Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the return of school holiday camps this month!

Led by Keli’i (Zee) Zablan and Aaron Whitefield, these camps are open to 12–14-year-olds who want to further develop their baseball skills through fun training activities and games.

The upcoming schedule includes:

• Wednesday 18 January - U14 West Fun in the Sun Camp from 9am-1pm at Melbourne Ballpark
• Thursday 19 January - U14 East Fun in the Sun Camp from 9am-1pm at Malvern Baseball Club

Each one-day camp is $80 per player, with a maximum of 20 kids per session.

"We're looking forward to another great year of school holiday fun and can't wait to give young baseballers a chance to improve their skills and make new friends," Zee said. "We have exciting camps planned and hope to see a strong turnout of junior players taking part in this beloved BV tradition."

Learn more and click HERE to register today. Spots are limited so don’t miss out!

As we enter the new year, we will be ramping up our umpire recruitment efforts to build a stronger umpiring fraternity for the future. Umpires are essential to the safety and integrity of our great game, and we need more officials to get involved and lead the way in gameday management.

It will take a team effort to increase our umpire numbers, which will in turn benefit clubs and ensure more games can be covered. As part of BV Umpire Recruitment, we are requesting three recommendations per club for potential umpires to join the BV Green Shirt Umpire Program.

You know your clubs best, and with your help, we can identify prospective umpires to participate in a basic umpiring course. They will be introduced to our umpire development pathway, with opportunities to become accredited and earn additional income.

Ideal candidates for the BV Green Shirt Umpire Program will demonstrate patience, respect, and passion, as well as an interest in officiating and game management. Recommendations are welcome for anyone 17 years and above, whether it be junior or senior players, club volunteers, parents, or spectators. BV Green Vest Program participants who have done a great job of helping out behind the plate are great candidates, although those new to umpiring are also welcome.

Here's how it works:

1. Identify three candidates for the BV Green Shirt Umpire Program.
2. Submit your recommendations online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/greenshirtumpires
3. 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.

Thank you in advance for your support of the BV Umpire Pathway and our recruitment initiatives. We look forward to receiving recommendations for the BV Green Shirt Umpire Program as we continue to expand umpire education and development.

Following the launch of our new Performance Pathway (PP), Baseball Victoria is pleased to open tryout registration for Futures U12/U14 East and West.

Tryouts will take place in late January for the 2023 Futures tier, which includes U12 and U14 players who are top performers for their age group at the club, Little League, and Junior League levels.

This Futures tier is open to U12 players (born 2011 and 2012) and U14 players (born 2009 and 2010). This pathway is a step beyond the existing charter program and offers high-performing players the chance to further develop their skills and pursue representative opportunities.

Tryout dates and locations:

• Futures U12 East – Monday 23 January at Sandringham Baseball Club
• Futures U12 West – Tuesday 24 January at Melbourne Ballpark
• Futures U14 East – Monday 30 January at Sandringham Baseball Club
• Futures U14 West – Tuesday 31 January at Melbourne Ballpark

Each tryout will be split into groups and follow this schedule:

• Group 1 - registration 4:00pm, tryouts start 4:30pm, finish 6:30pm
• Group 2 - registration 6:00pm, tryouts start 6:30pm, finish 8:30pm

Futures U12 program schedule:

• East Squad @ Sandringham Baseball Club – Mondays
  • 13, 20, and 27 February
  • 6, 13, 20, and 27 March
  • 3 April
• West Squad @ Melbourne Ballpark – Tuesdays
  • 14, 21, and 28 February
  • 7, 14, 21, and 28 March
  • 4 April

Futures U14 program schedule:

• East Squad @ Sandringham Baseball Club – Fridays
  • 17, 24 February
  • 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 March
  • 7 April
• West Squad @ Melbourne Ballpark – Thursdays
  • 16, 23 February
  • 2, 9, 16, 23 March
  • 6 April

Futures Championships – East vs. West:

• U14 – Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 April, venue TBA
• U12 – Saturday 15 – 16 Sunday April, venue TBA

Sign up for tryouts HERE or view the Performance Pathway hub for more information.

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce the Victorian Women’s State Team which will represent on the national stage at the 2023 Australian Women’s Championship over Easter.

Victoria brought home a silver medal at women’s nationals this past year and will look to build on that success this coming April.

“We had fantastic trials with one of our largest women’s tryout groups representing 15 clubs. Many talented juniors and Barclay Cup representatives stepped up and tried out alongside our seasoned veterans, and it was great to see such strong interest across the board,” BV Women’s Head Coach Samantha Hamilton said. “We have selected a very strong team to represent at nationals, as well as two Emerging Pathway players who will train with the team leading up to the tournament.”

The Victorian Women’s State Team last won nationals in 2019, and the goal of a gold medal finish is shared among the coaches, players and supporters.

“Thank you to everyone who tried out and congratulations to our 2023 Victorian Women’s State Team,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “We look forward to the next few months of training and preparation, and we can’t wait to watch the best of women’s baseball as nationals get underway.”

Stay tuned for more tournament updates coming soon.

2023 Victorian Women’s State Team

• Abbey Kelly
• Abbey McLellan
• Allie Bebbere
• Gabby Bevan
• Jamie Bastian
• Jasmine Bentley
• Jessica Brown
• Jessica Johnson
• Lilian Bell-Tanner
• Lili Cavanagh
• Lilly Simpson
• Maddi Weller
• Maddy Patrick
• Nyah O’Brien
• Ruby Dale
• Shae Lillywhite

Emerging Pathway Players

• Felicity Clissold
• Kira Jansen

Coaching staff:

• Samantha Hamilton (head coach)
• Stephen Black (assistant coach)
• Jarryd Rogers (assistant coach)
• Ursula Howard (assistant coach/EO)

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce the launch of our new Performance Pathway (PP), which will offer more opportunities for player development and representation at state, national and international levels.

The existing Baseball Victoria Aces Academy will be rebranded as part of the BV Performance Pathway, which reflects our updated vision, mission, and direction to optimise player performance and increase the pool of international standard players in Victoria. The new and improved program will have a greater focus on performance outcomes, made possible through additional investment funding by Baseball Victoria.

Key changes to the program include:

• A three-tier pathway including U12/U14 (Futures), U16/U18 (Prospects) and Select (National Squad/College Commits)
• The inclusion of a women’s pathway training program
• Education and training for athletes’ well-being and resilience program
• Emphasis on increasing the talent pool of male and female players in Victoria
• Creating a learning environment where players can improve their decision-making processes while performing under pressure

Potential modifications to be considered in the future include:

• Introduction of apprentice coaches to the program
• Procuring international competition opportunities for domestic events
• Development of a coaches’ leadership program
• Additional technology support for player

“We are resetting for the future with the BV Performance Pathway,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “Over the past 15 years, the Baseball Victoria Academy proved successful in producing ABL and Australian representatives, and we look forward to building on this success with an enhanced pathway designed to grow our base of talented male and female players while supporting athletes every step of the way."

The new BV player progression model will be used to identify players with the potential to someday play for Australia, the ABL, US College, or professional leagues.

“The Performance Pathway will create a learning environment where players can develop and pursue their athletic ambitions under the guidance of highly skilled and dedicated instructors,” BV High Performance Officer Damian Shanahan said. “We plan to hit the ground running with Futures tryouts in late January, as we can’t wait to get out on the field for a big year of baseball with a refreshed pathway for greater opportunities and support.”

Stay tuned for updates on Futures tryouts coming soon and learn more about the BV Performance Pathway HERE.

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce a new partnership with Maribyrnong Sports Academy for 2023.

As an official partner of baseball in Victoria, MSA has joined the BV Diamond Partnership Program at the Home Run level.

Through this partnership, BV will provide a head coach for the MSA Baseball Program to help lead student-athletes to success on and off the field. Daniel Chircop has been selected to take on this role and coach MSA Baseball while BV High Performance Officer Damian Shanahan will oversee the program and mentor coaches.

“We are excited to work more closely with MSA and provide high-quality coaching, equipment, and technology to student-athletes,” BV CEO Chet Gray said. “This is a fantastic program that opens up more opportunities for students to play baseball and take part in our pathway programs. We look forward to the year ahead and further strengthening our relationship with MSA.”

Formal and informal professional development opportunities will be available through the MSA Coach Education Program, while the school will also provide facility access for training sessions.

“We have a big year of baseball ahead at MSA and partnering with BV will allow us to continue providing excellent sporting experiences for our students,” MSA Sports Director Mark McAllion said. “We know our student-athletes can learn a lot from dedicated coaches and mentors like Daniel Chircop and Damian Shanahan, and it will be great to build a stronger connection between our baseball programs.”

Learn more about Maribyrnong Sports Academy HERE.

We hope everyone enjoyed the last round of VSBL before the break and we wish you all the best for the holidays.

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.

Women's Week 12

Springvale narrowly beat Doncaster 12-11 in Women’s Division 1, while Essendon defeated Footscray 7-2.

In Women's Division 2, Essendon came back to win 10-8 over Melbourne as Sandringham outlasted Footscray 18-10. Newport won 12-1 vs. Doncaster, while the Rams second side battled hard but ultimately lost 13-9 to Geelong. Springvale shut out North Western 27-0.

Malvern finished 15-4 in front of Research Lower Plenty in Women's Division 3 East. Preston came back for a 14-13 win over Waverley Black while Waverley Red won 11-3 at Upwey Ferntree Gully.

In Women's Division 3 South, Pakenham prevailed 13-5 at Berwick as Chelsea put on a 17-3 performance at St Kilda. South East Warriors scored 22 and gave up just two to Cheltenham as Moorabbin scored twice in the last inning for a 10-all draw with Springvale.

Women's Division 3 West ladder leader Port Melbourne shut out Fitzroy 18-0 and Alfredton won 21-3 at Essendon. Williamstown finished 11-6 in front of Mitchell Majors as Werribee and Geelong ended in a 9-9 draw.

Seniors Week 12

Division 1 Firsts: Berwick had a busy day at the plate, winning 24-2 against Mulgrave. Moorabbin beat Sunshine 16-2 and Malvern defeated Essendon 7-4. Sandringham held on for an 11-10 win over Geelong as Waverley prevailed 8-6 at Blackburn. Melbourne edged Upwey Ferntree Gully 3-2.

Division 2 Firsts: Ladder leader Cheltenham won 9-3 vs. St Kilda while Newport's big first inning set the scene for a 5-3 win over Fitzroy. North Western beat Bonbeach 10-3 and Ormond Glenhuntly also scored 10 while keeping Doncaster off the board. Williamstown scored five late runs to win 7-4 against Port Melbourne. Werribee outlasted Preston 20-7.

Division 3 Firsts: Essendon shut out Geelong 10-0 and Pakenham cruised to a 22-5 win at Chelsea. Sandringham picked up a 13-2 victory at Footscray.

Division 4 East: Melbourne Red finished 14-5 in front of Waverley Red as Doncaster defeated Monash 11-8. Waverley Black beat Research Lower Plenty Gold 18-3 and Research Maroon overpowered Melbourne Blue 17-11.

Division 4 North: Footscray's rally fell short as Newport won 7-5. North Coburg beat Fitzroy Maroon 8-6 and Mitchell Majors defeated Greensborough 7-3.

Division 4 South: St Kilda held off Chelsea White 11-9 as Pakenham Black drew 10-all with South East Warriors. Chelsea Blue sealed the deal on an 11-2 victory at Upwey Ferntree Gully Black while Pakenham White overpowered Upwey FTG Gold 15-5.

Masters Week 12

In Masters 38+ East, Blackburn defeated Upwey Ferntree Gully 5-3 and Melbourne ended up 20-1 over Ormond Glenhuntly.

An Essendon matchup in Masters 38+ North West saw the Bombers win 17-1. Newport beat Werribee 5-1 and Port Melbourne prevailed 9-4 over Pivot City. Fitzroy scored 24 while keeping Sunshine off the board.

In Masters 38+ South, Springvale Tomatoes beat Chelsea 20-3 while the Bigcats fell 8-4 to Cheltenham. Sandringham finished 21-4 in front of Pakenham/Berwick. A Bonbeach battle saw the Blue side win 15-4.

Blackburn held on for a 4-3 win over Melbourne in Masters 45+ while Sandringham overpowered Malvern 16-10.

Juniors Week 11

U14 East Metro: Pakenham was busy at the plate, winning 15-2 over Berwick/ Mulgrave as Sandringham picked up a 19-7 victory against Upwey Ferntree Gully. Cheltenham won 20-8 at Doncaster and Waverley outlasted Melbourne 13-6.

U14 West Metro: Essendon scored nine across the final two innings to defeat Newport/Footscray 14-13. The score was the same in Research Lower Plenty's win over North Western while Port Melbourne won 19-9 at Sunshine.

U14 East State: a close one between Chelsea and Essendon went the Dolphins' way 4-2, while Waverley defeated Sandringham 9-4. Moorabbin scored 18 and gave up just one to Blackburn as Melbourne shut out Upwey Ferntree Gully 5-0.

U14 West State: Newport scored in every inning on the way to a 16-6 victory vs. Sunshine. Research Lower Plenty prevailed 11-7 at Geelong and Essendon won 10-2 at Werribee.

U16 Metro: Essendon got the job done 12-3 vs. Malvern and Research/Preston cruised to a 21-4 win over North Western. Waverley beat Werribee 15-8 as Williamstown snuck past Blackburn/Doncaster 13-11. Port Melbourne recorded a 15-7 result at Fitzroy Blue while Sandringham shut out Fitzroy Maroon 26-0.

U16 State: Williamstown defeated Doncaster 7-5 and Geelong battled back for a 6-4 win at Moorabbin. Research/Preston ended up 16-9 at Newport as Waverley outlasted Sandringham 15-12.

U18 Metro: Pakenham kept up the pressure in a 19-1 outing at Sunshine. Mulgrave finished 15-7 in front of Cheltenham and Essendon scored 11 while keeping Sandringham off the board.

U18 State: Melbourne defeated Bonbeach/Moorabbin 7-2 while Werribee staged a late comeback to beat Preston 4-2. Geelong won 15-6 at Newport as Blackburn Upwey FTG edged Sandringham 1-0. Essendon shut out Waverley 14-0.

 

Under 12s Week 10

U12 A State East: Blackburn rallied for a 4-2 win over Melbourne as Chelsea won 9-0 against Cheltenham/Moorabbin. Sandringham defeated Bonbeach 15-4 and Waverley won 13-4 vs. Malvern.

U12 A State West: Newport scored 18 runs and gave up seven to Research Lower Plenty Gold. Port Melbourne beat Werribee 11-6 and Research Maroon staged a comeback to win 15-13 against Geelong. Essendon won 20-4 at Sunshine.

U12 B East: Melbourne defeated St Kilda 17-4 and Springvale won 13-7 over Chelsea. Sandringham prevailed 18-6 at Berwick.

U12 B West: Williamstown struck first but Essendon quickly responded, eventually earning a 19-12 win. Preston won 19-4 at Fitzroy Blue and Newport Red won 15-4 at Research Blue.

U12 Baycats: Geelong Riverdogs finished 9-5 in front of Mudhens.

Eastern Athletics Metro A: Ormond Glenhuntly won 5-2 over Greenhills Monty Black as Malvern Red won 7-3 against Melbourne. Malvern Blue shut out Greenhills Monty White 13-0.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Gold: Both teams battled hard but Melbourne White ultimately won 15-12 over Malvern Blue.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Green: Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold edged Waverley Cougars 22-20 and Waverley Blackcats beat Doncaster 19-9. Waverley Panthers won 14-1 at Upwey Ferntree Gully Black.

Southern Mariners Intermediate: Cheltenham Blue held on for a 13-10 win over Ormond Glenhuntly as Sandringham defeated Cheltenham White 14-4. Chelsea drew with Bonbeach at 14 runs apiece.

Baseball Victoria has opened coaching applications for the 2023 Australian Youth Women’s Championship, which will take place next April over the Easter holidays.

The Victorian Youth Women’s State Team will need a head coach, two assistant coaches, and an executive officer. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the youth women’s team in the first AYWC since 2019.

All coaches are required to have current coaching accreditation. Coaches must assist with coordinating, implementing, and attending trials, training sessions, and other events as directed by Baseball Victoria. Coaches will be responsible for coordinating tryout days and team selections.

Please note all coaches and executive officers are required to have a current Working with Children Check.

Position descriptions for coaches and officials can be found HERE.

Applications close Friday 6 January 2023 at midday and can be submitted via SurveyMonkey HERE.

We have just one week left before the break as VSBL seniors, juniors, and masters continue to enjoy an awesome summer on and off the field.

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.

Women's Week 11

Springvale shut out Footscray 27-0 in Women’s Division 1 while Essendon and Doncaster finished in an 8-8 draw.

In Women's Division 2, Doncaster snuck past Melbourne 8-6 as Essendon overpowered North Western 15-2. Footscray regained the lead in the third but a final push from Springvale saw the Lions win 10-9. Sandringham defeated Geelong 11-8.

Malvern got started early and kept up the momentum for a 17-9 victory vs. Waverley Red in Women's Division 3 East. Preston picked up a 14-5 victory at Research Lower Plenty while Waverley Black and Upwey Ferntree Gully tied at 14 runs apiece.

In Women's Division 3 South, Pakenham outlasted Moorabbin 12-8 and South East Warriors defeated Chelsea 25-7. Springvale won 15-5 over Cheltenham and St Kilda secured a 21-8 victory at Berwick.

Geelong edged Fitzroy 11-8 in Women's Division 3 West while Williamstown finished 11-10 over Essendon for the Wolves' first victory of the season. Newport had a 13-3 outing at Alfredton while Werribee held on for a 6-5 win at Mitchell Majors.

Seniors Week 11

Division 1 Firsts: Melbourne scored three in the bottom of the ninth to secure a 13-12 victory over Mulgrave. Upwey Ferntree Gully cruised to a 7-2 win at Geelong as Moorabbin shut down Sandringham's late threat to win 9-8. Berwick edged Sunshine 4-2. Essendon came back to beat Waverley 6-4 while Blackburn also staged a comeback, defeating Malvern 9-6.

Division 2 Firsts: Werribee rallied late in a 6-5 victory over Cheltenham as St Kilda picked up an 8-1 win at Bonbeach. Port Melbourne shut out Newport 11-0 and Ormond Glenhuntly cruised to a 13-2 win at North Western. Doncaster defeated Preston 14-5 and Fitzroy held on for a 9-8 victory at Williamstown.

Division 3 Firsts: Sandringham edged Mornington 10-9 while Pakenham overpowered Port Melbourne 13-2. Essendon defeated Footscray 13-4.

Division 4 East: Melbourne Blue was busy at the plate in a 13-2 victory over Research Lower Plenty Black while Research Maroon finished 11-4 in front of Melbourne Red. Waverley Black scored 28 runs and gave up 10 to Blackburn as Waverley Red defeated Doncaster 18-6.

Division 4 North: Greensborough finished 12-8 over Essendon and Mitchell Majors got the job done 9-5 vs. Alfredton. Newport prevailed 14-2 at Fitzroy Maroon and North Coburg outlasted Fitzroy Blue 13-7.

Division 4 South: Pakenham White scored nine late runs for a 10-1 victory at Upwey Ferntree Gully Black. South East Warriors prevailed 11-10 in a back-and-forth battle with Upwey FTG Gold. St Kilda came away with an 11-4 win at Chelsea Blue.

Masters Week 11

Masters 38+ East and Masters 45+ were washed out, but we got a few games in for North West and South.

In Masters 38+ North West, Newport shut out Port Melbourne 7-0 as a Sunshine battle saw Blue top White 23-2. Williamstown finished 19-2 in front of Werribee.

In Masters 38+ South, Bonbeach Blue pulled in front of Springvale Tomatoes 9-6 while the Bigcats beat Bonbeach White 10-0. Mornington overpowered Chelsea 22-9 and Cheltenham edged Sandringham 1-0.

Juniors Week 10

U14 East Metro: Pakenham was first on the board, but Cheltenham came back to win 12-11. Malvern and Sandringham also had a close one as the Braves came away 11-10 winners. Waverley defeated Doncaster 17-3 and Bonbeach/Chelsea got the job done 13-5 at Berwick/Mulgrave. Melbourne added runs in each inning for a 10-3 victory at Upwey Ferntree Gully.

U14 West Metro: Sunshine took an early lead, but Newport/Footscray battled back to win 14-12. Port Melbourne finished 12-6 over Research Lower Plenty while Essendon came away with a 16-12 win at North Western.

U14 East State: Waverley's streak continued with a 7-4 result at Melbourne while Essendon shut out Blackburn 10-0. Moorabbin scored 14 runs and kept Upwey Ferntree Gully off the board as Sandringham secured a 10-1 win vs. Malvern.

U14 West State: Werribee and Sunshine went back and forth with the Eagles pulling in front 11-10. Geelong's early start led to a 12-3 victory at Essendon as Newport defeated Research Lower Plenty 16-4.

U16 Metro: Essendon ended up 13-4 over Blackburn/Doncaster while Sandringham scored 20 and gave up only one to Port Melbourne. Werribee had to battle back after Williamstown's late push, with the Giants prevailing 12-8. Malvern won 23-16 at Fitzroy Blue and Waverley shut out North Western 24-0.

U16 State: Geelong edged Doncaster 9-8 and Research/Preston defeated Moorabbin 14-3. Waverley outlasted Newport 16-11 as Sandringham and Williamstown drew 4-4.

U18 Metro: Doncaster kept up the pressure in an 11-1 performance over Essendon while Sandringham beat Sunshine 19-6. St Kilda's late comeback led to a 9-4 result against Mulgrave as Cheltenham finished 11-4 in front of Pakenham.

U18 State: Bonbeach/Moorabbin came back to win 8-7 over Sandringham and Essendon cruised to a 20-1 win vs. Werribee. Geelong defeated Melbourne 12-6 and Malvern picked up a 17-4 victory against Newport. Blackburn/Upwey FTG beat Waverley 22-5.

Under 12s Week 9

U12 A State East: Melbourne won 10-2 against Waverley and Chelsea won 13-1 at Bonbeach. Blackburn scored 13 runs and gave up six to Cheltenham/Moorabbin.

U12 A State West: Geelong picked up a 14-1 victory over Sunshine as Newport held on for a 6-5 win at Essendon. Port Melbourne won 14-2 at Research Gold while Research Maroon scored in every inning, beating Werribee 15-9.

U12 B East: Sandringham outlasted Chelsea 11-6 and Springvale came back for a 9-6 victory over St Kilda. Melbourne shut out Berwick 17-0.

U12 B West: Fitzroy Maroon finished 10-6 in front of Research Blue while a high-scoring game between Essendon and Preston went the Pirates' way 19-10. Fitzroy Blue won 17-11 at Newport Red.

Eastern Athletics Metro A: Blackburn Grey won 12-0 over Greenhills Monty White as Doncaster Green won 5-0 against their fellow Dragons. Upwey Ferntree Gully shut out Monty Black 11-0 as Malvern Blue defeated the Red team 16-3. Blackburn Black ended 10-0 up at Melbourne as Blackburn White beat Ormond Glenhuntly 5-0.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Gold: Ormond Glenhuntly secured a 9-4 victory over Melbourne White as Blackburn managed a 26-23 win at Malvern Blue. It was the same scoreline as Melbourne Red defeated Malvern Red, while Melbourne Blue won 21-16 over the Stars.

Eastern Athletics Metro B Green: Waverley Cougars won 20-8 over Doncaster as Waverley Panthers went 20-9 against Upwey FTG White. Waverley Wildcats snuck past Upwey FTG Gold 22-20 as Upwey FTG won 24-20 at Waverley Blackcats.

Southern Mariners Intermediate: Moorabbin won a close 3-1 game vs. Chelsea while Bonbeach/Chelsea prevailed 19-14 at Cheltenham White. Sandringham scored 20 and gave up just one to Ormond Glenhuntly.