Baseball Victoria is excited to announce our new Diamond Partnership Program, aimed at streamlining and strengthening community connections with an opportunity that puts all partners on an even playing field.

This new program invites businesses and organisations to sign up for one of our four partnership levels: Single, Double, Triple, and Home Run. All partnerships include promotion across BV platforms and products to reach our growing baseball member base.

“We are dedicated to supporting and growing the game at all levels, and partnerships and potential sponsorships will play an important role,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “We would love to recognise more businesses and organisations as official partners of baseball in Victoria. Not only will partners receive greater exposure through BV communication channels, but they will also have priority access to future sponsorship opportunities.”

“We thank all the organisations who have supported grassroots baseball over the years, and we look forward to a bigger and brighter future for Victorian baseball with exciting opportunities for everyone to get involved.”

BV is pleased to have Ausport, Fullhammer, and School Sport Victoria as Home Run Partners for 2022/23.

Learn more about our Diamond Partners and check out opportunities to get involved HERE.

We had a great start to the 2022/23 VSBL season with seniors taking the field for a beautiful weekend of baseball.

We hope everyone enjoys this upcoming round, and a special good luck to all juniors hitting the field for their first summer games.

As a reminder, you can view all fixtures HERE or check out VSBL resources HERE.

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.

Make sure to follow along this season with the VSBL Facebook page and BV Twitter/Instagram/TikTok.

Women's Week 1

In Women’s Division 1, reigning premiers Doncaster won 27-0 over Footscray while Springvale and Essendon were locked in a tight battle, finishing in a 5-5 draw.

Women’s Division 2 saw three high-scoring games, including Doncaster's 17-5 win over North Western, Springvale's 16-5 victory vs. Geelong, and Newport's close 10-8 result against Melbourne.

In Women’s Division 3 East, Waverley Black overpowered Upwey Ferntree Gully late to win 13-12. Waverley Red scored seven in the final frame for a 12-6 win over Malvern, while Research Lower Plenty and Preston drew with 11 runs apiece.

In Women’s Division 3 South, Chelsea won 24-3 over Berwick, Springvale outlasted St Kilda 15-10, and South East Warriors put up three seven-run frames for a 21-6 victory against Pakenham.

Mitchell Majors debuted against Fitzroy in Women's Division 3 West, with the Lions coming away 19-4 winners. Alfredton collected 11 hits in a 16-8 win over North Western, while Newport won 21-7 vs. Williamstown.

A back-and-forth battle ended with Werribee up 13-12 over Essendon, plus Geelong finished 17-4 against Port Melbourne.

Seniors Week 1

In Division 1 Firsts, Reigning premiers Upwey Ferntree Gully got the job done in 11 innings, besting Sunshine 5-3. Berwick collected six hits and gave up just one in a 3-1 victory over Geelong.

Malvern blanked Sandringham 4-0, while Waverley came back to win 7-4 against Melbourne at home. Moorabbin prevailed 6-4 against Blackburn and Essendon opened with a 7-3 win over Mulgrave.

In Division 3 Firsts, Mornington won 21-11 vs. Geelong and Sandringham earned a 22-1 victory over Port Melbourne. Pakenham finished in front of Footscray, 15-10.

Division 4 East saw Waverley Black and Waverley Red win 16-1 and 15-2 against Research Lower Plenty Black and Gold, respectively. Research Maroon picked up an 11-4 win over Doncaster and Monash University finished 13-6 against Blackburn.

In Division 4 North, Alfredton opened the season with a 14-1 win over Footscray while Mitchell Majors held on for an 11-8 victory against Greensborough. North Coburg recorded a 14-3 win vs. Fitzroy Maroon and Essendon went 8-0 against Fitzroy Blue.

Springvale's Division 4 South side got a 16-1 win over Chelsea Blue, but Chelsea White jumped on the board with a 10-8 victory vs. Mornington.

Masters Week 1

In Masters 38+ East, Waverley opened the season with a 14-3 win vs. Monash University/Ormond Glenhuntly while Blackburn took home an 8-0 victory over the Hunters.

Masters 38+ North West saw Essendon come away with two wins as the Jets went 8-2 vs. Port Melbourne and the Bombers shut out Sunshine Blue 5-0.

Williamstown fought back to win 8-7 over Newport as Fitzroy and Pivot City drew 4-4. Sunshine White and Werribee also ended in a draw with five runs apiece.

Bonbeach enjoyed a 10-0 win over Mornington in Masters 38+ South, while Sandringham held off a Springvale rally for a 3-2 win. Chelsea secured an 8-4 victory against Pakenham/Berwick.

Blackburn came away 4-2 winners against Malvern in Masters 45+ as Melbourne overpowered Sandringham 9-1.

Victorian Nick Bertucci is taking his baseball career to the next level, committing to Central Arizona for 2023 alongside fellow Aussie and U18 World Cup representative Max Stagg. Central Arizona is the defending Junior College National Champions and has won two of the last three Div 1 Junior College World Series.

Bertucci has come a long way in his baseball journey, from charter games with Southern Mariners to Victorian State Teams and the National Junior Squad. Playing with Team Australia in last month's World Cup was another huge highlight, and his impressive performance earned him a spot on the MLB World Select Team for the Arizona Fall Classic.

The talented outfielder is very appreciative of the opportunity to visit the U.S. and commit to a standout college baseball program.

"Prior to coming to America, I had my eyes on furthering my schooling and baseball career with Central Arizona and now I get to say I’m a Vaquero," Bertucci said. “The opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without being able to train with their squad and I have been fortunate enough to showcase my skills, which they were fond of and offered me a scholarship alongside Max Stagg, which we both agreed to and will have a successful time with Central Arizona, especially with a familiar face around.”

“It is an amazing school with an amazing program and is exactly what I was aiming for. My family and I are super excited that this is the school I will be attending and couldn’t ask for much more. Dreams really do come true when you put the work in.”

Bertucci and Stagg will remain in Arizona to represent Australia as part of the MLB World Select Team in front of colleges and professional scouts.

They become the first players out of the U18 National Team to narrow down their college commitment with others still in the recruiting process and currently deciding their futures.

Read more from Baseball Australia.

As the summer season gets underway, the BV Technical Operations Committee is hard at work, focused on administration for existing umpires and pathway development for all umpires. We hope to grow our umpiring fraternity to ensure as many games can be covered as possible while promoting a safe, enjoyable, and fair competition for all.

We have a few upcoming umpire information sessions open to anyone interested in umpiring:

• Thursday 6 October at Moorabbin Centre 4 at 6:30pm
• Friday 7 October at Springvale Centre 3 at 6:30pm
• Tuesday 11 October at Essendon Centre 6 at 6:30pm
• Wednesday 12 October at Werribee Centre 5 at 6:30pm

Please contact umpiringpw@baseballvictoria.com.au for more details.

With the inaugural Barclay Cup in the books, the Vic Dingoes and Hornets have come away with greater confidence in their game and awesome memories of their time on and off the field.

The new national tournament for youth girls aged 13-16 is named in honour of Jacinda Barclay, a beloved Australian athlete and dedicated baseballer who sadly passed away in 2020. Held at Surfers Paradise Baseball Club on the Gold Coast from 25 September to 1 October, the event featured nine teams from across the country.

The Dingoes and Hornets made the most of this opportunity to play on an all-girls team and meet players from other states. They had the support of dedicated coaching staff, including Australian Emerald/Victoria Aces players Abbey McLellan and Morgan Doty, Alan Sutherland, Sophia Stensholt, and Chris Nunn.

Together with Samantha Hamilton, head coach of the Victoria Aces and Women’s State Team, the coaches worked hard to prepare players for the tournament. This collective effort showed throughout the week as the girls gave every game their all while having fun and embracing every aspect of their beloved sport.

"The skill and passion shown by the girls from every state was incredible," Vic Dingoes Assistant Coach Abbey McLellan said. "Even though this was a friendship tournament, the girls were making tough plays, running the bases and sliding hard and swinging the bat aggressively. My personal highlight was coaching 3B in our last game win, waving as all the girls ran past me to score."

Even when a few games didn't go their way, the Dingoes and Hornets were encouraged to focus on the positives, paying tribute to Barclay's determined spirit and friendly, fun-loving personality. The tournament featured the Barky's Team Spirit Award, with nominations based on support for teammates, comraderie with other teams, and being an all-around team player.

"The amount of nominations for the two individual awards are testament to the players for really representing Jacinda well," McLellan added. "We spoke to our girls a couple of different times about Jacinda and what made her the person she was. I know for a fact the other states also really made sure to share and focus on the key attributes of her wonderful personality."

For McLellan, this marked her second recent coaching experience with the junior girls after helping with the BV Allstars all-girls teams at the 2022 U14 State Winter Championships in Bendigo. Having coached senior mens and women's teams in the past, she found the Barclay Cup to be an awesome coaching experience with valuable learning moments.

"For the coaches, and me personally, my biggest lesson or realisation was to make sure I'm always encouraging both sides of a player. The fierce competitor and the compassionate, respectful teammate - the true essence of Jacinda," McLellan explained.

"This group of girls were just so eager to learn, they were constantly firing questions at us, sometimes more advanced than I was expecting! They asked for feedback and tips every chance they got. I think all the games were played and coached in a great spirit. Working with our coaching team, both Dingoes and Hornets, was great fun."

Not only did the girls get to further develop their playing skills, but they also learned about being prepared for gameday and staying healthy.

"For the girls, I think it was a great eye opener to the physical and mental requirements of tournament baseball," McLellan said. "We harped on about strength and conditioning and arm care in the leadup to the tournament, but I don't think the girls really understood why until day 5-6!"

McLellan is confident the girls have a bright future ahead, whether it be on the Victorian Women's State Team or with the Australian Emeralds.

"I'm really excited to play with and against as many of these girls as I can. Some honestly look ready to go next year and many more have the potential once they grow and get stronger."

 

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Victorians Jayden Kim and Nick Bertucci have been named to the MLB World Select Team ahead of the Arizona Fall Classic in Phoenix.

Kim and Bertucci were all part of the Team Australia side that played in the U18 World Cup earlier this month in Florida. Team Australia concluded their campaign with a 7-2 victory over South Africa to finish ninth.

One of the main purposes of the MLB World Select Team is to showcase members of MLB’s international academies, with players from eleven countries including Australia, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, France and Brazil to be exposed to college/professional level baseball.

The team will be playing multiple games in Arizona in the leadup to the Arizona Fall Classic.

Read the full story HERE.

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce a new partnership with Fullhammer to supply quality playing uniforms and off-field apparel.

“We are excited to bring Fullhammer on board as our official uniform supplier,” Baseball Victoria CEO Chet Gray said. “Fullhammer has a wide variety of premium apparel options and uniform solutions that will benefit the Victorian baseball community, and we look forward to delivering high-quality garments to BV Performance Training Centre participants and state teams representing Victoria on the national stage. We thank Fullhammer for joining the BV Diamond Partnership Program as a Home Run Partner, and we encourage clubs to check out Fullhammer for their uniform needs.”

Founded in 1980, Fullhammer provides a full suite of services and is a one-stop shop for garment decoration and merchandise. Baseball is at the very heart of Fullhammer, with Fullhammer also being the official uniform and apparel partner for 5 of the 8 Australian Baseball Leagues, including the Melbourne Aces.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Baseball Victoria,” shares Glenn Fuller, Managing Director of Fullhammer. “As a family business, we have closely held values around supporting communities through active engagement. This new partnership further aligns us with Australian Baseball — something we are without a doubt personally passionate about. In our eyes, we are kitting out the stars of tomorrow while championing the communities of today.”

This deal will see Fullhammer serve as the official uniform supplier for Baseball Victoria for the next 3 years.

Victorian baseball clubs have the opportunity to partner with Fullhammer to take advantage of a competitive uniform and clothing range through the BV partnership. For more information about Fullhammer, visit www.fullhammer.com.

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Cormick as BV Little League District Administrator for the 2022/23 summer season.

In this volunteer role, Andrea will work alongside the BV CEO and Events Officer to manage the BV Junior and Charter competition and Little League State Championships in line with Baseball Australia and Little League International. She will serve as the liaison between BV and local Little League Charters, supporting the integrity of the competition and promoting a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Andrea’s wide range of experience will serve her well in this role, as she has been involved in Victorian baseball since 2010 when her sons first started tee-ball. She has spent many years as junior coordinator at Sandringham Baseball Club, where her son Jasper plays as a top-age Under 18.

Andrea has served on the Southern Mariners Baseball Charter Committee for the past six years, including the last four as secretary. An accredited level 2 scorer, she has scored and been an EO at both state and national tournaments.

“We are excited to welcome Andrea as our new Little League District Administrator,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “With a wealth of knowledge around Little League and Charter rules, Andrea will be an invaluable resource to our sport as we look to further improve the junior baseball pathway and offer more opportunities for players to thrive in Little League Baseball across Victoria. Thank you to Andrea for stepping up to the plate and dedicating such time and energy to BV Charter baseball.”

Register Now - 2022 Women & Girls Coaching Workshop

If you’re currently coaching girls and women, you have aspirations to coach, or you’re a senior women’s player looking to upskill your knowledge, we invite you to our free Women & Girls Coaching Workshop.

To be held at Melbourne Ballpark on Sunday 9 October 2022 between 9:00am and 4:00pm, the Workshop will feature theoretical and practical sessions on coaching and training methods, including a coaching classroom to cover coaching fundamentals and training session preparation.

The classroom and on-field sessions will be led by Baseball Victoria High Performance Staff Damian Shanahan, Keli’i “Zee” Zablan, and Samantha Hamilton and they will cover the areas of prehab and warm-up, throwing programs, hitting and fielding, pitching and catching, plus base running. Members of the Victoria Aces and Australian Emeralds will be on-hand for practical demonstrations, including Bronwyn Gell, Morgan Doty and Abbey McLellan.

An AIS Thrive with Pride Program presentation, led by Olympian Katarina Paul and Paralympic Maria Strong, will also provide an opportunity for all to connect and learn how to create and foster safe and inclusive environments for their athletes to thrive at their club and in baseball.

The Women & Girls Coaching Workshop is free for participants with morning tea and lunch provided. Travel allowances are available for nominated representatives of regional clubs.

To register your interest, please submit the 2022 Women and Girls Coaching Registration Survey.

Register Now - 2022 Women & Girls Coaching Workshop

The Women & Girls Coaching Workshop is made possible by the Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program.