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.
We can't wait for tomorrow night's practice match vs. Melbourne Aces, especially with this talented roster of BV All-Stars!
We've rounded up some of the top players in VSBL Division 1 and 2 to take the field at Melbourne Ballpark for a friendly game ahead of the 2022/23 ABL season.
Thank you to the Aces for inviting us and we hope to see you there! Tickets are only $1 and available online or at the gate. First pitch is at 7pm.
Victorian outfielder Riley Light is making the most of every opportunity that comes his way as he chases his college baseball dreams.
After growing up playing for local clubs Upwey Ferntree Gully and Knox, the Victorian State Team representative made the leap overseas, going on to Hill College in Texas. His freshman year was a learning experience both on and off the field, but his determination paid off as he adjusted to vigorous training and competition.
"Early morning workouts, 5-hour practises, and trying to be organised with school work is something you must quickly adapt to in order to keep moving forward," Light said of life as a junior college baseballer. "A highlight for me would be when I hit my first home run in the spring. It felt great to see and feel the ball coming off the bat during an actual game, which helped benefit my team."
Instead of going home to Australia for the summer, Light stayed in the U.S. to continue developing his baseball skills in the Kansas Collegiate League Baseball, a premier summer league. He joined fellow Victorians including Oscar Hargreaves, Mason Wray, Ben Fierenzi, Henry Hayman, and Kobe Greenhalgh, who all took part in summer ball.
Light's summer season with the Park City Rangers saw him play five or six days a week and win the 2022 KCLB All Star Home Run Derby. "I met even more people from all over the US and the world, and had an absolute blast in my downtime with my newfound teammates."
Light enjoyed working out at the local YMCA and gaining more strength, fitness, and confidence than ever before.
"On the field, I played very well, both statistically and as a leader for the team. I would highly recommend anyone who is attending college to stay on and play in a summer competition," Light added.
Even with all the excitement of his first year in America, Light makes sure to acknowledge those who have helped him get to where he is today.
"The life experiences that attending college in the U.S. has given me are something I could have never imagined and I am grateful to everyone who has played a part in helping me live my dream, especially my parents," Light explained.
"My junior years in Victoria were definitely a stepping stone in my baseball career. The BV High Performance Academy and mentoring from my head coach Donavon Hendricks at Upwey FTG Baseball Club helped me in my younger years to learn the importance of the game and the fundamentals of it."
All of these opportunities have made a difference to Light in his baseball journey, and he's looking forward to another great season of college baseball.
"My favourite thing about college baseball so far is the competitiveness and the number of games that we play," he said. "I also love the sense of family that you grow with your teammates. As an international player living on campus, the guys that surround you turn into your family. I have made friendships with people here that will last a lifetime, people from both the USA and other international players. But with that, a level of competitiveness gets brought out, as you have to compete with them day in and day out for your position on the team."
He's embraced the U.S. sporting culture and is excited to return home for Christmas and share his experiences with family and friends. In the meantime, he will be working hard on his goals of finding a four-year school where he can continue his education.
"I will need to perform well on the field and in class as it is very competitive to get into a good school, but I am very determined to do so," Light explained. "I hope to successfully finish school and be a solid collegiate baseball player having a good college career on the field. I also hope I can hopefully help win a championship for whichever school I play for."
"Beyond that the world is my oyster, whether I stay on in the U.S. and play, head over to Europe and play, or head home and hopefully play in the ABL, time will only tell."
Finally, Light has some advice for junior players who want to play college baseball. He wants aspriring college athletes to know that the whole experience is enjoyable, but it's important to be prepared for the hard work involved.
"The game of baseball here is very tough mentally and physically. Learn to love the game early on. Both success and failure will provide a path for you to become a better baseballer."
The first month of VSBL is complete after another awesome weekend of baseball across 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 5
Springvale stayed undefeated in Women's Division 1 with a 13-2 win over Footscray as Doncaster and Essendon drew 5-5.
Women's Division 2 included an 11-11 draw between Melbourne and Sandringham and Essendon's close 11-10 win over Doncaster. Geelong finished 10-4 in front of North Western while Springvale came from behind to win 7-4 against Newport.
Women's Division 3 East was washed out, while Moorabbin and Springvale drew 8-8 in the South. Pakenham racked up the runs in a 20-8 victory against Berwick as Chelsea shut out St Kilda 16-0.
In Women's Division 3 West, a high-scoring matchup between Geelong and Alfredton finished with the Baycats up 14-10. Newport won 22-3 over Mitchell Majors while Fitzroy outlasted Werribee 20-16. Port Melbourne recorded a 16-4 victory over Williamstown.
Seniors Week 5
Division 1 Firsts: Essendon shut out Geelong 3-0 while Blackburn held on for a 6-4 win over Sunshine. Malvern came back for a 3-1 win vs. Mulgrave while Moorabbin also rallied, winning 10-7 against Melbourne. Sandringham held off Berwick for a 6-5 victory and Waverley finished 7-4 in front of Upwey Ferntree Gully.
Division 2 Firsts: Williamstown outlasted Preston 9-7 while Werribee got the job done at Bonbeach 8-1. Port Melbourne shut out North Western 8-0 as Doncaster blanked St Kilda 10-0. Newport recorded a 13-4 victory at Ormond Glenhuntly.
Division 3 Firsts: Geelong won 10-0 over Essendon while Pakenham came away with a 13-3 victory vs. Chelsea. Sandringham got a 14-1 win against Footscray.
Division 4 East: Blackburn beat Doncaster 7-1 as Melbourne Blue overpowered Monash University 12-5. Research Lower Plenty Maroon picked up a 10-2 victory at Waverley Red.
Division 4 North: Newport was busy at the plate in an 18-1 win against Essendon. Alfredton also had a good day of offense, winning 19-1 at Footscray.
Division 4 South: Chelsea White won 9-4 over Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold while Pakenham Black had the edge over Chelsea Blue 8-6. South East Warriors drew 2-2 with Pakenham White as Springvale shut out Upwey Ferntree Gully Black 11-0.
Masters Week 5
Masters 38+ East featured Melbourne's 18-0 win over Ormond Glenhuntly, plus a 3-1 victory for Monash/Ormond GH vs. Research Lower Plenty.
In Masters 38+ North West, Essendon shut out Port Melbourne 10-0 while the Jets got the job done in a 13-11 win vs. Williamstown. Pivot City secured a 10-3 victory against Sunshine White.
In Masters 38+ South, Springvale Bigcats scored seven early runs on their way to a 13-3 victory at Pakenham/Berwick.
Melbourne won 12-3 against Malvern in Masters 45+.
Juniors Week 4
U14 East Metro: Malvern finished 12-4 in front of Berwick/Mulgrave while Melbourne overpowered Cheltenham 18-8. Bonbeach/Chelsea won 15-6 over Doncaster as Upwey Ferntree Gully held on for an 11-10 victory against Sandringham.
U14 West Metro: Port Melbourne picked up a 13-12 win vs. North Western while Sunshine had the edge over Newport/Footscray14-13. Werribee outlasted Essendon 12-6.
U14 East State: Moorabbin shut out Sandringham 10-0 as Chelsea held off Malvern 8-6.
U14 West State: Essendon added runs in every inning, earning a 14-7 victory over Geelong.
U16 Metro: Port Melbourne recorded a 12-8 win vs. North Western as Sandringham came back to win 15-13 over Williamstown. A close battle between Werribee and Malvern saw the Giants finish in front 9-8.
U16 State: Williamstown cruised to a 9-1 victory over Doncaster while Moorabbin pulled ahead of Geelong 6-4. Sandringham got the job done 10-1 at Waverley.
U18 Metro: Doncaster scored 11 and gave up six to St Kilda as Mulgrave held off Cheltenham's rally for a 7-6 victory. Essendon piled on the runs in a 19-5 win at Sandringham.
U18 State: Blackburn/Upwey Ferntree Gully won 19-1 against Werribee and Melbourne picked up an 8-3 win at Newport.
Under 12s Week 3
U12 A State East: Melbourne won 11-0 vs. Cheltenham while Sandringham finished 11-6 in front of Bonbeach. Waverley held on for a 7-5 win vs. Chelsea as Blackburn scored 18 and only gave up two to Springvale.
U12 A State West: Essendon edged Sunshine in a close 2-1 matchup as Geelong won 11-5 against Research Lower Plenty Maroon.
U12 B East: Malvern overpowered Melbourne 15-5 while a high-scoring matchup between Chelsea and Sandringham ended with the Dolphins up 19-13.
Six baseball projects will receive funding through the latest round of the Victorian Government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. The statewide grant program offers five funding streams to support inclusive, thriving sports communities.
Congrats to our baseball recipients - we look forward to seeing the progress of these projects moving forward:
- Female Friendly Facilities - Greater Geelong City Council - Lara Recreation Reserve Baseball & Oval Three Pavilion
- Community Sports Lighting - Kingston City Council - Bonbeach St. Chads Baseball Sports Lighting Project
- Community Sports Lighting - Mitchell Shire Council - Broadford Baseball Lighting Upgrade
- Community Facilities - Maroondah City Council - Heathmont Reserve Baseball Diamond Fencing & Dugouts
- Community Facilities - Maroondah City Council - Proclamation Park Baseball Diamond Fence and Dugouts
- Community Facilities - Whittlesea City Council - Mill Park Reserve Softball and Baseball Practice Nets
Read more about the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund HERE.
The Victorian Government recently announced the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program, which will support sport and active recreation organisations directly affected by the October 2022 floods. This funding program will deliver a one-off payment of $5,000 to directly-affected sport and active recreation organisations across the state, helping them meet some upfront costs of equipment and resource replacement so communities can get back out on the field as soon as possible.
Victorian baseball clubs affected by the flooding can apply for these grants, which will close on 13 January 2023, or when the funding allocation is exhausted. The application process is very simple for those impacted by floods.
Further information, including FAQs, eligibility, and contact details can be found via the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program - Sport and Recreation Victoria website.
Liam Evans, Blake Townsend, Matt Beattie, Chris Burke, and Jarryd Dale made Victoria and Australia proud at the U23 Baseball World Cup!
Team Australia finished sixth overall and Chris Burke was named to the All-World Team following his stellar performance.
Well done to all our representatives – we can’t wait to see what the future holds for these talented baseballers.
Catch up on World Cup photos and results on Facebook.