Baseball Victoria is now accepting applications for head coach, assistant coach, and executive officer positions for the 2023 Australian U16 and U18 Youth Championships.
We will be sending one U16 and one U18 team to the National Championships from 10-17 January 2023. The team's staff will consist of one head coach, two assistant coaches, and one executive officer.
All coaches are required to have current coaching accreditation and must comply with all child protection legislation requirements.
Position descriptions are available HERE.
Click HERE to submit your application via SurveyMonkey. You may also return a PDF version to kellie.thomas@baseballvictoria.com.au
Applications close Friday 9 September 2022.
Baseball Victoria – State Team Program Outline
- Tryouts
- U16: Saturday 15, 22, and 29 October
- U18: Monday 17 and 24 October, Tuesday 18 and 25 October, Monday 31 October
- Training Program: U16 and U18 November - December
- Showcase Tournament
- U16: 29 December - 7 January
- U18: 28 December - 7 January
- Australian Championships
- 10-17 January
The Baseball Victoria Board is pleased to announce the establishment of the BV Technical Operations Committee.
This committee will be responsible for overseeing technical operations in Victoria, including administration for existing umpires and pathway development for future umpires.
The committee structure is outlined in the committee framework document. The BV CEO will serve as the committee chairperson, with three members including Umpire Officer – Operations, Umpire Officer – Pathways, and Scoring Officer.
We are now calling for expressions of interest for members to join the Technical Operations Committee in the roles of Umpire Officer - Operations and Umpire Officer - Pathways.
Club members, particularly experienced umpires, are encouraged to apply for officer positions on the committee. The Umpire Officer - Pathways will be responsible for the Umpire Development Centres, and stipends will be provided for selected officers.
All expressions of interest for committee members should be completed through SurveyMonkey HERE.
The deadline for responses is COB Wednesday 31 August 2022.
Baseball Victoria is now accepting expressions of interest for the role of Events and Product Development Officer.
This role is responsible for the successful operation of the VSBL competition and all BV tournaments, providing administrative support and guidance to clubs.
Click HERE to view the full position description.
For further information, please contact Chet Gray at ceo@baseballvictoria.com.au.
Josh Ashen is excited for the next step of his baseball journey at Vernon College in Texas.
The dedicated Aces Academy pitcher and Cheltenham Rustlers player is making the move overseas to chase his baseball dreams after a successful junior career which included representative opportunities with the Victorian State Team and Southern Mariners.
"The most exciting thing about starting my college career is the fact that I will be living and breathing baseball every single day which will have a big impact on just how more skillful I can become as a player," Ashen said.
Although he's going to miss his family, friends, and teammates, he's made the most of his time with them in recent months while also working on his baseball skills every day by going for a run, hitting the gym, and having a throw. Sports conditioning and Academy training sessions with the BV High Performance staff have boosted his strength and confidence, too.
"Lifting is definitely one of the best things to happen, it helps you understand your body and also builds your strength to hit, run and throw better than before," Ashen added. "The more you condition and strengthen your body, the better it will be in the long run with fewer injuries."
Ashen has also found inspiration in fellow Aussie baseball players, including former MLB pitcher Travis Blackley who offered guidance during lockdown.
"He was one of the first people to help me understand what it takes to be a pitcher. To this day I still practice everything I had been taught and I just keep getting better."
He also credits Brandon Stenhouse as a great role model for guiding his game to the next level.
"Playing with him for the last few years at Cheltenham has been a really fun time. Whenever I’ve had a chance to be in front of him, he was always helping me out during and between innings," Ashen explained. "Whenever I’m at training or before/after games, I feel like I can ask him anything about his experience going through the pros and what I can do to benefit me as a pitcher."
As he joins the NJCAA Division 1 Chaps, Ashen is ready for anything the future may bring, and he hopes to inspire young baseballers with some advice that's helped him along the way.
"The main thing is also the hardest thing and that’s just grinding every single day and making sure that you're doing more than other kids out there. You’ve got to have a lot of confidence while also being humble and never skip any chances thrown your way because you never know where it could lead you."
The Baseball Victoria Board recently approved the establishment of the BV Women’s Pathway Working Group (WPWG). BV Board Director Amy McCann will oversee the group.
We are pleased to call for expressions of interest for members to join the Women’s Pathway Working Group, which will fulfil the primary function of advising the BV CEO and Board on matters set out in the Group’s Terms of Reference.
Please click HERE to view the position description for group members.
All expressions of interest for group membership should be completed through SurveyMonkey HERE.
The deadline for responses is COB Wednesday 31 August 2022.
Women and girls in the Mitchell Shire will have a new sport of choice this summer with Broadford’s Mitchell Majors Baseball Club confirming the launch of a women’s program for the 2022/23 Baseball Victoria season.
Three of Australia's best will grace Minnit Park this month with Samantha Hamilton, Bronwyn Gell, and Amy McCann confirmed as guest coaches for the Mitchell Majors Women's Come and Try Day on 20 August.
The trio, which boasts 16 World Cup appearances for the Australian Emeralds including the 2010 World Cup silver medal, will coordinate the session, featuring a range of conditioning, throwing, fielding and hitting stations.
The come and try session will run from 9:30-10:30am Saturday 20 August at Minnit Park in Broadford. More details are available on the Mitchell Majors website.
Coach Bios
- Samantha Hamilton - a member of the inaugural Australian team in 2001, Hamilton went on to contest five World Cups (2004-2012) winning silver in 2010 and the 2006 Stolen Bases Award. She also claimed 10 national crowns with Victoria (1999-2015). As a coach, Hamilton is the head coach of the Victorian Aces Women's Team and Doncaster Dragons Baseball Club's women's program.
- Bronwyn Gell - already a five-time World Cup representative with the Australian Emeralds (2010-current), Gell boasts dual World Cup medals and won the 2012 Stolen Bases Award. A five-time national champion with Victoria, Gell has claimed National Championships MVP honours twice, in 2017 and 2022.
- Amy McCann - a veteran of Australian Emeralds (2004-2014), McCann won two medals in six World Cup appearances, was named to the All World Team twice and was awarded the Baseball Australia Player of the Year in 2006. McCann was also a seven-time national champion with Victoria (2004-2014).
Launch of Mitchell Majors Women's Program
In July, the Majors confirmed it would be launching an inaugural women’s program for the upcoming 2022/23 Baseball Victoria season.
To coincide with the club’s 25th anniversary, the launch of the women's program comes off the back of major upgrades at the club’s home ground Minnit Park in Broadford which includes dedicated change room facilities for girls and women.
While the club has welcomed women to play in mixed teams since its inception in 1998, the decision to create a dedicated women’s team is a game changer for the club, the shire and the sport.
16-year-old Alyssia Ryan, who has played in the club’s mixed teams for five years, is looking forward to playing on a women’s team for the first time.
"It's already so much fun being a part of this club, so I am so excited about a women’s team,” said Ryan, who will be keen to use the opportunity to develop her game. “Playing with women will be a perfect opportunity to learn new positions and while I would like to win, having fun and being around wonderful people is very important to me.
“I can't wait for the summer season to start."
Club stalwart Maria Robinson is eager to play ball in her inaugural season after years spent supporting the club off the field in a variety of roles.
"I have always been around the club, but now there's a women's team I feel drawn to play,” said Robinson. “I can't wait to get out there playing and give it my all. My goal is just to do my best.
“I know I will have fun I already know this club, this community is amazing and will support you no matter what.”
New mother Tara Amuso is excited to play in a women’s team for the first time after falling in love with the sport and the club after joining two seasons ago.
“Not only will I be able to gain some of my independence back, but it comes with the added benefit of being healthy, burning some extra calories and having fun,” said Amuso, who is encouraging all women to come and try the sport. “I’d never played baseball before, only softball, but there have been so many great people at the club who welcomed me and my husband, and who have given me guidance and extra training.”
Club Secretary Andrew Robinson is pleased to see the club grow and develop through the women’s program.
“We know that our club has been predominantly male since we started in 1998, but we are committed to making the experience for anyone who wants to play baseball at Mitchell Majors as inclusive and welcoming as possible both on and off the field,” said Robinson.
“We encourage all women and girls to come down and give it a go.”
Baseball Victoria has extended the application deadline for the 2022 BV Development Grants Program to Friday 19 August. Category 1 (Summer League clubs) is the current round of funding, while applications for Category 2 (winter clubs or associations) will open at the start of 2023.
This funding opportunity supports Victorian baseball clubs and associations through grants for activities and events aimed at driving participation and the growth of our sport at the grassroots level.
These grants are made possible through the Baseball Victoria Development Fund, which consists of annual contributions collected from member fees participating in T-ball, juniors and seniors.
As the membership grows, so do these funds, which will be distributed among chosen applicants for outreach activities designed to generate interest and grow baseball participation.
Activities may include come and try days, junior gala days, baseball equipment, female participation programs, All Abilities programs, club-driven school events and more.
“We are excited to receive grant applications and look forward to seeing what ideas our VSBL clubs come up with for attracting new members,” Baseball Victoria CEO Chet Gray said. “By putting this funding back into the baseball community through our clubs, we can continue working together to ensure a bright future for baseball across the state.”
Please click HERE to learn more about BV Development Grants, including the program guidelines and application requirements.
Congratulations to Eastern Athletics on an awesome campaign at the 2022 Senior League Baseball World Series!
They went 2-2 overall with back-to-back wins, including an 11-1 win over Asia-Pacific and a 5-1 victory against Canada.
What a fantastic experience for these dedicated Victorians on the international stage, making us all very proud as they did an excellent job representing their state and country.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these dedicated baseballers!
A group of Victorian college players have garnered local media attention in Kansas for their great summer ball seasons.
The Butler County Times Gazette recently featured four Victorian college players who decided to stay for summer ball after their freshman year.
Oscar Hargreaves from Waverley Baseball Club and Mason Wray from Newport spent the summer with Kansas Cannons, while Malvern's Henry Hayman played with Kansas Curve and Upwey Ferntree Gully's Riley Light hit the field with Park City Rangers.
Read the full story HERE in the Butler County Times Gazette.