Today it has been announced that the 2020 Australian Youth Championships will be split across three Victorian venues from 10 -15 January.
Geelong Baseball Centre will host the U-16 and U-18 tournament for the first time since 2013, with Ballarat’s Prince of Wales Park and Melbourne Ballpark also hosting games.
Baseball Victoria is thrilled to host this prestigious event. “Baseball Victoria is looking forward to welcoming athletes from across Australia to these terrific Victorian venues for the 2020 Australian Youth Championships,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “We are excited to host this tournament and watch high-level baseball across the state of Victoria.”
Geelong is a passionate baseball region and are pleased with another major event in the area, made possible with the support of the City of Greater Geelong, Geelong Baycats and Saints Baseball Club. There will be more than 40 games taking place at Geelong Baseball Centre, including four medal games, and it will be an amazing display of the best in youth Australian baseball.
Preliminary games heading into the finals will be held at Melbourne Ballpark, home of the Melbourne Aces ABL team, and Ballarat where the Ballarat Royals play in the Victorian Summer Baseball League and Geelong Baseball Association.
Geelong Baseball Centre hosted the 2019 School Sport Victoria 18 Years and Under Baseball Championships, as well as the 2018 Australian Women’s Championships. Geelong Baseball Centre is also home to Geelong-Korea in the Australian Baseball League.
Splitting the tournament across three venues was part of Baseball Victoria’s intention to give participants a memorable experience that ranges across the state at different venues.
Victoria will look to defend its U-18 crown in Geelong, while NSW secured last year’s U-16 title.