Little League Champs returns to Geelong

THE state’s best young baseball talent will return to Geelong this weekend for this year’s State Little League Championships.

The Under 14 and Under 16 championships will be decided today, tomorrow, and Sunday, featuring six separate regional teams at the Geelong Baseball Centre in Grovedale.

Head coach of Western Mets, the region Geelong’s baseballers represent, Glen Morris, said the Geelong community is proud to be hosting this prestigious event again.

“A lot of training from our local players has gone into preparing for this year’s championships. A lot of work from the clubs hosting has been done as well,” Morris said.

“There’s a lot of excited kids ready to show off their talents and a lot of club representatives ready to showcase what the Geelong baseball community has to offer.”

The two age group brackets will enter a Round Robin format in their respective divisions with an age group champion to be crowned Sunday at the centre’s main diamond.

The event also provides a major economic boost to both The Guild All-Stars Baseball Club and East Belmont Baseball Club, conducting food and drink sales over the three days.

The top two ranked sides in each age group will also advance to the National Little League Championships in late-May.

Once qualified for Nationals, teams from each state will then compete to feature in the Little League World Series representing Australia and the Oceania region in California between August 14 and August 25.

“It’s safe to say the players are dreaming big this year,” Morris said.

“I wasn’t part of the coaching last year, my son was, but I’m excited to be a part of it this year.

“It’s sort of a different experience for me coaching this year, coaching my son, I’m excited for him and the whole team, but we’re also very lucky here in Geelong.

“We have a lot of great facilities, a lot of great fields, it should be another great event.”

Games will commence at 8.30am, 11.30am, and 2.30pm each day on all four diamonds.