Baseball Victoria is thrilled to confirm Mildura will be hosting the Australian Intermediate League Championship (AILC) for the next four years in a joint partnership between Baseball Australia and the Sunraysia Baseball League.
This is a fantastic achievement for a regional baseball association that has contributed so much to the sport and provided countless opportunities for those outside of Victoria’s main metropolitan areas.
Following the championship’s successful debut on the Australian Little League calendar earlier this year, the Aerodrome Sporting Complex will welcome hundreds of players and fans for the second AILC from 17-21 June 2019.
Since its inception in 1979, Sunraysia Baseball League has a long history of hosting local, state and national tournaments, with the most recent being the 2018 U12 and U14 Victorian State Championships.
Baseball Australia chief executive officer Cam Vale said the tournament was another chance to showcase baseball in regional Australia.
“We have made a concerted effort to expose more regional Australians to high quality baseball,” Vale said. “The Sunraysia Baseball League has a long and proud history of hosting successful tournaments, and we’re looking forward to bringing the Australian Intermediate League Championship to Mildura.”
Sunraysia Baseball League president Nick Carroll said hosting the championship is an amazing opportunity for Mildura and regional baseball as a whole.
“We are thrilled and honoured to be chosen by Baseball Australia to host the Australian Intermediate League Championship,” Carroll said. “The support we have received from the Mildura Rural City Council has been fantastic, and we look forward to their continued support during the Australian Intermediate League Championship.”
This exciting event will draw new interest to the sport and expose local baseball players to the possibilities of representative teams. “This will be a great boost to our local baseball community and we are excited to be able to witness Australia’s best kids play some great baseball.”
This is a prime example of how, with the support and backing of Baseball Victoria, regional baseball organisations can achieve great exposure and have the chance to play a major role in some of the sport’s biggest moments across Australia. Baseball Victoria is committed to securing more events and national championships throughout the state to ensure all Victorians have access to incredible baseball experiences.
Baseball Victoria CEO Justin Huber says he’s beyond pleased with this result, which will recognise the Sunraysia Baseball League for the positive progress they’re making in growing the sport at a grassroots level, particularly in less populated regions where there’s so much potential for competitive teams and close-knit clubs.
“We are so pleased that Mildura will be hosting this national championship for the next four years. This demonstrates the commitment to our strategic plan for regional growth. Hosting state and national events to increase the focus on facility development, and the economic impact these initiatives bring regional communities, will continue be a major focus for our organisation long into the future.” Huber said. “This is a big accomplishment for the Sunraysia Baseball League, and a testament to their unwavering dedication to increasing interest and participation in baseball across the region.”
Baseball Victoria President Myles Foreman says he’s looking forward to the bright future ahead for Mildura and regional baseball. “This is an exciting step in a positive direction for our regional baseball community, and it will be wonderful to see so many members of the national baseball community visit Mildura for this championship. We are hopeful this will open new doors for future growth in the area, and we are proud to have supported Sunraysia Baseball League along the way.”
Perth’s Northern Metros were crowned champions of the inaugural AILC in May 2018, and represented the Australia Region at the Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California.