Lily Bell-Tanner has no plans to slow down on her baseball journey anytime soon. The 15-year-old is chasing her sporting dreams and looking ahead to a big summer season as she chases a premiership victory with Springvale Lions Women’s Division 2 team and prepares to try out for the Victorian Youth Women’s State Team again.
An avid outfielder who also plays first base, Lily has fallen in love with baseball after first taking the field four summers ago. Since then she’s enjoyed four fantastic years of baseball that have included strong campaigns with St Kilda Baseball Club, where she started playing, as well as state representative sides. Through it all, Lily has grown as a player and a person, and she’s found greater strength and confidence from her baseball experiences. “I am passionate about baseball and love to play,” Lily said. “I enjoy playing team sport and learning from coaches, being part of the club and making good friends.”
Lily’s love for the game has been fostered through her travels to America and Japan, where she’s been lucky enough to see a few games, including her favourite teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Osaka Hanshin Tigers. She’s also had the chance to paly for the Southern Mariners all-girls teams in the 2016 and 2017 state tournaments, an experience she cherished.
From Australian Emeralds clinics to the prospect of a professional women’s league in Australia, Lily is excited by what she’s done so far and what she may be able to accomplish in the future. “I have found there to be lots of cool and exciting opportunities for me as a female baseball player,” Lily said.
For a long time, Lily wanted to play for the Victorian Youth Women’s State Team, and she fulfilled her dreams earlier this year when she represented her state at the Australian Youth Women’s Championships in Canberra. She was thrilled to make the team and come away with a bronze medal. “It ended up being a really challenging but fun experience, with a bunch of awesome girls,” Lily said. “Although it is amazing to come home with a bronze medal it was also great knowing I had made so many friends.”
Over the course of her blossoming baseball career, Lily has learned how to persevere, train hard and work well as a team. After batting .500 at the Australian Youth Women’s Championships, Lily has found her stride at the plate, and she looks to take her skills to the next level. “I aim to represent the state again this summer season, and continue to work towards playing for the national team one day,” Lily said. “Outside of baseball, I just want to keep doing well at school and I plan to travel every opportunity I can.”
With a bright future ahead of her, Lily is inspired by her teammates and she looks up to her past and present coaches, including Shae Lilywhite, Bronwyn Gell, Ursula Howard, Chevy Stephenson and Kellie Manzie. “They have all taught me so much about baseball and being a team player.”