The 2024/25 VSBL Women's Season will come to a thrilling end on 1 March with Women's Super Saturday at Melbourne Ballpark.

All six grand finals will take place across the two diamonds, with the canteen open all day from 9am and plenty of epic women's baseball to enjoy.

Here's the schedule:

• Women's Regional League West @ 9am Diamond 2: Alfredton v North West Titans
• Women's State League @ 10am Diamond 1: Waverley v Melbourne
• Women's Regional League North @ 12pm Diamond 2: Preston v Diamond Creek Blue
• Women's Premier League Reserves @ 1pm Diamond 1: Newport v Springvale
• Women's Regional League South @ 3pm Diamond 2: Pakenham Black v St Kilda
• Women's Premier League Firsts @ 4pm Diamond 1: Newport v Doncaster (streamed on Facebook through My Sport Live)

Check out fixtures, results, and ladders HERE and follow the VSBL Facebook page for the latest updates.

The 2024/25 VSBL Women's Season will come to a thrilling end on 1 March with Women's Super Saturday at Melbourne Ballpark.

All six grand finals will take place across the two diamonds, with the canteen open all day and plenty of epic women's baseball to enjoy.

Here's the schedule:

• Women's Regional League West - 9am Diamond 2
• Women's State League - 10am Diamond 1
• Women's Regional League North - 12pm Diamond 2
• Women's Premier League Reserves - 1pm Diamond 1
• Women's Regional League South - 3pm Diamond 2
• Women's Premier League Firsts -4pm Diamond 1

Check out fixtures, results, and ladders HERE and follow the VSBL Facebook page for the latest updates.

Saturday 18 January saw the third instalment of the annual Bayside Shield between Sandringham and local rivals Moorabbin.

The Shield was kindly donated by local MLA Brad Roswell, whose electorate is home to both clubs.

The day saw Sandringham prevail 6-1, becoming the first club to both host and win the game as previous years had seen the home team lose. The Royals are now the first to retain the Shield.

Highlights of the game included Josh Meyer's 3-for-4 performance and Moorabbin's two double plays on defense.

The club used the day to host their inaugural Past Players & Life Members Day which helped swell the crowd.

"It was fantastic to see so many past players and life members to celebrate our club's rich history," Sandringham President Nick Stillwell said. "It is because of these people that the club is in the position it is today."

The Belles tryout session will be held at Deep Creek Reserve (Doncaster Baseball Club) on Saturday 1 February from 9-11am.

The coaches are Lili Cavanagh and Kira Kumamoto. The all-girls Belles team will have the opportunity to participate in April’s State Championships and the 2025 Australian Little League Girls Division Championships in July.

Belles Baseball is open to girls League Ages 9 to 12 Years (age cutoff is 31 August). Any participants who wish to try out and haven’t registered yet are welcome to attend the trial.

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce the Victorian Women's and Youth Women's State Teams ahead of the 2025 Australian Championships, which will return to Melbourne Ballpark this April.

The AWC will run from 13-19 April and the AYWC (U16) will run from 15-19 April.

“We look forward to another amazing week of women's baseball at Melbourne Ballpark, with our women's side chasing back-to-back championships and our youth women ready to shine," BV CEO Chet Gray said. “Well done to all and best of luck training leading up to the tournaments.”

Congratulations to our state team representatives! Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to nationals.

17-year-old Victorian pitcher Robinson Smith has become the latest Australian to sign professional after inking a six-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates today.

With family and friends at Sandringham Royals Baseball Club, Robinson unveiled his Pittsburgh Pirates uniform on the very first day of the International Signing Window.

“Signing professionally is something I have dreamt about for as long as I can remember,” Smith said. “The Pirates are the perfect fit and offer me the opportunity to develop as a player and pitcher, supporting my journey to my big-league goal.”

Smith joins fellow Australians Jayden Kim, Solomon Maguire, Rubens Romero & Brandan Bidois in the Pirates organisation.

He was a crucial part of Victoria’s U18 National Championship Gold Medal in 2024. Smith was named to the U18 Junior Squad shortly after.

He has experience pitching with the Southern Mariners Charter program and through club ball with the Sandringham Royals. He was four years old when he started T-ball at the club.

“On behalf of the Sandringham Baseball Club, I want to congratulate Robinson on this incredible achievement,” said President Nick Stillwell.

“It's a testament to his hard work and passion. Playing for Sandringham and Victoria, at state and national levels, his signing is a fitting reward for his exceptional efforts and abilities."

Robinson’s achievement is a source of immense pride and inspiration for the club and junior players, exemplifying the pathway from grassroots to the MLB.

"His success shows our young players that with dedication, anything is possible.”

Read more on his baseball journey HERE.

Baseball Victoria is saddened to hear of the passing of former Preston Pirates Player and Club Coach Les Gosstray.

Les, along with William, Stephen, Ken, and Graeme Gosstray all made enormous contributions to the club on and off the field over a number of years.

The funeral service will be held on Friday 24 January at 10am at White Lady Funerals Mornington Chapel (951-953 Nepean Highway).

Our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.

(Photo: Les hitting a grand slam in 1976)

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce Tony Cornish's appointment as the BV Umpiring Working Group's new Umpire Recruiting and Retention Officer (RRO).

Tony is recognised for his longstanding involvement with Essendon Baseball Club, where he served as president for 16 years. Tony is also a Premier Baseball Victoria umpire, bringing over 50 years of experience to this critical role.

Tony’s mission is to increase the number of umpires in Victoria, improve their experiences, and strengthen retention within the sport. His role encompasses several initiatives:

• • Umpire Coordinators (UCs) at clubs: each club will appoint a UC responsible for recruitment, training, and supporting umpires.
  • Consistent umpire coverage: aim to assign two qualified BV umpires to every BV game weekly.
  • Game allocation by skill: ensuring umpires are matched to games appropriate to their experience.
  • Enhancing umpire experiences: creating an environment where umpires feel respected and valued.
  • Feedback systems: establishing a system where clubs can provide feedback on umpires, and vice versa, to foster
    continuous improvement.

Initiative - Seeking Your Input

As part of our efforts, we invite clubs to help shape the questions that will form the foundation of a feedback system. Your input will make sure this initiative is collaborative and impactful.

The feedback system will:

• • Match umpires to games aligned with their skill level while supporting development.
  • Provide insights to enhance umpire performance and retention.
  • Improve the overall experience for umpires, players, coaches, and clubs.

BV is seeking suggestions on potential questions or areas for feedback by January 31. Things to consider include:

• • Club feedback on umpires
  • Umpire feedback on clubs
  • Consistency of strike zone
  • Spectator behaviour
  • Judgment calls
  • Player behaviour
  • Rule knowledge
  • Coach behavior
  • Game management
  • Facilities
  • Communication
  • Hospitality

Please send your suggestions to [email protected].

Baseball Victoria is excited to announce that the 2025 Winter Development Grant Applications are now open.

The BV Development Grants Program will fund baseball development activities aimed at driving junior and female participation and growth within the sport. These activities may include, but are not limited to:
• Female participation programs
• Access for All Abilities (AAA) programs
• Come and try days
• Junior gala events
• Club-driven school events
• Baseball equipment (which directly increases junior or female participation)
• 2-Ball Friday Night Competition
• Training, education and development for umpires, scorers, coaches, child safety and wellbeing officers

Winter clubs and associations are eligible to apply - you can see the Program Guidelines for more details, including eligibility and how to apply.

Please note applications close 31 January 2025.