Baseball Victoria, Author at Baseball Victoria

Following the Victorian Government’s announcements on the lifting of lockdown restrictions in regional Victoria, Baseball Victoria acknowledges that a return to baseball training may commence from 10 September 2021 for three VSBL clubs in regional Victoria: Ballarat Royals, Geelong Baycats, and Mitchell Majors.

Current lockdown restrictions will ease in regional Victoria, except for Greater Shepparton from 11.59pm on Thursday 9 September. These changes for regional Victoria will include:

Five reasons to leave home are removed.
No limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home – other than restrictions on entry to metropolitan Melbourne.
Density limits and patron caps on restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues.
Community sport - permitted outdoor training only with the minimum number required to train. Spectators are prohibited except one parent permitted to supervise children.

This ability to train will only apply to the Ballarat Royals, Geelong Baycats, and Mitchell Majors as clubs participating in the Victorian Summer Baseball League.

All players from these three clubs will be required to complete the return to training registration for regional Victoria, and all clubs must maintain an attendance register and COVID-19 restriction compliance documentation.

Registration and return to play documents will be confirmed directly with these clubs and registered players for these clubs, subject to any further updates from the Victorian Government or Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Most winter associations cancelled the remainder of their seasons last month. Winter associations that wish to return to limited training may do so with council approval and in line with the Baseball Victoria COVIDSafe Plan in hopes of completing their seasons once a return to competition is allowed.

The Victorian Government has provided this table of restrictions outlining the changes for regional Victoria and the current lockdown settings for metropolitan Melbourne.

Lockdown restrictions remain the same in metropolitan Melbourne, with all baseball activity cancelled until lockdown is eventually lifted and community sport is allowed to resume. The Victorian Government has flagged small easing of restrictions when 70 percent of eligible Victorians have had at least one dose of vaccine, a target we are expected to reach in the next two weeks at the current vaccination rate. The return to community sport in metropolitan Melbourne remains undetermined at this stage, with further clarification expected over the coming weeks and months.

Baseball Victoria continues to closely monitor this evolving situation to provide regular updates to VSBL clubs regarding plans for the start of the summer season. Baseball Victoria Aces Academy remains online, and no baseball clubs in metropolitan Melbourne may conduct training, come and try days, or any in-person activities.

As a reminder, the lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne include:

Only five reasons to leave home:
- shopping for necessary goods and services (within 5km radius of home unless not available within)
- two hours of exercise (within 5km radius of home unless not available within, and with only one other person)
- caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
- authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
- getting the coronavirus vaccine
No public or private gatherings
No community sport
Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am

“We are pleased to hear about the easing of restrictions in regional Victoria, allowing for a return to training, while we know the situation is still challenging for all Victorians. Our top priorities remain the health and safety of our Victorian baseball community,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “We continue to communicate with VSBL clubs about the summer season and we are looking forward to getting back to baseball when it’s safe to do so.”

Full details on the latest Victorian Government announcements are available HERE.

COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for all Victorians aged 16 years and over. Getting vaccinated helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19. The vaccines being used in Australia are safe, free, and very effective at preventing serious illness and loss of life from COVID-19.

Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.

It remains very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.

To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and follow these instructions:

Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

If you have been to an exposure site, are a close contact of a confirmed case, or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 – such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills or sweats, or change in sense of smell or taste – get a test immediately. Find out where to get tested HERE.

While Victoria works to get more people vaccinated, you can stay safe by washing your hands regularly, wearing a face mask, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, you must get tested and stay home.

Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.

Click HERE to view all COVID resources, including the Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan.

We encourage our members to stay connected and prioritise their mental health. Please view mental health resources on our website HERE, including information from Beyond Blue, Headspace, Kids Helpline, Lifeline and R U OK?

To view more COVID-19 resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.

Joshua Smith has made some amazing memories through Baseball Victoria Aces Academy and club ball at Sandringham.

Now, as he gets started at Sussex County Community College in New Jersey, he is ready to continue building his baseball skills and make the most of an exciting opportunity.

“I’ve been preparing for college with Aces Academy this offseason, working to become a better overall ballplayer as well as a better pitcher," Smith said. "I'm most excited about the atmosphere and the opportunity to pursue baseball at a higher level.”

Although Smith can't wait to experience everything college has to offer, although he knows there will be things to miss about home.

"I'll miss the boys back at Sandringham Baseball Club as well as Greensborough and Aces Academy," Smith said.

There are several Aussie baseball players he looks up to who will continue to inspire him as he pushes ahead with his baseball goals.

“Sam Street was always one of the guys who I’ve looked up to, who’s gone through the same process, as well as Tim Ballard who’s been with me for a long time at Sandy and who’s played at a very high level himself," Smith added.

Smith says lifting has helped him utilise his body more and throw harder. He appreciates everything he's learned along the way, from Aces Academy to Victorian representative opportunities to exciting summer and winter seasons. He has a few words of advice for players who aspire to play at a higher level.

“Work your tail off because you never know when it all could be over. Don’t take anything for granted," Smith said. And if you’re aspiring to go to college, study hard too.”

Following the Victorian Government’s announcements on the extension of the statewide lockdown, Baseball Victoria confirms all baseball activity remains cancelled until lockdown is eventually lifted and community sport is allowed to resume.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has declared that almost all of the current lockdown restrictions will remain in place until 70 percent of eligible Victorians have had at least one dose of vaccine. This is estimated to be around Thursday 23 September 2021 but may change based on vaccination rates. The Victorian Government will consider easing restrictions in parts of regional Victoria next week, subject to public health advice.

The only changes to restrictions at this stage are the reopening of playgrounds and expansion to in-home care for school-aged children of authorised workers from 11.59pm on Thursday 2 September 2021.

Baseball Victoria continues to closely monitor this evolving situation, with regular updates provided to winter associations and VSBL clubs, particularly regarding plans for the start of the summer season. Baseball Victoria Aces Academy remains online, and no Victorian baseball clubs may conduct training, come and try days, or any in-person activities.

As a reminder, the statewide lockdown restrictions include:

Only five reasons to leave home:
- shopping for necessary goods and services (within 5km radius of home unless not available within)
- two hours of exercise (within 5km radius of home unless not available within, and with only one other person)
- caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
- authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
- getting the coronavirus vaccine
No public or private gatherings
No community sport
Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am (metropolitan Melbourne only)

“We recognise the challenges of continued lockdown, and the health and safety of our Victorian baseball community remain our top priorities,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “We continue to communicate with winter associations and VSBL clubs to navigate these uncertain times. We hope everyone stays healthy and we look forward to getting back to the game we love when it’s safe to do so.”

Full details on the latest Victorian Government announcement are available HERE.

Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.

It remains very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.

To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and follow these instructions:

Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.

Click HERE to view all COVID resources, including the Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan.

To view more COVID-19 resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.

Henry Hayman is ready to build on everything he learned through Baseball Victoria Aces Academy and Malvern Braves Baseball Club as he begins the next chapter of his baseball journey.

Hayman is looking forward to his time at Barton Community College in Kansas as he makes his long-term goal of playing baseball in the U.S. a reality. From his early days of Little League at Malvern, he knew he loved the game, but attending the 2019 Arizona Fall Classic really put the wheels in motion, inspiring him to work extra hard and make his dream a reality.

"I developed my training program to include lifting and sprint training, started researching colleges, emailing coaches, making videos, and studying for SATs," Hayman said. "It requires patience and persistence as there can be plenty of knockbacks."

Hayman, who represented Victoria at the Australian Youth Championships, acknowledges the continued support from the Victorian and Australian baseball community.

"Physically, the Aces Academy and in particular Damian Shanahan did a great job working around lockdowns to make sure that we were all in the best condition possible to start our college career. I am also really grateful to have had the amazing support of Malvern Baseball Club head coach Neil Bourke to hit the cages with at every and any opportunity."

"Andrew Riddell of Baseball Australia offered great advice and was a huge support in my decision-making process, sharing his experiences, and the experiences of other Aussie players at college. It helped me understand the process, what to expect, and what was expected of me."

While there is a lot to look forward to about college, Hayman is most excited just to train and play the sport he loves every day.

"After a year or so of interrupted training due to Victoria’s lockdowns, I am excited about the opportunity to get on campus and play and train every day to improve on my game, both physically and mentally," he said. "I am also excited that there are so many Aussie boys that I have played with and against over the years heading to college this month, it will be great to have this shared experience even though we are scattered across the country."

Hayman has upped his strength and conditioning efforts, something he plans to continue in college.

"I really increased my lifting program this year with Aces Academy. The lifting has had a huge impact on my power/exit velocity and my improved core strength is a great benefit in preventing injury," he said. "I also included sprint training in my program as it is so important as an infielder to develop my agility, and of course my speed for base running."

Hayman knows he will miss his family and friends, but looks forward to meeting new friends at college. He hopes other players can reach their goals and shares his advice for fellow baseballers.

"Make the most of all the opportunities that are offered to you by your club, Baseball Victoria, and Baseball Australia…try out for every team, every tour," Hayman said. "Not everything works out your way, but that only makes you work harder and develop more resilience for the game in the long run."

Staying connected and making the most of every opportunity also helped him push forward. He encourages other players to focus on training and keep their dreams in mind.

"Always train with intent, like you are playing a game, and work hard at school as well as on the field - there is a pathway for everyone," Hayman said. "Talk to your coaches, and the player development team at BV and BA, as they have the experience and connections to help you achieve your goals. The support and advice from Damian Shanahan and Andrew Riddell were pivotal for me in securing my scholarship to Barton."

Dear Baseball Victoria Members,

As this month comes to an end, we continue to plan for a bright future for baseball in Victoria. However, now more than ever, it’s clear that COVID remains a serious health and safety concern, and we are very much still in this pandemic. We look forward to the months ahead where widespread vaccination may help us live embrace a new COVID normal with fewer lockdowns and interruptions to the things we love like being involved at our baseball clubs. While we work to get there, we must always stay prepared for different outcomes based on the evolving COVID situation.

We appreciate the patience and understanding from all our clubs, presidents, secretaries, and members. We know the last 18 months have not been easy, missing out on the sport we all love and dealing with the inevitable ups and downs of the pandemic. Even so, we remain confident in the future of our sport and look forward to getting through this pandemic as a strong and supportive baseball community.

Our dedicated efforts to mitigate the risks and financial implications of COVID were undoubtedly led by outgoing Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton. The feedback in recent weeks since the announcement of her departure has been that clubs enjoyed working with her, as did the Baseball Victoria Board. We greatly appreciate Kristie’s leadership and extensive planning to place the organisation in the best possible position given very difficult circumstances. Since arriving at Baseball Victoria in August 2019, Kristie has worked diligently to further streamline operations, enhance the Victorian Summer Baseball League, and has worked collaboratively with the Board to develop the foundation of a strategic plan that will take us into the next chapter - we’ll have more information on how members can contribute to shaping this plan in the near future.

While Kristie’s tenure has been marked by COVID throughout entire seasons, her leadership played an important role in our ability to maintain financial stability for the organisation, including accessing government funding and reducing staff hours where required. We were also able to pivot in line with Victorian Government requirements and restrictions, in an effort to provide as many safe baseball opportunities as possible. While leading the staff group through a period of instability, Kristie has established well-documented processes, so the way forward remains clear from a baseball operations perspective. In addition to day-to-day management of a state sporting organisation, Kristie also focused on the health and wellbeing of the Victorian baseball community, with online resources like mental health support and At-Home Baseball Training videos on BV TV.

We are excited for a bright future in Victorian baseball, with a detailed transition plan as we farewell CEO Kristie Middleton and hire the right leader to guide our organisation through this next version of the strategic plan. We will be engaging with our members on the strategic plan very shortly, as we continue working on the strategy to oversee the financial implications of COVID and balancing the best possible ways to deliver baseball in Victoria. While COVID continues to present challenges, we are thinking about what the situation could look like through the summer while ensuring we prioritise financial sustainability and our clubs’ needs.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our volunteers for the tireless work they do so that we can all enjoy our beloved baseball. Volunteers go above and beyond in normal times, and COVID has added another layer to volunteering in grassroots baseball. We are very grateful to all our volunteers for their continued efforts and hope the smiles on everyone’s faces when they get out to play is partially a reward for their service.

Yours in baseball,

Meghan Mayman

Baseball Victoria President

The Baseball Victoria Board confirms the appointment of interim CEO Gemma Scales, who will lead Baseball Victoria’s operations during this period of time until a new CEO is appointed in the coming weeks.

The Board has called on our national resources to connect with Gemma, who currently serves as General Manager of Baseball Northern Territory. Gemma is looking forward to this opportunity to lead the BV team throughout this transition, drawing on her management experience, including two years at the helm of Baseball NT. She also has a strong baseball background, having played the sport since the age of 4.

Gemma will be available at CEO@baseballvictoria.com.au.

Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks regarding the CEO recruitment and hiring process.

Click HERE to view Baseball Victoria staff details.

After a big year with Baseball Victoria Aces Academy and Newport Rams Baseball Club, Keenan Spence is starting the next chapter of his baseball journey.

Building on his success at the club and charter level with the Twins, as well as numerous development opportunities, Spence is excited for his future at Howard Community College in Texas. He headed to the US early to play ball and work on his hitting, throwing and lifting.

With college starting, Spence is trying to focus on the future to keep his mind off missing family and friends. "There can sometimes be a lonely feeling when you look around and remember you’re the only Australian around," he said. "But you end up meeting plenty of new people and building new connections which help you to feel more at home."

Spence has a lot of fond Victorian baseball memories, from hitting a home run in the U16 gold medal game at the 2018 Australian Youth Championship to training with inspiring players.

"When I was growing up, a player I always looked up to was Darryl George. There was even a time back when I was in Little League that he took the time out of his day to do a 1 on 1 training session with me, which I still haven’t forgotten and it meant a lot to me," Spence said. "It was cool to then grow up and be involved with things such as the Aces development program and train alongside guys like that."

In addition to hard work at training, so he could make the most of his opportunities, Spence is committed to lifting, which he says has absolutely played a massive part in his development.

"I would definitely not be in the position I am now had I not taken lifting as seriously as I did and still do," Spence said. "A big part of my game is power and there is no way I would have nearly as much strength as I do now if I didn’t put in as much consistent hard work in the gym. Not to mention the impact it has had on my speed, arm strength and preventing injuries."

As Spence concentrates on college and continuing to improve as a player, he reflects on his journey and hopes younger players can chase their dreams too.

"For younger players who aspire to play at a higher level, I’d say that obviously you need to put in your own consistent hard work in your own time but it’s also extremely important to make sure you build a strong mind and unbreakable confidence," Spence said.

"I know what it feels like to lose confidence in my own ability and allow doubts to get in the way of my performance. It took a long time but I was able to break out of it eventually and at least take away a lesson from it. Failure is unavoidable but if you’re able to maintain the same confidence you have within yourself after going 0-for-4 as you do when you go 4-for-4, the bad stretches will be minimised. And the bad stretches are unavoidable, but being able to get over them quickly as opposed to allowing it to snowball will result in a lot more overall success."

The Victorian Government announced this morning that regional Victoria will move to the same lockdown restrictions as metropolitan Melbourne from 1:00pm today, Saturday 21 August 2021. The only exception is the 9pm – 5am curfew applies only to metropolitan Melbourne, with no curfew in regional Victoria.

Following this announcement, Baseball Victoria confirms the cancellation of all baseball activity statewide until at least 11:59pm on Thursday 2 September 2021. There are no games, training, or in-person activities allowed during lockdown.

The statewide lockdown restrictions include:

Only five reasons to leave home:
- shopping for necessary goods and services (within 5km radius of home unless not available within)
- two hours of exercise (within 5km radius of home unless not available within, and with only one other person)
- caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
- authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
- getting the coronavirus vaccine
No public or private gatherings
No community sport
Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am (metropolitan Melbourne only)
Playgrounds, state parks, and outdoor exercise equipment closed

“We recognise these changes are challenging for regional Victoria, and all Victorians are going through the ups and downs of this pandemic,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “We continue to closely monitor the evolving COVID situation and consult with winter associations and VSBL clubs regarding current restrictions and plans for the eventual easing of restrictions once the situation improves. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy, and we look forward to getting back to baseball as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Full details on the latest Victorian Government announcement are available HERE.

It is very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.

To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and follow these instructions:

Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Victoria has expanded vaccine access at state-run clinics for 18-39-year-olds. Getting vaccinated helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19. The vaccines being used in Australia are safe, free, and very effective at preventing serious illness and loss of life from COVID-19.

Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.

Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions and click HERE for our COVID resources.

To view more COVID-19 resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.

Baseball Victoria continues to closely monitor the evolving COVID situation. Earlier today, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flagged the possibility of further restrictions over the weekend. While no official changes have been confirmed, this evening information quoted from an unattributed Victorian Government spokesperson has been heavily relayed in the media requesting that community sport in regional Victoria be postponed for this weekend.

There is no official confirmation or announcement on additional restrictions impacting community sport in regional Victoria, however, it is highly likely that this announcement will be made tomorrow.

We anticipate further details on the potential postponement of regional community sport to be addressed by the Victorian Government tomorrow as part of their familiar press conferences.

The official Sport and Recreation Victoria contacts available to Baseball Victoria, are not in a position to confirm the request to cease regional community sport or timing on what measures will be put in place.

Several sports have made the decision to cease activity in anticipation of the announcement, however, we will continue to await the official Victorian Government confirmation and will update all baseball members as soon as we are able to.

Although we anticipate that regional community sport will cease, we are not yet clear on exactly when or how this will be executed and will delay any official cancellation of activity until we receive these details from the Victorian Government.

We encourage all winter associations, clubs, and members to stay tuned for further updates, as we acknowledge the current ability to participate in community sport may change tomorrow.

For our entire Victorian baseball community across the state, we hope everyone stays safe as we continue to navigate this challenging COVID landscape. Further updates will be communicated as soon as possible.

It remains very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.

To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and follow these instructions:

Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.

Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.

To view more COVID-19 resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.