Masters baseball event swings for the fences after funding boost

GEELONG’S baseballers will again be able to show off their skills after receiving a much-needed boost from the City of Greater Geelong’s latest round of funding.

The Geelong Baseball Association received $5,000 as part of the City of Greater Geelong’s second round of funding for their 2020-21 Community Events program.

The funds will allow the association to hold a Masters Baseball Carnival that caters to players across the state of Victoria over 35 years of age.

Cr Anthony Aitken saw the benefit of diverting funds to Geelong’s baseball community because it is relatively smaller in participation than sports such as football and netball, allowing them to again hold an event that was very successful last year.

“The grants program is a major initiative to try to get community-based events back in Geelong and COVID has destroyed community events for the past 18 months,” Cr Aitken said.

“We are really looking for opportunities for clubs and community-based organisations to get out there and try and create that social connection again and that’s what these events try and do.”

Local baseballer and member of the Pivot City Tip Rats, Glenn Morris, highlighted the social aspects of holding a tournament such as the Masters Baseball Carnival.

“It was really successful last year, people from all over the state came to play and it was great fun,” he said.

“There are a few teams that come to win, but the rest of us are here to have some fun.

“For instance, on the Saturday night we went out for dinner with our team where we ran into another team that we had played against the night before, we all had a drink together and we got to meet some great people.”

The Geelong baseball association is one of 11 clubs and organisations to receive a share of the $35,000 in the latest round of funding and mayor Stephanie Asher made sure to commend the recipients on their efforts.

“Local community groups, organisations and clubs make a massive contribution to the fabric of Greater Geelong and support the community’s mental and physical wellbeing,” Cr Asher said.

“It’s been incredibly difficult to plan and host events during the COVID-19 crisis, so I’m really looking forward to these events lifting the community and providing some much-needed respite.”

A full list of recipients in the latest round of funding can be found on the City of Greater Geelong’s website.