Following announcements made by the Victorian Government this morning, Thursday 27 May 2021, Baseball Victoria confirms that all baseball activity has been cancelled for the next seven days to comply with the Victorian circuit breaker lockdown that comes into effect at 11:59pm tonight.

For the health and safety of our entire community, Baseball Victoria strongly recommends no training proceeds this evening given the impending lockdown.

The seven-day lockdown is currently set to expire at 11:59pm on Thursday 3 June 2021 and Baseball Victoria will provide further details as they are made available regarding a return to play.

From 11:59pm tonight, the restrictions in Victoria will be:

• 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)
  • caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
  • authorised work or permitted education
  • getting the coronavirus vaccine
• No public or private gatherings
• No community sport
• Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies

The Victorian Government has named additional exposure sites this morning, and all baseball members must check this list and follow government directions:

• 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.

“With this rapidly-evolving COVID situation, it’s crucial that our community stays safe. We have been through snap circuit breaker lockdowns before and we can get through it again together,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “Please stay home and stay safe while we await updates from the Victorian Government. Baseball Victoria will continue to work with clubs and stakeholders to provide updates over the course of lockdown and adjust our Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan accordingly, including information on the winter season.”

Baseball Australia is working on this situation as it applies to the 2021 Australian Intermediate League Championship currently being held in Mildura. Baseball Australia will continue to consider the next national event with the 2021 Australian Little League Championship in Lismore scheduled for Wednesday, 9 June - Monday, 14 June. Click HERE for the latest Baseball Australia update.

An updated COVIDSafe Plan will be available on our website later today. We expect detailed clarification within this plan in the coming days and will update the documentation when those details are available.

Coronavirus vaccines are available for many eligibility groups, and today the Victorian Government announced expanded eligibility for Victorians aged 40 and up. Learn more about the vaccine and how to get protected HERE.

Full details on the Victorian Government announcement are available HERE.

Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.

We encourage our members to stay in touch with one another 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.

Baseball Victoria wishes to remind our members of the mental health resources available from various organisations. We recognise the continued mental health challenges and the importance of staying in touch with family, friends and teammates. Baseball cares, and we want our community to stay safe and feel supported.

A conversation could change a life. Click HERE for sporting resources and coaching toolkits from R U OK?

Please visit Headspace, Kids Helpline, Lifeline and Beyond Blue for more mental health support.

View a comprehensive list of mental health resources from the Department of Health and Human Services and Victorian State Government HERE.

Following the Victorian Government’s morning updates on additional COVID cases, Baseball Victoria is continuing to await specific clarification about various aspects of community sport. At this stage, there are no changes to the general restrictions, and as of 10:00am on Wednesday 26 May 2021, baseball training and play can continue with no restriction on participant numbers for on-field activity subject to all participants (players, coaches and volunteers) not having to test, isolate, or quarantine as a result of any attendance at exposure sites or COVID symptoms.

The Victorian Government has named additional exposure sites this morning, and all baseball members must check this list to ensure they have not been to any exposure sites on the specified days and times. Baseball Victoria members must not attend training, games, or any baseball activity if they are required to test and self-isolate. All members must follow government directions:

• 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.

Baseball Victoria will keep the Victorian baseball community updated over the coming days if restrictions change and community sport is impacted.

As a reminder, the restrictions now in effect for Greater Metropolitan Melbourne are:

• Face masks – compulsory indoors at all times for anyone aged 12 years and older unless you have an exemption.
• Gatherings - no more than 5 visitors to a home per day and no more than 30 people at public gatherings.
• Schools/workplaces remain open and anyone from Greater Metropolitan Melbourne can travel to regional Victoria but the Melbourne restrictions will apply during your travels.

These measures will be in place until at least Friday 4 June 2021.

With an increase in cases, it is imperative that all COVIDSafe practices are followed at baseball activities, including wearing masks indoors, checking in with the Victorian Government’s QR code service, and washing hands frequently.

Please note that these restrictions apply to both regional teams and players visiting Greater Metropolitan Melbourne and metropolitan teams and players visiting regional Victoria. If a metropolitan team is visiting regional Victoria, all participants must wear masks indoors and adhere to COVIDSafe measures.

Coronavirus vaccines are available for many eligibility groups. Learn more about the vaccine and how to get protected HERE.

Click HERE to learn more about the QR code service, which all Baseball Victoria clubs and venues should be using.

Read the Victorian Government’s full release on the additional COVIDSafe measures HERE.

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

Please view mental health resources on our website HERE, including information from Beyond Blue, Headspace, Kids Helpline, Lifeline and R U OK?

Baseball Victoria is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Gillett to the Baseball Events Coordinator role.

Sam first task will be to oversee the 2021 State Winter Championships. Sam has a baseball background, growing up playing in Latrobe Valley Baseball Association before serving on the committee.

Baseball Victoria welcomes Sam to this role and looks forward to the State Winter Championships.

Click HERE to view Baseball Victoria staff details.

The Twins earned silver medals after falling 3-2 to Ryde Hawks in the final game of the 2021 Australian Junior League Championship in Adelaide.

The Hawks took the lead with a three-run fourth and held on to win 3-2 despite the Twins plating a run in the bottom of the seventh and loading the bases.

Joshua Nati recorded a strikeout for the final out after Ryde intentionally walked Nathan Rumbelow to load the bases as the Twins pulled within a run. The Twins had scored first in the bottom of the first when Rumbelow doubled to score Andrew Land.

Hudson Pallay kept the Hawks off the board until the fourth. All three runs Pallay allowed for Twins were unearned. The right-hander struck out seven in a strong outing. Patariki Pouaka-Grego tossed three scoreless relief innings, striking out three.

Earlier in the day, Southern Mariners secured a fifth-place finish with a 7-1 win over Brisbane Metro.

Back-to-back singles from Ty Daniels and Zach Dunkley put the Mariners on top in the third and starting pitcher Liam Bald tossed six solid innings on diamond one. Bald allowed only one unearned run – in the second inning – in a one-hit outing. He struck out 10.

Bald gave himself a lead to work with in the first. He doubled to score Daniels after he singled with one out.

Metro hit back in the next inning when Sebastian Shimizu scored on an error after singling and stealing second and third.

Daniels and Dunkley restored the Mariners’ lead in the third. Southern added a fourth run on an error in the fifth and piled on three runs in the sixth.

Daniels doubled in a run ahead of Bald adding a two-run single. Bald finished with three RBIs on two hits and Daniels collected three hits.

Congratulations to Twins and Southern Mariners on a great tournament!

Click here for #AJLC2021 results, standings and latest news.

The 2021 Baseball Victoria Awards Night celebrated the Victorian baseball community and the 2020/21 VSBL season.

Livestreamed in partnership with My Sport Live, the Baseball Victoria Awards featured individual achievement award winners and special video messages from BV Life Member Scott Dawes, Women’s Division 1 MVP Abbey Kelly, and Division 1 MVP Billy Parsons.

Congratulations to all the deserving award winners on their fantastic achievements and tireless dedication to Victorian baseball!

Most Valuable Players

• Division 4 East: Liam Jackson – Melbourne Demons (17 votes)
• Division 4 North: Nathen Sims – Mitchell Majors (14 votes)
• Division 4 West: Robert Zadel – Footscray Bulldogs (11 votes)
• Division 4 South: Luke Thompson – Mordialloc Ducks (13 votes)
• Division 3: Lucas Anderson – Springvale (16 votes)
• Division 2: Jayson Arthur – Mulgrave Rebels, Jeon Kyunsoo – Ormond Glenhuntly, Josh Lee –Werribee Giants (17 votes)
• Women's Division 1: Abbey Kelly - Essendon Bombers (17 votes)
• Division 1 (George Heron Medal): Billy Parsons – Sunshine Eagles (17 votes)

Club Champions

• Division 2 Club Champion: Moorabbin Panthers
• Division 1 Club Champion (Peter Dihm Shield): Waverley Wildcats

Individual Awards

• Volunteer of the Year Award: Adrian Baillargeon
• Coach of the Year Award: Russell Spear
• Umpire of the Year Award: Stewart Howe

Women's Division 1

• Home Run Award: Emma Davenport - Essendon and Bronwyn Gell – Newport (one home run)
• Pitching Award: Jamieson Bastian - Doncaster Dragons (0.00 ERA)
• Batting Award: Abbey Kelly - Essendon Bombers (.639 batting average)

Division 1

• Home Run Award: Grant Irving – Sandringham Royals (three home runs)
• Pitching Award - Harry Douglas Memorial Trophy: Billy Parsons – Sunshine Eagles (0.73 ERA)
• Batting Award: Liam Hopkins - Blackburn Orioles (.500 batting average)

Division 2

• Home Run Award: Keenan Spence – Newport Rams (seven home runs)
• Pitching Award: Christopher Nielsen – Moorabbin Panthers (1.07 ERA)
• Batting Award: Wade Balzer – Werribee Giants (.514 batting average)

Division 3

• Home Run Award: Joe Michaud – Footscray Bulldogs and Mitchell Lording – Pakenham Pumas (three home runs)
• Pitching Award: Daniel Conway-Jones – Bonbeach Bluejays (1.07 ERA)
• Batting Award: Jarad Curwood – Bonbeach Bluejays (.464 batting average)

Highlights are being shared across Baseball Victoria social media platforms, including Instagram and the BV TV YouTube Channel.

Victorian teams embraced Senior League success, with the Southern Mariners winning gold and the Eastern Athletics taking out bronze at the 2021 Australian Senior League Championship in Lismore.

Southern Mariners won 8-7 over Macarthur in extra innings in the gold medal game at Albert Park Baseball Complex. Otto Moje drove in the go-ahead run and Genevieve Beacom kept things under control on the mound for the victory.

Southern Mariners Coach Ben Laux says the tournament was such an enjoyable experience. “We had a really tough draw facing eventual 4th place Cronulla, Adelaide, and a quality Swan Hills side from WA,” Laux said. “Overall Lismore is a great facility, and despite the weather concerns, the charter always enjoys their time there.”

The Mariners relied on their pitchers throwing strikes in the gold medal game. “They were relentless in filling up the zone even when defensively we could have been a little sharper,” Laux said.

The Mariners had a special motivation to finish on top. “This group lost the gold medal game two years ago in a Junior League game that went into extra innings very similar to this year’s final,” Laux said. “It’s been two years in the making to change the result our way.”

Great performances from up and down the lineup made a difference to the Mariners. “Tyler Ellis was clutch in the batter’s box in the gold medal game,” Laux said. “Lachie Smith had an outstanding tournament both pitching and hitting extremely well. Ryan Williams defence at first base was impressive over the week.”

Laux acknowledges how wonderful it was for the Southern Mariners Senior League to go out in style.

“The Senior league side has been special one for the Mariners since the inaugural 2017 team led by the very much loved Jack Larner that took the team to the World Series in Maine,” Laux said. “This year is the final year of charter baseball for 11 players in the squad which has seen them play and learn the game together since U12 Little League. It was a rewarding way to finish the journey.”