Geelong adds two clubs to women’s baseball scene

THE Geelong Baseball Association will welcome two more clubs to the fold in its women’s competition for 2023.

League co-ordinator and women’s chairperson Meg Fahy confirmed that Geelong baseball clubs East Belmont Saints and Guild Lions will be joining the association’s Women’s Competition this season, increasing the number of participating clubs from four to six and continuing a participation spike in the sport across the region.

“Last year’s season was extremely successful with eight teams competing and the finals series attracting crowds between 200 and 300 spectators,” Fahy said.

“The Grand Final was an absolute nailbiter, coming down to the last play and a walk-off hit to make the Bellarine Bears the premiers of 2022 and inaugural winners of the Perpetual Leanne Gibbons Shield.”

The 2023 campaign will involve returning clubs Bellarine Bears (two teams), Werribee Giants, Alfredton Eagles and Lara Wildcats, as well as Belmont Saints and Guild Lions.

While diminishing in the size of teams from eight to seven, Fahy said the increase in two new clubs will add variety and depth to the competition with round one slated to take place on April 30.

Matches will be played each Sunday, both home and away, for a period of 15 rounds, which will again be followed by two semi-finals played between Teams 1v4 and 2v3.

The Grand Final is scheduled to be played in late-August on Geelong Baseball Centre’s main diamond.

“Interest in women playing baseball has grown significantly since the introduction of the competition, because it is giving women an opportunity to compete in a sport that has for years been identified predominately as a male sport,” Fahy said.

“While women have always been welcomed by clubs into the senior competition, women with limited or no game experience were less likely to participate given the game can be quite daunting with new skills and rules.

“Our competition provides women of mixed abilities and experience to access the game, our motto we’ve been driving for the last three seasons has been to ‘learn the game and love the game’.”

The women’s competition will feature some of the country’s top female baseball talents, such as Nyah O’Brien (Victoria Women’s), Lily Kevelham (NSW Development), Ruby Benne (Victoria Women’s Youth), Amelia Wright (Victoria Women’s Youth) and Saya Turnley (WA Women’s Youth).

Fahy directed that any female baseball players keen to get involved in the competition can do so by going to the Geelong Baseball Association’s new website at geelongbaseballassociation.com.au