THREE baseballers from Bendigo have earnt a chance to shine on the diamond with the new-look Victoria Belles team this season.<\/p>\n
Pia Amsing from Strathfieldsaye Dodgers, and Bendigo East clubmates Georgia Brown and Imogen Penna will team up in the all-girls Belles team.<\/p>\n
Their year will include the State Charter Championships, and All-Girls Nationals.<\/p>\n
Belles\u2019 coach Leah Trebilcock said the team was formed in 2023 to provide more opportunities for girls playing baseball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year I explicitly contacted regional clubs to make sure they knew about us, and I am so glad I did,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am excited to have three Bendigo girls join our squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cPia, Georgia and Imogen represent the untapped potential of baseball in our regions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Victorian Little League under-12 state titles will be at Knox in April.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s likely to be 14 teams from across metro and country regions in two divisions,\u201d Trebilcock said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Belles will be the only all-girls team at the event.\u201d<\/p>\n
A goal of the Belles is versatility and being able to play all positions on the diamond.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage the girls to be all-rounders,\u201d Trebilcock said.<\/p>\n
Two try-outs for the Charter Champs and two more for All-Girls Nationals drew 29 players.<\/p>\n
A venue for the All-Girls Nationals in May is yet to be declared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am hopeful that Victoria snags the rights to host the first All-Girls Little League National Championships,\u201d Trebilcock said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2023, the Belles competed against teams of predominantly boys at the national champs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly proud that less than a year later there\u2019s an entire All-Girls tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Training for Pia, Georgia and Imogen started last Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be one training session per week until the end of the summer season in Melbourne,\u201d Trebilcock said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe girls will have videos to watch and drills they can practice at home. Training will be upped to twice a week in March.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of tournament preparations some practice matches against boy\u2019s teams will be played.<\/p>\n
The Belles\u2019 coach said baseball\u2019s popularity is on the rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls and women’s is one of the biggest growth areas for baseball right now,\u201d Trebilcock said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost girls are playing in mixed teams at their clubs, that are still dominated by boys.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Belles provides an opportunity to play with and against their peers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also creates the first step in the pathway for girls that might want to represent Victoria at a senior level or even play for our national team, the Emeralds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trebilcock said she\u2019s rapt to be playing a role in the journey of baseball\u2019s future stars.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am able to provide them with opportunities that were not available to me,\u201d she said of her days growing up as one of few girls playing baseball in Adelaide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THREE baseballers from Bendigo have earnt a chance to shine on the diamond with the new-look Victoria Belles team this season. Pia Amsing from Strathfieldsaye Dodgers, and Bendigo East clubmates Georgia Brown and Imogen Penna will team up in the all-girls Belles team. Their year will include the State Charter Championships, and All-Girls Nationals. Belles\u2019 […]<\/p>\n