The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begins on 25 November and ends on 10 December. This year’s theme is ‘Respect Women: Call it Out’.

Sport at all levels plays a key role in influencing positive behaviours and attitudes around gender equality, respectful relationships and the prevention of gendered violence that reaches far beyond sport into the wider community.

That’s why Baseball Victoria is pleased to join Sport and Recreation Victoria and fellow sport organisations in supporting this campaign and the 16 Days of Activism initiative.

We encourage clubs and baseballers to show their support and get involved by checking out online resources and spreading the word.

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the Victorian Women’s State Team coaches ahead of the 2023 Australian Women’s Championship next April.

Samantha Hamilton returns as head coach, looking to build on a strong silver medal finish at nationals earlier this year. Hamilton also coached Victoria Aces as they were crowned the 2022 Australian Women's Baseball Showcase Champions.

Hamilton is joined by assistant coaches Stephen Black and Jarryd Rogers and executive officer Ursula Howard. Together these officials will help the Victorian Women’s State Team prepare for the Australian Women’s Championship, set for the Easter holidays with dates and location TBC.

“Thank you to these trusted baseball leaders for putting their hands up to guide and support the Victorian Women’s State Team,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “Their experience, knowledge, and expertise will be incredibly beneficial to our women’s players, and we look forward to seeing their success on and off the field.”

More information on the championship, including the venue and Victorian team roster, will be made available in the coming months.

This week's School Sport Victoria Baseball Year 7 & 8 Boys/Mixed State Finals have been postponed and rescheduled after heavy rain at Cheltenham Baseball Club.

Please see the links below for updated event details and draws:

• Year 8 Boys/Mixed State Finals - Tuesday 29 November
• Year 7 Boys/Mixed State Finals - Wednesday 30 November

This will be the first time in three years the finals have been held after COVID cancellations in 2020 and 2021.

The Victorian baseball community enjoyed another action-packed weekend for seniors, juniors, and masters.

Make sure to follow VSBL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, while fixtures, results, and standings can be viewed HERE.

As a reminder, all players, coaches, and volunteers must register to be covered by insurance – please click HERE to access club registration links if you haven’t already.

Women's Week 7

Springvale overpowered Essendon 8-2 in Women's Division 1 while Doncaster cruised to a 25-1 victory over Footscray.

In Women's Division 2, ladder leaders Springvale finished 11-2 in front of Essendon as Sandringham won 18-10 over Doncaster. Melbourne scored in every inning to beat Footscray 22-6 and Newport shut out Geelong 25-0.

Waverley Black remains undefeated after a 6-4 win against Preston in Women's Division 3 East. Malvern got the job done 16-5 at Research Lower Plenty.

In Women's Division 3 South, it was a close one between St Kilda and Cheltenham as the Saints finished up 9-8. Chelsea beat Moorabbin 7-1 as South East Warriors powered their way to a 22-1 victory vs. Berwick. Springvale picked up a 12-1 win over Pakenham.

Fitzroy and Geelong continued their win streaks in Women's Division 3 West, with the Lions taking home a 10-5 victory over Alfredton and the Baycats beating Essendon 21-4. Port Melbourne managed a 16-6 victory at Newport and Werribee won 16-9 at Williamstown. A back-and-forth battle ended with North Western up 14-13 over Mitchell Majors.

Seniors Week 7

Division 1 Firsts: Berwick beat Sandringham 7-6 in extra innings while Essendon scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-4 victory over Geelong. Melbourne got the job done 8-1 vs. Moorabbin while Upwey Ferntree Gully hung on for a 5-3 win at Waverley. Malvern shut out Mulgrave 11-0 as Blackburn beat Sunshine by the same score.

Division 2 Firsts: Cheltenham overpowered Fitzroy 7-1 as Doncaster beat St Kilda 6-4. Port Melbourne scored late for a 5-4 victory vs. North Western while Werribee also secured a late win, finishing 13-11 in front of Bonbeach. Ormond Glenhuntly won 8-6 at Newport and Williamstown cruised to a 26-2 victory over Preston.

Division 3 Firsts: Essendon's bats were busy in a 21-3 win at Port Melbourne while Geelong's offense also delivered in an 18-5 result vs. Footscray. Mornington scored 18 runs and gave up eight to Chelsea while Pakenham outlasted Sandringham 5-3.

Division 4 East: Melbourne Blue won 12-2 at Blackburn while Monash recorded a 9-8 result vs. Waverley Red. Waverley Black stayed undefeated with a 5-4 win over Research Lower Plenty Maroon. Doncaster picked up an 8-7 win against Research Black. Melbourne Red won 13-3 at Research Gold.

Division 4 North: North Coburg beat Essendon 12-10 and Newport shut out Alfredton 16-0. In a battle of the two Fitzroy teams, Blue held on for a 4-3 win over Maroon. Ladder leaders Mitchell Majors won 14-4 at Footscray.

Division 4 South: Springvale had the edge over Pakenham Black, 7-3. South East Warriors beat Chelsea White 9-4 while Upwey Ferntree Gully Black won 16-5 at Mornington. St Kilda finished 13-6 winners at Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold. Pakenham White finished 11-7 in front of Chelsea Blue.

Masters Week 7

Most of the games were washed out this week but we did get two matchups in! In Masters 38+ East, Monash University/OGH narrowly beat Ormond Glenhuntly 2-1, while in Masters 38+ South, Bonbeach Blue scored seven runs in the fifth on the way to a 9-3 win at Sandringham.

Juniors Week 6

U14 East Metro: Bonbeach/Chelsea won 13-2 vs. Sandringham while Upwey Ferntree Gully beat Berwick/Mulgrave 13-3. Waverley picked up a 12-2 win at Cheltenham as Malvern came away 14-7 winners at Doncaster. Melbourne snuck past Pakenham 10-8.

U14 West Metro: A high-scoring battle between Research Lower Plenty and North Western ended with the Titans up 17-16, while Port Melbourne scored 12 and gave up four to Sunshine. Essendon got the job done 15-10 at Newport/Footscray.

U14 East State: Waverley won 11-1 vs. Blackburn and Chelsea cruised to a 16-3 victory at Malvern. Moorabbin battled back for an 8-4 win at Melbourne and Essendon scored in all but one inning on the way to a 15-7 victory over Sandringham.

U14 West State: Essendon led the way in a 12-3 victory against Werribee while Geelong did the same, winning 15-1 at Research. Newport won 18-3 at Sunshine.

U16 Metro: Malvern won 14-1 vs. Williamstown and Port Melbourne beat Blackburn/Doncaster 14-7. Sandringham narrowly won 16-15 over Research/Preston while Werribee drew 7-7 with Fitzroy Maroon. Waverley scored 20 and gave up three to Fitzroy Blue.

U16 State: Newport won 11-4 vs. Doncaster and Waverley got the job done 5-1 over Moorabbin. Sandringham took a late lead for a 7-4 victory at Research/Preston and Geelong hung on for a 14-12 win at Williamstown.

U18 Metro: Cheltenham held off Essendon's rally for a 6-5 win while Mulgrave beat Sunshine 18-2. St Kilda used early runs to win 10-3 at Pakenham and Doncaster overpowered Sandringham 14-6.

U18 State: Sandringham pulled ahead for a 6-4 win at Essendon while Bonbeach/Moorabbin scored late to earn a 10-6 victory over Malvern. Blackburn/Upwey FTG had the edge in a 13-9 win at Research/Preston as Geelong's bats secured an 8-1 victory at Waverley. Melbourne beat Werribee 6-1.

Under 12s Week 5

U12 A State East: A fun back-and-forth battle ended with Cheltenham/Moorabbin up 14-12 over Malvern while Blackburn won 17-0 vs. Bonbeach. Chelsea was busy on the base paths, winning 14-1 at Melbourne and Sandringham scored seven late runs for an 11-6 victory at Waverley.

U12 A State West: Research Lower Plenty Maroon won 19-10 in an exciting matchup against the Gold team, while Port Melbourne finished 15-1 over Sunshine. Werribee and Newport battled hard as the Giants pulled in front 11-10 in the last inning. Geelong won 15-8 at Essendon.

U12 B East: Sandringham came off the bye strong, winning 12-1 vs. Berwick as a high-scoring game between Springvale and Chelsea ended with the Lions up 13-10.

U12 B West: An action-packed Fitzroy battle saw Maroon win 13-12 over Blue while Williamstown hung on for an 8-7 victory against Newport Red. Essendon and Preston both scored in every frame as the Bombers ended up 16-12.

U12 Baycats: Riverdogs won 11-8 over Firefrogs and Lake Monsters drew with Mudhens 10-10.

Eastern Athletics Metro A: Blackburn Black won 20-0 against Doncaster Gold while the Dragons Green side lost a close one, 4-3 to Greenhills Monty Black. Blackburn White picked up a 16-0 win at Monty White while Malvern Blue prevailed despite a Melbourne rally, finishing in front 6-5. Malvern Red and Blackburn Grey both won 7-1 against Ormond Glenhuntly and Upwey Ferntree Gully, respectively.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Gold: Ormond Glenhuntly kept the runs coming in an 18-4 victory vs. Blackburn, while the Braves battled it out with Malvern Red winning 23-14 over Malvern Blue. Melbourne White won a close one vs. Melbourne Stars, 23-19.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Green: Waverley Cougars scored two late runs to retake the lead and win 18-16 over Blackcats. The Wildcats won 25-18 vs. Doncaster and the Panthers beat Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold 27-20. Upwey FTG White and Black drew 14-all.

Southern Mariners Intermediate: Chelsea won 16-3 vs. Ormond Glenhuntly and a Rustlers vs. Rustlers matchup saw Cheltenham White win 10-9 over the Blue side.

Baseball Victoria would like to acknowledge the 2022 BV Development Grants Program recipients. We proudly awarded over $28,000 in grants to 17 local clubs in support of activities and events that will drive participation and the growth of our sport at the grassroots level.

These grants were made possible through the Baseball Victoria Development Fund, which consists of annual contributions collected from member fees participating in t-ball, juniors and seniors.

Successful applications in the latest round included come and try days, junior gala days, baseball equipment, female participation programs, All Abilities programs, club-driven school events and more.

Congratulations to the following summer baseball clubs on receiving BV Development Grants: Ballarat, Berwick City, Blackburn, Bonbeach St Chads, Doncaster, Essendon, Mitchell Majors, Moorabbin, Mulgrave, Newport, North Coburg, Port Melbourne, Research, Springvale, St Kilda, Upwey Ferntree Gully, and Werribee.

We look forward to seeing the success of these club initiatives, as well as the opening of Category 2 funding applications for winter clubs and associations at the start of 2023.

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce the U16 & U18 Victorian State Teams which will compete on the national stage at the 2023 Australian Youth Championships from 9-18 January in Sydney.

“We are so proud of our 2023 Victorian State Team athletes, and we look forward to a fantastic AYC campaign,” BV High Performance Officer Damian Shanahan said. “We had over 140 players take part in the tryouts which was great to see, and through our rigorous selection process, we finalised two very strong state teams with impressive roster depth.”

“It’s a huge honour for these athletes to represent their state, and we are confident they will make the most out of this opportunity. We can’t wait to get back to work on the field and train hard in the leadup to the national tournament, with dedicated coaching staff ready to guide players to on-field success.”

The championships are set for Blacktown International Sports Park, where both the Under 16 and Under 18 events will be held for the first time since January 2020.

Victoria most recently won silver at the 2022 Australian U16 Youth Championship in Queensland last July, while 10 Victorians represented on the National Junior Squad ahead of the U18 World Cup in September.

“We wish our U16 & U18 teams the best of luck and we can’t wait to see what the next few months have in store,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “We thank all players who tried out and congratulate those selected to final team rosters. Thank you also to our head coaches, assistant coaches, and executive officers who have stepped up to the plate to lead our teams through an exciting and challenging competition against top talent from around the country.”

Stay tuned for more tournament updates as the countdown to #AYC2023 begins.

U16 Victorian State Team

• Andrew Land
• Brooklyn Riwaka-Kinney
• Cade White
• Cooper Laurie
• Devin Leahy
• Ethan Johnston
• Hamish Stone
• Hudson Pallay
• Jordan Ellis
• Mitch Langworthy
• Nathan Rumbelow
• Riley Peoples
• Robinson Smith
• Roman Coote
• Samuel Walk
• Ty Daniels
• Will Kent
• William Hardy
• Windsor Breckenridge
• Zak Stafilis

Coaching staff:

• Ben Laux (head coach)
• Trifon Stafilis (assistant coach)
• Matt Hardie (assistant coach)
• Jason Davis (executive officer)

U18 Victorian State Team

• Addison Bishop-Worn
• Aimon Dowling
• Alex Duske
• Ben Howard
• Blake Mitchell
• Cooper Drummond
• Declan Speirs
• Evan Maury
• Harper Rickard
• Jack Ratcliffe
• James Squire
• Jayden Kim
• Lachlan Amon
• Lachlan Smith
• Matthew Johnston
• Ryan Langworthy
• Ryan Williams
• Ryder Wilson
• Taran Rose
• Will Cavanagh

Coaching staff:

• Marshall Skinner (head coach)
• Simon Ratcliffe (assistant coach)
• Chris Rickard (assistant coach)
• Taryn Richardson (executive officer)

After several months of construction, Essendon Baseball Club is pleased to see progress on the Chris Lane Memorial Field.

The project is dedicated in memory of local baseballer Chris Lane, who tragically passed away in August 2013. The field has been nearly a decade in the making, and Moonee Valley City Council recently committed additional funding to ensure the memorial is finished to high standards.

EBC President Tony Cornish says the council and community support has made a huge difference throughout this process.

“It would not have happened without them,” Cornish said. “Construction has been slow due to rain, but we did gain more funding to give the field its bells and whistles. We are hoping it will be finished by the end of March with an opening probably at the start of next season.”

Once complete, the memorial will provide a dedicated junior baseball field complete with turf, drainage, fencing and seating to meet Little League standards.

The project was made possible by the support of many stakeholders, including Musco Lighting, Victorian State Government, #CL40, EBC, City of Moonee Valley, Major League Baseball, and the Lane family.

“Our hopes for the future of Chris Lane Memorial Field are to firstly give the game a field that kids can enjoy, play more often and under lights, and also be able to host state, national and international tournaments,” Cornish added. “This project means everything to the club as its been a long and gruelling process, but more importantly, it’s about honouring Chris and his family.”

Read more about the Chris Lane Memorial Field HERE.

 

Three Victorians have been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming WBSC Oceania U18 World Cup Qualifiers. Congratulations to Jayden Kim, Jack Ratcliffe, and Lachlan Smith – we are so proud and wish you all the best in this opportunity!

The team will head to Auckland, New Zealand in early December to play against Guam, Northern Marianas Pacific and host New Zealand.

The winner of this tournament will book their spot in the 2023 WBSC U18 World Cup.

There is a solid combination of players from all over the country as the roster is comprised of 2 QLD, 7 NSW, 4 WA, 3 VIC & 4 SA players.

8 of the 20 were selected as first-year players in the 2022 U18 National Junior Squad that were in Florida earlier this year and are back.

The tournament is from 12 December-15 December in Auckland. Follow all Team Australia social media accounts to stay up to date with the results of the games.’

It was a high-scoring weekend with plenty of action-packed games throughout seniors, juniors, and masters.

Don't forget to follow VSBL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates or view fixtures, results, and standings HERE.

As a reminder, all players, coaches, and volunteers must register to be covered by insurance – please click HERE to access club registration links if you haven’t already.

Women's Week 6

Essendon scored 11 late runs for a final score of 14-4 against Footscray in Women's Division 1 while Springvale beat Doncaster 9-4.

In Women's Division 2, Melbourne won 11-7 over Geelong and Newport scored in every inning on the way to an 18-10 victory against Sandringham. Springvale earned an 8-3 win at Doncaster and Footscray battled back for a 10-7 win at North Western.

Waverley continued an undefeated run in Women's Division 3 East, with the Red team besting Malvern 4-1 and the Black side getting the job done against Upwey Ferntree Gully, 11-5. Research Lower Plenty bounced back to record a 15-10 win vs. Preston.

In Women's Division 3 South, a battle of the undefeated teams saw South East Warriors win 9-3 against Moorabbin. Springvale held off Berwick's rally for a 12-10 victory while Chelsea overpowered Cheltenham 14-6. St Kilda had the edge over Pakenham, 17-14.

Women's Division 3 West included Fitzroy's 15-7 win vs. Williamstown and Port Melbourne's 8-4 victory against Alfredton. Werribee held off North Western for a 14-11 win as Essendon finished 28-5 in front of Mitchell Majors.

Seniors Week 6

Division 1 Firsts: Moorabbin battled back for a 5-4 win over Waverley while Mulgrave also came from behind in a 4-2 win vs. Geelong. Sunshine finished 13-3 in front of Melbourne as a high-scoring battle between Upwey Ferntree Gully and Blackburn ended with the Tigers up 11-8. Sandringham shut out Essendon 6-0 and Berwick won a close one against Malvern, 3-2.

Division 2 Firsts: Doncaster snuck past Cheltenham 8-7 while Ormond Glenhuntly beat Fitzroy by the same score. Port Melbourne scored the go-ahead run in the ninth for a 3-2 victory over Bonbeach while Williamstown shut out Werribee 6-0. Preston racked up the runs in a 14-3 win at North Western and Newport won 16-2 over St Kilda.

Division 3 Firsts: Pakenham and Essendon faced off on Melbourne Ballpark's back diamond, with the Pumas winning 11-3. Sandringham won 8-3 at Geelong as Footscray beat Mornington 16-7. Port Melbourne overpowered Chelsea 19-10.

Division 4 East: Waverley Black won 14-4 at Melbourne Blue as Waverley Red beat Research Lower Plenty Black 7-3. Melbourne Red won 14-4 over Blackburn as Doncaster picked up a 14-5 win against Research Gold. Monash University got the better of Research Maroon, 10-5.

Division 4 North: Mitchell Majors stayed undefeated with a 16-1 victory vs. Fitzroy Maroon while Newport shut out North Coburg 13-0. Essendon came away with a 9-6 win at Fitzroy Blue. Greensborough won 25-0 against Footscray.

Division 4 South: Pakenham Black kept up the win streak with an 8-1 victory vs. Chelsea White while the Pumas White side beat Mornington 13-4. South East Warriors cruised to an 11-1 win over Chelsea Blue as Springvale won 15-1 at Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold. St Kilda recorded a 12-4 win against the Tigers Black team.

Masters Week 6

Masters 38+ East featured Ormond Glenhuntly's 13-9 victory at Research Lower Plenty and Melbourne's 9-4 win against Monash/Ormond GH. The two Upwey Ferntree Gully teams faced off with the Black Tigers winning 8-2. Blackburn won 8-1 at Waverley.

In Masters 38+ North West, Williamstown overpowered Pivot City 14-2. Essendon Jets shut out Newport 11-0 while Essendon Bombers recorded a 22-0 result vs. Sunshine White. Sunshine Blue beat Port Melbourne 14-1 while Fitzroy earned a 9-4 victory at Werribee.

In Masters 38+ South, Bonbeach White beat Sandringham 8-4 while Mornington finished 14-6 in front of Pakenham/Berwick. Cheltenham got the job done 9-1 at Springvale Tomatoes while the Bigcats cruised to a 14-2 win vs. Chelsea.

Blackburn Masters 45+ remain undefeated after a 3-2 victory at Melbourne as Malvern came away with a 14-4 win at Sandringham.

Juniors Week 5

U14 East Metro: Bonbeach/Chelsea held on for a 12-8 win vs. Melbourne as Sandringham got in the win column with a 15-9 victory over Doncaster. Waverley beat Pakenham 10-3 while Upwey Ferntree Gully and Cheltenham drew 9-9.

U14 West Metro: A five-run third put Research Lower Plenty up 11-9 vs. Port Melbourne as Sunshine edged Newport Footscray 15-14. North Western held off Essendon's rally for a 13-12 victory.

U14 East State: Chelsea shut out Upwey Ferntree Gully 13-0 while Essendon edged Melbourne 4-3. Malvern got the job done 12-5 over Blackburn and Waverley outlasted Moorabbin 9-2.

U14 West State: Geelong's bats delivered a 15-9 win against Essendon while Werribee came from behind for a 12-11 victory vs. Sunshine. Research Lower Plenty also picked up a close win with a 10-9 result at Newport.

U16 Metro: Malvern scored 26 and only gave up three to Blackburn/Doncaster as North Western got a win on the board with an 11-3 performance  against Fitzroy Maroon. Essendon rallied late for a 12-9 finish at Research/Preston. Sandringham beat Waverley 12-8 and Port Melbourne held off Werribee 12-10.

U16 State: Sandringham finished 16-7 in front of Newport while Waverley shut out Doncaster 20-0. Research/Preston outlasted Geelong 9-4 as Williamstown scored late for a 5-2 victory at Moorabbin.

U18 Metro: Essendon remains undefeated after a 9-2 win vs. Pakenham. Mulgrave secured a 6-3 win against Doncaster as Sandringham won 12-7 at St Kilda. Cheltenham scored in every inning for a 19-2 victory at Sunshine.

U18 State: Blackburn/Upwey Ferntree Gully beat Essendon 4-2 as Geelong came back for a 5-2 win over Malvern. Melbourne snuck past Sunshine 5-4 while Sandringham took care of business 13-3 vs. Werribee. Research/Preston won 15-2 at Bonbeach/Moorabbin and Waverley battled back for an 8-6 victory over Newport.

Under 12s Week 4

U12 A State East: Blackburn won 9-2 vs. Sandringham and Springvale won 17-6 at Berwick. Cheltenham/Moorabbin won 8-2 at Bonbeach and Waverley picked up a 9-3 win at Melbourne.

U12 A State West: Undefeated Essendon won 10-3 over Research Lower Plenty Maroon and Newport beat Port Melbourne 12-3. Research Gold overpowered Sunshine 18-7.

U12 B East: Melbourne scored in every inning for an 18-9 win vs. St Kilda as a high-scoring game between Malvern and Chelsea ended with the Braves up 16-13.

U12 B West: Essendon stayed busy at the plate, scoring 20 runs and giving up seven to Newport White. Werribee won 15-6 vs. Fitzroy Maroon, Newport Red beat Fitzroy Blue 15-11, and Preston recorded a 19-1 win at Williamstown.

U12 Baycats: Geelong Lake Monsters beat Firefrogs 7-6 and the Mudhens won 8-3 vs. Riverdogs.

Eastern Athletics Metro A: Blackburn Black shut out Greenhills Montmorency White 17-0 while Upwey Ferntree Gully blanked Doncaster Green 4-0. Malvern Red won 2-1 at Greenhills Montmorency Black and Ormond Glenhuntly earned a 4-1 win over Malvern Blue. Blackburn White beat Melbourne 10-0 while the Grey side won 19-0 against Doncaster Gold.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Gold: Melbourne Stars beat Blackburn 15-5, Melbourne Red outlasted Malvern Blue 25-23, and Ormond Glenhuntly won 20-9 at Malvern Red. Melbourne White and Melbourne Blue drew at 13-all.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Green: Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold won 24-13 over the White Tigers as Waverley Cougars beat the Black Tigers 19-15. Waverley Wildcats won 18-6 vs. Blackcats.

Southern Mariners Intermediate: Ormond Glenhuntly won 13-10 vs. Cheltenham White while Chelsea beat Sandringham 13-3.