BENDIGO East Baseball Club are determined to make their sixtieth year a memorable one, even if it is marred by another COVID-19 lockdown.<\/p>\n
The club of about 40 seniors and 20 juniors would usually be found training at Ken Wust Oval in Quarry Hill and were set to take on season finals this weekend and next.<\/p>\n
But even with those games now on hold, the BEBC are working to increase membership and bolster Bendigo\u2019s baseball scene to support new competitions in the near future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking at regrowing the juniors,\u201d said president Trent Anglin. \u201cIt did drop down considerably a couple of years ago and it\u2019s just starting to rejuvenate again now.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother part that we\u2019re really pushing at the moment is trying to recruit female players back into baseball as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Bendigo Baseball Association actually have a plan in place to, within the next couple of years, try and have a female competition back up and running as they used to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Up to eight women train with the club, with a few currently playing in a mixed competition, but Anglin said recruitment into all levels of the sport can be \u201cvery difficult\u201d because of more popular options like football, basketball and soccer.<\/p>\n
Anglin picked up baseball 11 years ago and said the club\u2019s collective nature was what made the sport so enjoyable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe drawcard was the social aspect of it. Our club is very well known for its family values and the social atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great fun as well,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a really good team sport, everyone gets involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always looking for new people even if they don\u2019t want to be involved as a player to come and learn the umpiring side of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always background volunteer work that goes with it as well, there\u2019s team management roles, we\u2019re going to be looking for a new head coach next year as well so we can look externally as well as internally for that.\u201d<\/p>\n