The 2022 Australian Intermediate League Championship will be held in Mildura from May 22-26 next year.
Baseball Australia today confirmed Old Aerodrome Sporting Complex would host the event, which is supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Event Program, across five days in May.
It will be the third time Mildura has hosted the event and fourth national championship since Intermediate League launched in 2018.
Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams was looking forward to showcasing baseball in Mildura.
“The Sunraysia Baseball League have been fantastic hosts of the event and we can’t wait to return to Mildura again in 2022,” Williams said.
"Showcasing our sport across the country and into the regions is important and it’s warming to see events embraced like the Intermediate League Championship has been during its staging in Mildura. The support of the Victorian Government and Mildura Rural City Council, along with the SBL, has made Intermediate League a highly-anticipated event on our calendar each year.”
The Victorian Government has supported the event since it was first hosted in Mildura in 2019.
Mildura Rural City Council are also a major partner.
Mayor Jason Modica said it was great to see such a prestigious event becoming a regular fixture in the Sunraysia area.
“Hosting the Australian Intermediate League Championships is not only fantastic for growth of the sport in our municipality, it will also be a very welcome addition to our major events calendar given the impact of the pandemic over the past 18 months,” Modica said.
“We look forward to welcoming teams, supporters and event organisers to our region, and thank the Sunraysia Baseball League for its tireless efforts promoting and growing baseball in our region.”
Sunraysia Baseball League president Nick Carroll was looking forward to the 2022 event after a lockdown ended this year’s edition early.
“Hosting national baseball events is great for Mildura and helps boost the sport’s profile in the region,” Carroll said.
“We have such a rich baseball history and hosting national events not only allows us share that but adds more chapters to it. We can’t wait for the 2022 championship and hope we have many more national titles held in Mildura in years to come.”
Intermediate League provides players aged 11-13 the chance to transition from Little League to Junior League.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the national champion had advanced to the Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball World Series in the US as the Australia Region representative.
Australia could be represented by the 2022 national champions if international travel restrictions ease.