Baseball Victoria is thrilled to announce the head coaches for the 2020 Australian Youth Championships.
Under 18 Blue – Marshall Skinner
A well-known Victorian player and Level 4 accredited coach, Marshall returns to lead the U18 Blue team for the third year in a row, building on the program’s success after winning the 2019 Gold Medal Game. Marshall has spent the past two years as the Southern Mariners Charter Head Coach, and he’s also worked closely with athletes in Baseball Victoria’s Development Pathway as an Aces Academy Coach. Marshall enjoyed 34 years with Preston Baseball Club, and his decades of playing and coaching experience has given him the necessary skills to push State Team athletes to perform at the highest level.
Under 16 Blue – Scott Meager
Scott has been coaching U16 State Teams since 2011, when he served as an assistant coach for the U16 White Team. As Head Coach of the U16 Blue team, his squad has won two silver medals in 2016 and 2019. Most recently, Scott was an assistant coach for the U12 World Cup Team and he also coached Aces Academy. He is a well-known player who has reached 300+ senior games for both Williamstown Wolves Baseball club (Victorian Summer Baseball League) and East Belmont Saints Baseball Club (Geelong Baseball Association). Scott once represented Victoria as a junior player, and his personal experience playing for State Teams has helped him connect with players and capitalise on their strengths.
Under 16 White – Ben Laux
A successful Junior League Coach for the Southern Mariners and the 2019 U18 White team Head Coach, Ben will serve as Head Coach of the U16 White Team for the 2020 Australian Youth Championships. He’s a fellow Aces Academy Coach, and Ben also has coaching experience as Moorabbin Panthers’ Club Coach, as well as U18 and U23 representative teams. Ben enjoys helping players reach their goals and giving them the tools and guidance they need to make the most of an opportunity to represent their state on the national stage.
The U18 White Head Coach will be announced shortly. Together these individuals will lead the Victorian State Team Program through another fantastic year at the Australian Youth Championships. Baseball Victoria Talent Development Manager Damian Shanahan says he is confident the program will continue to thrive under their watchful leadership and guidance.
“I’m pleased we have Marshall Skinner, Scott Meager and Ben Laux returning to coach the 2020 Victorian State Teams,” Shanahan said. “They are proven leaders who are dedicated to developing players and helping them become the best baseball players they can be, which ensures another exceptional year for our program.”
These Head Coaches will get right to work preparing for the State Team Program, with registration for try-outs now open.
