenges of running a club as volunteers, and we want to reiterate that we are here to support you as best as possible. The fewer incidents we have, the more we can focus on support services and participation programs to give our beloved game the attention it deserves.
Thank you in advance for your understanding and support of this message and our approach to negative behaviour and umpire recruitment. We want to focus on the positives as much as possible, but we need to see changes in the culture and environment to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome in our grassroots sport.
If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch.
Regards,
Chet Gray
Chief Executive Officer
Baseball Victoria
p: (03) 9645 8000
a: Melbourne Ballpark, Merton Street, Altona Meadows, VIC, 3028
e: ceo@baseballvictoria.com.au
Baseball Australia has confirmed the 2023 Australian Women’s Championship and Youth Women’s Championship will be held in Victoria at Melbourne Ballpark this April.
The Australian Women’s Championship will commence on Friday 7 April and conclude Thursday 13 April. The event will see the reintroduction of the Australian Youth Women’s Championship, playing for the “Simone Wearne Cup” after two years of the Australian Youth Invitational. This youth women's tournament will run from Saturday 8 April to Tuesday 11 April.
“We are pleased to welcome the Australian Women’s Championships back to Victoria and can’t wait for an awesome week on and off the field for our Victorian representatives and their talented peers from around the country,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “It will be fantastic to have the women’s and youth women’s tournaments at Melbourne Ballpark, and we look forward to supporting Baseball Australia and stakeholders in delivering the best possible event.”
This announcement comes as Victorian Youth Women’s State Team trials are underway, with final team selections to be confirmed later this month. The Victorian Women's State Team was revealed in December.
“After a silver medal finish at nationals last year, we will be doing everything we can to bring home the cup, and what better place to do it than at Melbourne Ballpark,” BV Women’s Head Coach Samantha Hamilton said. “We are excited for the next few months of training and teamwork as we strive to put our best foot forward while representing Victoria on the national stage.”
Stay tuned for more updates as the countdown to #AWC2023 begins.
Another action-packed week of Summer League is done and dusted!
Catch up on the latest results below and don't forget to follow VSBL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates. Fixtures, results, and standings can be viewed HERE.
Women's Week 14
In Women's Division 1, Essendon narrowly beat Doncaster 5-4 while Springvale outdid Footscray 29-3.
Footscray Women's Division 2 rallied for a 10-9 result over North Western. Springvale defeated Doncaster 15-10 as Melbourne won 12-7 at Geelong. Newport scored seven early runs on the way to a 16-5 victory at Sandringham.
Upwey Ferntree Gully scored each inning to finish 18-4 in front of Preston in Women's Division 3 East.
In Women's Division 3 South, Moorabbin overpowered Cheltenham 15-6 and Springvale defeated St Kilda 19-5. Chelsea cruised to an 18-3 victory over Berwick.
Port Melbourne continues to lead Women's Division 3 West after a 15-3 victory over Williamstown. Newport scored 22 runs and gave up just one to Mitchell Majors. Fitzroy came back from a six-run deficit to defeat Werribee 13-7. Essendon won 10-5 over North Western.
Seniors Week 15
Division 1 Firsts: a late flurry of offense put Berwick in front of Geelong 13-4. Melbourne beat Waverley 8-3 while a pitcher’s duel between Moorabbin and Blackburn went the Panthers’ way 3-1. Mulgrave won 10-9 over Essendon in extra innings as Malvern broke through in the ninth for an 8-4 victory at Sandringham. Sunshine defeated Upwey Ferntree Gully 5-1.
Division 2 Firsts: Doncaster prevailed 9-4 over Newport while Port Melbourne captured an early lead, cruising to a 9-2 win vs. Preston. Williamstown won 8-4 at Bonbeach and Werribee got the job done 9-1 at North Western. Cheltenham picked up a 4-0 victory at Ormond Glenhuntly as Fitzroy edged St Kilda 9-8.
Division 3 Firsts: Essendon pulled ahead late for a 10-5 victory over Chelsea as Geelong narrowly defeated Mornington 11-9. Sandringham secured a 15-5 win against Port Melbourne and Pakenham won 18-4 at Footscray.
Division 4 East: Melbourne Blue scored first but Waverley Black ended up winning 7-3. Melbourne Red won 13-9 at Blackburn while Research Lower Plenty Maroon scored 14 and gave up just one to Monash. Doncaster and Research Lower Plenty Gold drew 5-5.
Division 4 North: Essendon outdid Fitzroy Blue 14-2 and Greensborough shut out Footscray 15-0. North Coburg came away with a 16-8 win over Newport as Mitchell Majors beat Fitzroy Maroon 16-5.
Division 4 South: Three runs were all Springvale needed for a shutout victory over Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold. Pakenham White won 12-6 at Mornington and St Kilda held on for a 5-3 win over Upwey Ferntree Gully Black.
Masters Week 15
Blackburn racked up 20 runs while keeping Ormond Glenhuntly scoreless in Masters 38+ East. Upwey Ferntree Gully Black defeated Research Lower Plenty 11-2 and Waverley won 12-4 at Monash/Ormond Glenhuntly. Melbourne got the job done 14-1 at Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold.
In Masters 38+ North West, Williamstown won 13-8 at Pivot City and Essendon Bombers scored 26 runs in a shutout victory over Sunshine White. Essendon Jets and Newport ended in a 3-3 draw.
In Masters 38+ South, Sandringham jumped out to an early lead, eventually beating Bonbeach White 13-5. Springvale Bigcats shut out Chelsea 7-0 and Springvale Tomatoes finished 12-5 in front of Cheltenham.
Blackburn's streak continued in Masters 45+ with an 18-7 win over Melbourne while Malvern won 14-8 at Sandringham.
Juniors Week 14
U14 East Metro: Cheltenham scored five late runs for a 13-11 win over Upwey Ferntree Gully. Malvern prevailed 15-11 at Berwick/Mulgrave and Melbourne came away with a 10-5 victory at Bonbeach/Chelsea. Sandringham won 12-5 at Doncaster and Waverley outlasted Pakenham 15-11.
U14 West Metro: Newport Footscray beat North Western 17-3 as Essendon pulled ahead late to defeat Port Melbourne 13-11. Research Lower Plenty kept up the pressure in a 14-9 outing at Sunshine.
U14 East State: Malvern outlasted Blackburn 7-2 while Waverley edged Moorabbin 9-8. An early start propelled Chelsea to a 9-1 victory at Upwey Ferntree Gully as Essendon and Melbourne drew 7-all.
U14 West State: a close one between Geelong and Newport went the Baycats' way 9-8. Research defeated Werribee 15-4 and Essendon ended up 15-6 over Sunshine.
U14 Baycats: Geelong Snappers held on for a 10-8 victory over Rockhounds.
U16 Metro: Essendon prevailed 12-5 over Waverley as Malvern shut out North Western 14-0. Port Melbourne beat Fitzroy Maroon 14-5 while Research/Preston cruised to a 19-4 victory over Williamstown. Sandringham scored 17 and kept Blackburn/Doncaster off the board as Werribee won 19-4 at Fitzroy Blue.
U16 State: Sandringham got the job done 14-4 against Doncaster as Waverley beat Geelong 12-6. Williamstown outlasted Research/Preston 10-5 and Moorabbin recorded an 18-7 victory at Newport.
U18 Metro: Sandringham pulled in front late for an 11-7 victory over Mulgrave and St Kilda won 5-3 at Cheltenham. Pakenham outdid Doncaster 13-8 and Essendon defeated Sunshine 23-4.
U18 State: Essendon beat Geelong 9-1 as Sandringham blanked Newport 9-0. Malvern also picked up a shutout win, scoring eight runs over Preston as Blackburn Upwey FTG defeated Sunshine 20-5. Melbourne shut down Waverley 7-0 and Bonbeach Moorabbin won 9-3 at Werribee.
Under 12s Week 13
U12 A State East: Blackburn prevailed 15-3 over Sandringham and Melbourne won 11-7 against Malvern. Bonbeach battled back to beat Cheltenham/Moorabbin 8-7 and Chelsea won 14-4 at Waverley.
U12 A State West: Essendon recorded a 14-4 win over Werribee as Newport defeated Sunshine 15-2. Geelong won 12-4 at Research Gold as Research Maroon and Port Melbourne drew 9-all.
U12 B East: Sandringham defeated St Kilda 15-8 and Chelsea racked up the runs in an 18-4 outing at Berwick. Melbourne won 14-7 at Springvale.
U12 B West: Williamstown won 16-4 against Newport Red as Preston ended up 12-4 at Fitzroy Maroon. Fitzroy Blue prevailed 20-3 at Research Blue.
U12 Baycats: Geelong Mudhens won 15-6 over Lake Monsters and Firefrogs defeated Riverdogs 14-4.
Southern Mariners Intermediate: Moorabbin narrowly defeated Sandringham 1-0 as Bonbeach/ Chelsea won 15-8 over Cheltenham Blue. Chelsea prevailed 16-4 over Cheltenham White.
Eastern Athletics Metro A: Doncaster Green recorded a 9-0 victory at Greenhills Monty White and Blackburn Black won 7-0 at Ormond Glenhuntly. Blackburn Grey defeated Upwey Ferntree Gully 9-1.
Eastern Athletics Metro B Gold: Ormond Glenhuntly took an early lead but Malvern Red came back to tie it 20-all.
Eastern Athletics Metro B Green: Waverley Panthers won 20-5 over Doncaster and Waverley Cougars won 20-10 at Upwey Ferntree Gully Black. Waverley Blackcats and Wildcats tied at 25 runs apiece.
Baseball Victoria is committed to supporting and growing our umpiring fraternity, with several initiatives in place to promote a safe, enjoyable, and fair competition for all.
BV Green Vest Program
Thank you to all clubs that have participated in the BV Green Vest Program so far. We hope to see more clubs using these vests to identify beginner officials as volunteers/umpires in training, helping to build greater understanding amongst players, parents, spectators, and coaches. Green vests are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure baseball is safe and enjoyable for all, while also encouraging beginner officials to continue with their umpire education and development.
As a reminder, we are running a competition for clubs that send in photos of their green vests in action. The club that sends in the best photo will receive a prize, with entries shared on social media and included in the 2022/23 Annual Report.
Please send photos to rachael.bouley@baseballvictoria.com.au by 28 February.
BV Green Shirt Program
In addition to the BV Green Vest Program, we are also requesting three recommendations per VSBL club for potential green shirt umpires. This may be current players, coaches, parents, or volunteers who are interested in officiating and wish to learn more through a basic umpiring course.
Here's how it works:
- Identify three candidates for the BV Green Shirt Umpire Program.
- Submit your recommendations online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/greenshirtumpires
- Receive your free box of balls from BV! (maximum one box per club)
Recommendations are due by Wednesday 15 February 2023 to be eligible for a free box of balls.
BV Umpire Info/Training Sessions
Our BV Umpire Officers are happy to attend local clubs for info/training sessions, with two more coming up:
- Tuesday 7 February at Fitzroy Baseball Club, 7pm
- Wednesday 15 February at Melbourne Baseball Club, 6pm
New and current umpires are welcome to attend - topics will include umpire procedures, insurance, positioning, responsibilities, and washouts.
Please contact umpiringpw@baseballvictoria.com.au for more details on upcoming umpire sessions and the BV Umpiring Pathway.
Baseball Victoria is pleased to confirm the dates for VSBL Finals:
- Division 1 Firsts: semi-finals 7, 11, 12* March and grand final 14, 18, 19* March
- Division 2 Firsts: semi-finals 9, 11, 12* March and grand final 16, 18, 19* March
- Division 3: semi-finals 5 March and grand finals 12 March
- Women’s Division 1, 2, and 3: semi-finals 4 March and grand finals 11 March
- Masters: semi-finals 6 March and grand finals 13 March
- Junior Sunday competitions: semi-finals 5 March and grand finals 12 March
- All other grades: semi-finals 5 March and grand finals 12 March
*game three if required
We can’t wait to watch as the rest of the summer season unfolds, and we encourage you to follow VSBL on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all things Summer League.
All fixtures, results, and ladders are available HERE.
Summer League is back in full swing with just a month to go before finals!
Catch up on the latest results below and don't forget to follow VSBL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates. The latest fixtures, results, and standings can be viewed HERE.
Seniors Week 14
Division 1 Firsts: Essendon bounced back from a narrow loss last week with a 13-1 result over Berwick. Malvern outlasted Geelong in a 16-13 game, while Sandringham held on for an 8-6 win at Mulgrave. Blackburn edged Melbourne 5-4 as Waverley and Sunshine went back and forth, with the Wildcats prevailing 4-3. Upwey Ferntree Gully beat Moorabbin 5-3.
Division 2 Firsts: Port Melbourne broke through in the ninth for a 1-0 victory over Werribee, while Williamstown scored 13 and kept North Western off the board. Doncaster won 9-3 at Fitzroy and Cheltenham picked up a 3-1 win against Newport. Ormond Glenhuntly beat St Kilda 9-2 as a high-scoring game between Bonbeach and Preston finished with the Bluejays in front 16-14.
Division 3 Firsts: Mornington was first on the board and kept up the momentum in a 16-12 win at Chelsea. Essendon recorded a 22-0 result against Port Melbourne as Geelong overpowered Footscray 21-7. Pakenham sealed the deal 4-3 at Sandringham.
Division 4 East: Blackburn racked up the runs in a 21-6 outing against Doncaster. A Research Lower Plenty matchup saw the Gold side win 14-4 while Waverley Black defeated Melbourne Red 10-4. Melbourne Blue got the job done 11-6 over Monash.
Division 4 North: Fitzroy Maroon was first on the board, but Greensborough came back to win 7-4. Essendon won 8-4 at Newport.
Division 4 South: Mornington came away with an 11-3 victory at St Kilda as Pakenham Black beat Chelsea Blue 9-5. Pakenham White edged South East Warriors 6-5 and Chelsea White won 3-1 at Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold.
Masters Week 14
Waverley and Research Lower Plenty ended up drawing at eight runs apiece in Masters 38+ East, while Monash/ Ormond Glenhuntly won 3-0 against the Hunters. Upwey Ferntree Gully Black won 11-5 at Melbourne and Blackburn defeated Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold 9-2.
In Masters 38+ North West, Sunshine Blue prevailed 11-4 against Werribee as Pivot City beat Sunshine West 10-3. Essendon Bombers shut out Port Melbourne 21-0 while Williamstown went 14-0 vs. Essendon Jets. Newport outlasted Fitzroy 9-5.
In Masters 38+ South, Bonbeach Blue scored 12 runs while keeping Chelsea off the board. Springvale Tomatoes also picked up a shutout win, beating Sandringham by nine runs. Springvale Bigcats finished 17-2 in front of Pakenham/Berwick as Mornington overpowered Cheltenham 16-7.
Blackburn's undefeated run in Masters 45+ continues after a 12-1 win at Sandringham. Melbourne defeated Malvern 7-3.
Juniors Week 13
U14 East Metro: Cheltenham scored early on the way to a 13-6 win over Malvern, while Doncaster edged Berwick/Mulgrave 8-6. Pakenham beat Upwey Ferntree Gully 12-4 as Melbourne prevailed 13-3 at Sandringham.
U14 West Metro: Research Lower Plenty was first on the board, but Newport Footscray came back to win 15-13. It was close between Port Melbourne and North Western, with the Mariners finishing in front 21-20. Essendon scored in every inning for an 18-9 victory at Sunshine.
U14 East State: Chelsea shut out Blackburn 14-0 and Waverley won 9-2 over Essendon. Moorabbin won 12-1 at Malvern and Sandringham got started early in a 14-6 win against Upwey Ferntree Gully.
U14 West State: Geelong took care of business 10-4 at Newport as Essendon beat Sunshine 18-7. Research Lower Plenty finished 18-2 in front of Werribee.
U16 Metro: Werribee won 14-8 against Sandringham and Research/Preston beat Blackburn/Doncaster 20-4. Malvern kept the runs coming in a 19-6 outing at Fitzroy Maroon, while Fitzroy Blue won 13-9 at North Western. Essendon pulled in front late to finish 9-6 up over Port Melbourne and Waverley won 14-5 at Williamstown.
U16 State: Geelong came back to beat Williamstown 5-4 and Moorabbin defeated Waverley 8-5.
U18 Metro: Essendon cruised to a 14-4 victory over Cheltenham while Sandringham prevailed 11-3 at Doncaster. Pakenham won 14-5 at St Kilda and Mulgrave ended up 11-1 in front of Sunshine.
U18 State: Blackburn Upwey FTG won 12-3 against Newport and Geelong defeated Werribee 13-7. Preston scored five in a shutout vs. Waverley as Sandringham held off Melbourne's late push for a 6-5 victory. Essendon drew Malvern 6-6.
Under 12s Week 12
U12 A State East: Chelsea pulled in front late to beat Melbourne 10-9. A high-scoring game between Waverley and Sandringham finished with the Royals up 17-15. Cheltenham/Moorabbin won 15-10 at Malvern.
U12 A State West: Although Werribee rallied late, Newport came away with a 12-5 victory. A Research Lower Plenty matchup saw Maroon beat Gold 15-10 while Essendon won 10-5 at Geelong. Port Melbourne defeated Sunshine 20-3.
U12 B East: Melbourne and Sandringham battled hard, with the Royals coming out on top 13-12. Chelsea scored each inning to finish 15-5 over St Kilda.
U12 B West: Essendon overpowered Research Lower Plenty Blue 15-6 as a Fitzroy battle ended with Blue up 6-3 over Maroon.
Southern Mariners Intermediate: Chelsea won 14-5 at Ormond Glenhuntly, while Moorabbin picked up an 18-5 victory over Bonbeach/Chelsea.
Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the Victorian Youth Women’s State Team coaches ahead of the 2023 Australian Youth Women’s Championship in April.
Dean Anglin will serve as head coach, with Bronwyn Gell and Alan Sutherland as assistant coaches. Erin Collis will support the team as executive officer.
“Thank you to these experienced baseballers for stepping up to lead our talented female athletes to success at the first youth women’s nationals in four years,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “Their knowledge and expertise will benefit our junior girls and we look forward to the next few months of training leading up to the tournament.”
The youth women’s event is expected to run alongside the Australian Women’s Championship over Easter, with dates and venue information TBC by Baseball Australia.
As a reminder, team tryout registration is now open for female players born in 2007, 2008, or 2009. Interested players are encouraged to sign up for tryouts, which will take place on:
- Saturday 4 February at Newport (9-11am)
- Monday 6 February at Melbourne Ballpark (6-8pm)
- Saturday 11 February at Newport (9-11am)
Please click HERE to register for tryouts and stay tuned for updates on this year's championships.