Baseball Victoria has announced dates and venues for the 2025 Little League State Championships, with umpire expressions of interest now open in preparation for the tournaments.

Junior and Senior League (SL80 and SL90) will be played at the Geelong Baseball Complex from Saturday 5 April to Monday 7 April 2025.

Little League Intermediate (SL70), Major and Invitational (LL Minor) together with Little League Minor (Coach Pitch) will be held at Knox Baseball Club from Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2025.

To be considered for umpiring duties, you must:

• have resat or be willing to re-sit the Community Level or above exam (please note Association Level or greater is highly sought after)
• Have a current Working With Children Check
• Have completed and submitted the ASC Officiating modules
• Be available for all of the dates plus travel days either side of the event

Interested umpires are encouraged to register HERE.

Baseball Victoria is seeking expressions of interest for a Board Director to fill a casual vacancy, with applications now open via Sportspeople.

This is a voluntary leadership position to help grow an evolving state sporting organisation. If you are seeking an opportunity to join a dynamic Board of Directors, have a passion for sport, and want to play an active role in growing baseball in Victoria, we'd love to hear from you.

Click HERE to learn more and apply - applications close Thursday 5 December 2024.

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce dates and venues for the 2025 Little League State Championships.

Junior and Senior League (SL80 and SL90) will be played at the Geelong Baseball Complex from Saturday 5 April to Monday 7 April 2025.

All players interested in Little League Charter competitions should register HERE.

Coaches can complete expressions of interest HERE.

Congratulations to Port Melbourne Baseball Club on a successful Past Players Day and club ground/lights launch.

The Mariners came together for a memorable day in the club’s 96-year history last Saturday with the first home game under lights and on the new field. After years of hard work and consultation with local council, the club is thrilled to have competition lights and a new synthetic/turf infield.

The triple header started with Women’s State League, ending in a 5-5 draw, followed by Premier League 2 Reserves who won 9-3 over Essendon. In the final game of the day, the first nine secured an 8-5 victory to finish the day on a high.

Well done to all involved in this project and we look forward to a bright future for baseball at Port Melbourne. Click HERE to check out photos and videos from the club’s big day.

Photo: Port Melbourne Mariners Baseball Club/@jcpphotovideo

As part of our BV Pipeline umbrella, we are excited to offer several upcoming 2Ball + Coach Education sessions, including one at Mulgrave this Friday night! Our first session at Geelong Baseball Centre was a big hit, and we look forward to more fun on the field with juniors and coaches who want to improve their skills.

These sessions aim to provide VSBL junior players with an engaging gameplay environment, offering supplementary game time and at-bats, and the opportunity for players of all abilities to participate in a Pipeline program with Performance Pathway staff.

Player bookings are available via bvpipeline.com.au.

Coach education (free and open to all clubs/coaches) will be facilitated by Keli'i "Zee" Zablan (BV Player & Coaching Pathway Officer), with a presentation and open Q&A provided, as well as an open invitation to join on-field during 2Ball sessions alongside PP coaches.

All sessions are open for all clubs' players and coaches regardless of location. If you have any questions, please email development@baseballvictoria.com.au.

Pipeline 2Ball + Coach Education session at Geelong Baycats Baseball Club

Baseball Victoria is pleased to open tryout registration for the Victorian Women's and Youth Women's State Teams ahead of the 2025 Australian Championships, which will return to Melbourne Ballpark next April.

Please click HERE to register for tryouts.

Baseball Victoria held its AGM on Wednesday 30 October 2024 following the shift in financial year, now ending 30 June.

Returning directors Grant Weir, Andy Rose, and Jennifer Pitson were re-elected to the Board of Directors, and the members ratified the appointment of Finance Director Greg Hill to fill a casual vacancy on the Board.

The AGM also resulted in five new Baseball Victoria Life Members: Jon Deeble, Phil Dale, Garry Bitmead, Stephen Black, and Alan Sutherland.

“Thank you to all our member clubs and associations for another fantastic year of baseball in Victoria,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “We appreciate everyone taking the time to attend the AGM and we wish to offer a special congratulations to our newest life members, who have made extensive contributions to baseball across the state, paving the way for Victorians to succeed at the local, national, and international level.”

Well done to all and we look forward to another great year of baseball ahead. If you would like to catch up on the year that was, please view the 2023/24 BV Annual Report on our website.

Overview of Newest Baseball Victoria Life Members

Jon Deeble

• 35 years of playing, coaching, and scouting
• Distinguished pitcher for Melbourne Monarchs in the old Australian Baseball League before coaching Victoria’s Claxton Shield Team, Monarchs, and Aces in the new ABL
• In 2005, Jon became the first Victorian and Australian coach in the Major Leagues, creating opportunities for other Victorian and Australian coaches
• Over 20 years as an MLB international scout and has signed numerous Victorians to professional contracts
• 10+ years of support with school holiday camps in Victoria and club coach accreditation through the national coach accreditation scheme

Phil Dale

• 40 years of playing, coaching, and scouting
• ABL career included playing, coaching, and managing with Waverley/Melbourne Reds and Melbourne Monarchs, winning MVP
• Named to Victorian “Team of the Century” (1934 – 2000) as a pitcher
• Inaugural manager of the Melbourne Aces in the second version of the Australian Baseball League and a second stint as pitching coach
• First Australian to play college on a four-year scholarship and to coach and scout full-time for major league organisations, creating opportunities for other Victorians

Garry Bitmead

• Long service to elite Victorian teams and the growth of baseball in Victoria as a respected coach of state teams and the Victorian Institute of Sport
• Coached Melbourne Bushrangers in the old Australian Baseball League and was an assistant coach of the Victorian Under 16 Team from 2002 to 2003
• Head coach of the Victorian Under 16 Team from 2003 to 2010 - winning two national championships and finishing runner-up three times
• Head coach of the Victorian Women’s Team between 2008 and 2010 and won a national championship
• Promoted the development of junior baseball as a coach of the Strathmore Secondary College baseball team between 1985 and 2015, where he won numerous state championships

Stephen Black

• Contributed to elite coaching in Victoria for over 40 years, covering juniors, men’s, and women’s teams
• Melbourne Aces coach and extensive involvement in Baseball Victoria training, high-performance, and development programs
• Coached the Victorian State Provincial Team in the Commonwealth Cup (1995) and was assistant coach for Under 16 and Under 18 Victorian State Teams during 1990s
• Head coach of the Under 23 State Team from 2006 to 2008 and named Victorian representative and coach of the Under 13 Australian Team from 2007 to 2009
• Pitching coach for the Victorian Women’s State Team since 2022 and coach of the Women’s Victorian Aces showcase team in 2022 and 2024

Alan Sutherland

• Dedicated service through representative boys and girls junior team coaching and umpiring since 1986
• Coach of the Victorian Under 14 Development Team in 1994, 1995, 2014, and 2015 (received a Baseball Victoria Service Award that same year)
• Coach for Victorian Under 16 White Team in 2017 and 2018 and executive officer of the Victorian Under 18 Blue Team in 2020
• Head coach of the Victorian Dingoes and Hornets teams at the 2022 and 2023 Barclay Cup – nominated to the coaching panel for the Victorian Youth Women’s Program
• Baseball Victoria umpire since 2021, earning opportunities to officiate at the Australian Youth Championships and join the BV Umpiring Working Group

Port Melbourne Baseball Club is calling all past players and baseball lovers for a very special moment in the club's 96-year history.

On Saturday 16 November, the Mariners will celebrate Past Players Day and the first home game under lights and on the new field. After years of hard work and consultation with local council, the club is thrilled to have competition lights and a new synthetic/turf infield.

There will be a triple header starting with Women's State League, followed by Premier 2 Reserves and Premier 2 Firsts.

Save the date and click HERE to RSVP.

Club Address: JL Murphy Reserve, Longstaff Field, 351 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce the U16 and U18 Victorian State Teams ahead of the 2025 Australian Youth Championships early next year. The prestigious national event will return to Blacktown, NSW with the Under 16 tournament running from 7-13 January and the Under 18 event from 9-15 January.

“Representing your state is an incredible privilege, and we know these players will make us proud while enjoying an amazing experience on the national stage,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “Following the success of our U18 National Champions at the 2024 AYC, we are excited to see what our teams can accomplish next year.”

Congratulations to all our state team representatives! Read more about the tournament HERE.