NCAA College Recruiting Rules Changed

12 May 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

NCAA College Recruiting Rules Changed

The college baseball recruiting world has been turned upside-down after the NCAA Division I Council approved recruiting changes that will drastically alter recruiting forever. The new rules will eliminate recruiting communication between college coaches and players until August 1^st of Year 11.

The new rules make August 1st the first day when players and college coaches can communicate. The August 1st date will also be the first day 3rd parties can act as intermediaries between college coaches and players/families.

What does this mean for Australian Players?

Coaches AND Players cannot initiate communication prior to August 1 of Year 11
3rd party communication between a college coach and a club/state/national/travel ball coach to a recruit or recruits’ family is now against the rules prior to August 1of Year 11
No unofficial or official campus visits or off-campus contacts can take place prior to September 1 of Year 11

The new rules put an end to scholarship offers prior to August 1 of Year 11 and will slow the recruiting timeline down for players. It will even the playing field for our players in Australia as kids in the U.S won’t be able to commit at such a young age and take any of the scholarship money that is on offer. Going to the U.S for college recruiting purposes is no longer necessary until August 1 of Year 11 if you are wanting to speak directly with coaching staffs.

Families can now pump the breaks and learn about the recruiting process and college baseball before having to make any big decisions. The best advice moving forward is to enjoy the delayed recruiting timeline and use the additional time to prepare for a shorter window to make your decision by researching college baseball and college programs, taking time to understand the ins-and-outs of the recruiting process, and focusing on getting better in the classroom and on the field.

If you have any questions about the new rules and how it may affect you, please send an email to Andrew Riddell for individual discussions at andrew.riddell@baseball.com.au

04 May 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League

ondemand.baseball.com.au to feature all four Little League tournaments in 2023

Baseball Australia is pleased to announce that as part of our coverage of the 2023 Little League events we will be broadcasting diamond one games at each of the Australian Little, Div. II, Intermediate, Junior and Senior League events on ondemand.baseball.com.au.

Ondemand.baseball.com.au is a live and free streaming platform that gives coaches, players, families, and fans access to baseball anywhere in the world.

With over 25,000 registered users and a global reach into Japan, America, United Kingdom, Taiwan and more the channel is a free sign-on. Simply head to ondemand.baseball.com.au, click register, enter your details, and watch all the 2023 Little League events.

To keep up with game times and schedule changes please head to www.baseball.com.au, click EVENT HUBS and your designated tournament and follow all the schedule.

Baseball Australia would like to wish all teams participating in the 2023 Little League events the very best and thank our valued partners for your continued support.

The Australian Senior League Baseball Championship proudly supported by The City of Mandurah and hosts Peel Diamond Sports.

The Australian Intermediate League Baseball Championship proudly supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Event Program and Mildura Rural City Council.

The Australian Little League Baseball Championship is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

01 May 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Women's Baseball

WOMEN’S BASEBALL UPDATE EMERALDS 2023 WORLD CUP SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT

Off the back of a successful 2023 Women’s Championship hosted at Altona Ballpark in April, Baseball Australia is pleased to announce the Emeralds squad that will represent Australia at the 2023 World Cup.

With a group packed with experience and talented youth players, it is an exciting time for women’s baseball in Australia ahead of what will be a blockbuster year for international baseball.

Emeralds Manager Jason Pospishil will lead the group with the support of an accomplished coaching staff that includes Olympian and Major League Baseballer Chris Oxspring, World Cup Silver medallist and Women’s Team Victoria Manager Samantha Hamilton, Assistant Director of Baseball Operations and Women’s High-Performance Manager at Brisbane Bandits Lisa Norrie, Ursula Howard and Tammy Ong.

The squad will begin preparations immediately with Manager Jason Pospishil ready to change the game of women’s baseball.

“The quality of this squad is highlighted by the standard of players that just missed out on selection. We made it very clear to our playing group in 2019 what the international game demands and we are very confident that the 25 players we have selected can meet those demands. Due to the five-year hiatus of the Women’s World Cup, we are essentially “re-setting” the program and the coaching staff we have assembled are fully committed to building our program and achieving our goal of qualifying for the World Cup Super-Round stage next year in 2024.”

“The players are now fully accountable to preparing themselves to a standard that international play requires within their relevant State High Performance Program. The support that these players will receive from our High-Performance staff around the country will encompass current best practice methods so we are extremely confident that we will be as well prepared as can be heading into the tournament. I think the success of our WBC team highlights that we can compete with anybody on the world stage.”

Australia will be one of six teams placed in Group A with Canada, USA, Mexico and two qualifiers coming from the upcoming Asian Women’s Baseball Championship. The Emeralds will battle the competition in Group A action in Thunder Bay, Canada in August 2023.

Group B will take part in Japan in September.

Unlike other years and editions of the World Cup, this competition will take place over two years.

The Top Two teams from each group, plus two wild cards, will advance to the final group stage in August 2024 where the competition will return to Thunder Bay to determine the World Champion.

The 2024 tournament will be the ninth edition of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. Australia has traditionally fared well at the World Cup. They’ve finished in the Top 4 on six occasions with their best result being a silver medal in 2010.

Stay up to date with all the Women’s World Cup Baseball preparation on baseball.com.au and at our newly launched A League of Her Own Website https://www.aleagueofherown.com.au/

29 April 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League

2023 LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP LOCKED IN FOR BLACKTOWN

Baseball Australia with hosts Blacktown International Sportspark are proud to announce the 2023 Australian Little League Championship in Blacktown, supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

The event will run from 7-12 of June, 2023 and will host Little League Majors and Division II participants in what is going to be an action packed six-day event.

Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams acknowledges the huge support both on and off the field by everyone involved.

“The Little League tournament in 2023 has the continued support from the NSW Government through Destination NSW to provide participants with a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and play baseball.”

The Champion team will head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA for the Little League World Series in mid August.

Stay up to date via baseball.com.au for all the Little League information.

28 April 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League

WEST BEACH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO HOST #AJLC2023

The 2023 Australia Junior League Championship will be held at Barratt Reserve in West Beach, South Australia.

Baseball Australia today confirmed the five-day event will be hosted in conjunction with Baseball South Australia and will run May 29th to the 2nd of June.

Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams says it’s an action-packed time for Baseball with another key event locked away in the calendar.

“I am excited for Baseball around Australia as we lock in another Baseball highlight on the calendar.”

“Giving emerging baseballers the opportunity to play in a national event, with their friends who they compete with locally is a great feature of Junior League. West beach is a great place to run the event and I am sure the players and their families will enjoy the experience”

“Bringing together kids from across the country who have a common love of baseball is always a great site. I am sure the teams will compete hard for the chance to head to the USA, but regardless of the end result come away with some lifelong friendships”.

The Junior League champions will earn the right to represent Australia Region at the 2023 Junior League Baseball® World Series in Taylor Michigan, USA from mid-August.

Eastern Phantoms from Western Australia won the 2022 Junior League Championship, and this year’s representatives will be decided at the state championships later this month.

26 April 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League

2023 INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE RETURNS TO MILDURA

The 2023 Australian Intermediate League Championship will be held in Mildura from May 19-23 this year.

The Old Aerodrome Sporting Complex will host the event, which is supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Event Program and Mildura Rural City Council, across five days in May.

It will be the fourth time Mildura has hosted the event and fifth national championship since Intermediate League launched in 2018.

Mildura Mayor Liam Wood, is looking forward to continuing the long-standing partnership.

“It’s a partnership that has helped raise the profile of baseball in our region, as well as introduce our district to thousands of potential return visitors as we welcome players and teams from across the country each year.”

“I look forward to once again taking in the action and meeting the players when they return in May next year.”

Sunraysia Baseball League have hosted the Intermediate division the past couple of years with Wanneroo Giants WA, champions in 2022.

It was the Western Australian Wanneroo Giants who took out the Championship in 2022 Sunraysia Baseball League Secretary, Nick Carroll is thrilled to welcome teams and their supporters to the district.

“Along with our partners – Baseball Australia, the Victorian Government, Baseball Victoria, and the Mildura Rural City Council – we look forward to hosting another great tournament as the kids battle it out to represent Australia”.

Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams is looking forward to showcasing baseball in Mildura.

“Showcasing our sport across the country and into the regions is important, the Old Aerodrome Sporting Complex in Mildura is becoming the Intermediate league home away from home.

“With the support of the Victorian Government and local community it is becoming a highly-anticipated event on our calendar each year.”

The 2023 championships will head to Livermore, California USA, for the Intermediate League World Series, in late July.

26 April 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League

MANDURAH TO HOST SENIOR LEAGUE 2023

Baseball Australia confirmed the 2023 Australian Senior League Championship would be hosted in a brand-new facility at Peel Diamond Sports at Lakelands Park from May 8-12.

After being announced as the 2022 Australian Senior League Championship hosts, only to be relocated to Geelong Victoria due to C-19 border closures, Mandurah City Council is excited to welcome baseball back to the west.

Teams will travel to Mandurah from across the country and vie for the championship title, which was won by Victorian Charter Eastern Athletics this year.

The City of Mandurah and hosts Peel Diamond Sports will support the five-day event.

City of Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams said it would be great to welcome players and officials to Mandurah for the highly anticipated event next year.

“While it was unfortunate the event was not able to go ahead this year, we’re looking forward to holding these national championships in Mandurah for 2023,” he said.

“Our award-winning Lakelands Park facility is the perfect spot to host an event of this calibre, and will put Mandurah in the spotlight for a national audience. It’s also hoped the event will bring a number of benefits to our local economy.”

“We hope all players, staff and their families can experience everything Mandurah has to offer while they’re here, including our local businesses, cafes and restaurants, and range of tourism opportunities.”

It will be the first time Western Australia has hosted a national Little League event.

Baseball Western Australia chief executive Lachlan Dale said it was a great result to have the tournament return to Western Australia.

“In what has been a challenging number of years for not only Baseball but the whole community, we are looking forward to moving forward and bringing the ASLC back to the national event calendar.”

“It is a great opportunity for Peel Diamond Sports, City of Mandurah and the WA baseball family to get behind the tournament and showcase baseball in the west.”

The Australian Senior League Championship was first held in 2016, featuring players aged 13-16 and is played on full-sized diamonds.

Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams was excited to take Little League baseball to the region.

“We had to be agile in our movements around Senior League in 2022, now more than ever it is important to share key events on our calendar with the Baseball community. “

“Lakelands Park has received a significant investment and is a fantastic facility and we hope the event will boost baseball’s profile further in the area.”

The 2023 champions will head to Easley, South Carolina, USA for the Senior League World Series in late July.

21 April 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Women's Baseball

2023 AWC and AYWC Tournament Recap

The 2023 Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships proudly hosted by Baseball Victoria at the Melbourne Ballpark have concluded with outstanding performances, commitment, enthusiasm, and spirit. With an upcoming Women’s World Cup looming in August, the event proved to be a showcase for team selection and a snapshot into the future of Women’s baseball in Australia.

19 April 2023 By

- Aussies Abroad

Aussies Abroad: Hitters making waves overseas

Each week we aim to share some insight into some of the players that are currently playing baseball abroad. Today, we highlight some of the hitters who are making waves overseas.

Jarrod Belbin (Campbell University)

– After an amazing 2022 season where he hit .275 with 19HR and 58RBI’s, Victorian native Jarrod Belbin has continued his dominance at Division 1 Campbell University. After being named First-Team All Big-South last year, Belbin has now been selected as the conference player of the week three times so far including this past week. The infielder had a hit in all five games, including three multi-hit games. He also scored a run in four of them after starting the weekend series hot with a pair of home runs Friday night to drive in three. He wrapped up the weekend going 3-5 with two doubles, three more RBI and scoring three times. The senior second baseman is currently hitting .367 with 13 2B’s, 12 HR’s and 45 RBI’s and is also 18/18 on stolen bases this spring with a huge chance of being the next Australian taken in the MLB Draft later this year.

Zak Skinner (Vernon)

– 2022 was a big freshman year for the Victorian catcher finishing the spring hitting .417 with 16 2B, 7 HR & 48RBI’s. Zak has continued that into 2023 for Texas junior college, Vernon. Through 37 games, he is currently hitting .458 with a .524 OBP, 18 2B, 9 HR and 50 RBI. Through his 142 at bats so far, he has remarkably only struck out 12 times while walking 21.

Liam MacDonald (Odessa)

– U18 Team Australia Alumni Liam MacDonald is currently leading his Texas junior college team in almost all offensive categories. The infielder is currently hitting .448 with 15 2B, 10 HR, 62 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases. The Queenslander has been able to rack up 69 hits in only 42 games, really impressing in his sophomore campaign.

Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)

– Bazzana is no stranger to being on top prospect lists and continues to back up the hype with his bat at the highest level in college baseball. The Sydney-sider was named Freshman All-American at 2B for the Oregon State Beavers last spring and has somehow topped that so far this year with an even better first half. In 28 games, the left-handed hitting U18 Team Australia Alumni is hitting .347 with 11 2B’s, 3 3B’s, 3HR’s and 25 RBI’s in his first 31 games while adding 13 stolen bases.

Blake Cavill (Northwest Florida State)

– Another member of the U18 Team Australia roster in 2019 that finished 4th in Korea is carving his own path at nationally ranked Northwest Florida State. Cavill has been a mainstay in line-ups since his days with Cronulla at the Little League World Series in Williamsport and his progression has him at the top of a top-10 ranked junior college. After committing to Division 1 Western Kentucky University earlier this year, the sophomore has managed to hit .333 with 6 2B’s, 12 HR’s and 38 RBI’s. While the 12 HR is impressive and shows his power, it may be his discipline at the plate which is most sought after with only 11 strikeouts compared to 29 walks this season.

Chase Diggins (Odessa)

– The Perth native has put together just as good of a spring as his teammate Liam MacDonald at Odessa. Through 31 games, the middle infielder has 10’s, 2 3B’s, 3 HR’s and 17 RBI’s while hitting .437 and a huge .561 on-base percentage. His performances at the Texas junior college caught the eye of many Division 1 universities and he has recently committed to the University of Kansas in the Big 12 for his junior and senior years.

28 March 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Team Australia Women's Baseball

Australia's pathway in 2024 Women's World Cup of Baseball revealed

Australia’s pathway in the 2024 Women’s World Cup of Baseball has been revealed.

Group B will take part in Japan in September.

Unlike other years and editions of the World Cup, this competition will take place over two years.

The Top Two teams from each group, plus two wild cards, will advance to the final group stage in August 2024 where the competition will return to Thunder Bay to determine the World Champion.

For the full release from WBSC click here.

SUMMARY
– Two groups of six teams each will compete in 2023. One group is in Thunder Bay, Canada and the other is in Miyoshi City, Japan.
– The Top 2 of each group will advance to the final group in 2024. These games will be played in Thunder Bay in August 2024 where the crown of World Champion will be awarded.
– GROUP A: Canada, USA, Australia, Mexico, Asian Qualifier 2, Asian Qualifier 3
– GROUP B: Japan, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, France, Asian Qualifier 1

15 March 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Team Australia

Australia falls agonisingly close in World Baseball Classic quarterfinal

Story by Eric Balnar, photos by SMP Images, video courtesy of World Baseball Classic.

Australia’s run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic has come to an end.

Cuba’s three-run fifth inning was enough to squeak them by a pesky Australian squad, winning 4-3 in the quarter final. Cuba will now fly to Miami to play in the semi-finals.

It was another case of a Cuban close call for Australia. Cuba eliminated Australia at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the 2019 Premier-12 and now here. All games were by one run.

Australia showed they belong with baseball powerhouses.

Australia hung tough all game. They fell behind 4-1 in the fifth inning and battled back. They even had the go-ahead run on-base in the seventh and eighth.

When it was all said and done, Australia left 10 runners on base and had four innings with multiple stranded.

Rixon Wingrove starred with the bat, driving in all three Aussie runs. He had a huge two-run homer in the sixth to bring Australia within one.

The game ended with a cool moment of the entire Japanese crowd chanting Darryl George’s name – an indication of how much respect Australia gained from the baseball mad country.

FULL GAME RUN DOWN

Australia hit the scoreboard first.

A Darryl George double off the wall in the second inning put him in scoring position for Rixon Wingrove to cash him in with a base knock. George was noticeably pumped crossing the plate.

Australia fought for more in the third. They had a glorious opportunity with bases loaded and two out. But Cuban starter Yariel Rodriguez induced a ground ball to the shortstop to get Cuba out of a jam.

Starting the game for Team Australia was veteran left hander Steve Kent. He was in classic form.

Kent located his stuff well, conceding one hit, two walks and didn’t allow a run in two innings of work. It got Australia settled in the game.

They turned it over to Mitch Neunborn.

Cuba got in the board in the third inning, seizing momentum from escaping a bases load jam. After a walk and a double, Chicago White Sox star Luis Robert Jr tied the game on a fielder’s choice that cashed in a run from third.

Enter Australia defense. They stood tall with one out, two on and the heart of the Cuban order coming up.

The powerful Japan Big Leaguer Alfredo Despaigne drilled a ball on a line towards a gap by second base, but Robbie Glendinning continued his excellent tournament by robbing him of a base hit, taking runs off the board, and keeping the score tied through three.

Australia pressured again in the fourth. With one out, Rixon Wingrove and Logan Wade worked a pair of walks to put another runner in scoring position.

That chased Rodriguez from the game and brought in Miguel Romero – an Oakland A’s prospect with time in Triple-A. Romero got a strike-out and shallow pop-up to escape the jam.

Romero continued to pitch.

Australian bats kept turning the screws. Even if they weren’t scoring, they were always pressuring. Roel Santos robbed Tim Kennelly by catching a ball while leaping into the fence in the fourth. It may have saved a run, Alex Hall had a hit the next at bat.

Australia had a “Johnny All-Staff” approach again. Josh Guyer pitched a 1-2-3 fourth but a pair of baserunners forced him out in the fifth.

That’s when Cuba struck.

A soft contact hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with nobody out. Despaigne brought home one with a sacrifice fly off Sam Holland. Then, with Jon Kennedy on the mound, Yoelkis Guibert slashed a ball to right field to score two more.

4-1 Cuba.

Australia responded. Instantly.

Phillies prospect Rixon Wingrove continued his big day by sending a towering two-run shot to the moon (over the right field fence) to cut the lead to one.

Australia used xxx pitchers on the day. They were settled again in the sixth inning – after the Rixon bomb – by Melbourne pitcher Dan McGrath who worked a 1-2-3 inning.

McGrath followed it up with an outstanding pick-off move in the seventh to work his second scoreless inning. 4-3 heading in to the 8th.

Australia was able to get runners on first and second with one out in the seventh and eigth inning, but clutch Cuban pitching got them out of the jam.

Australia’s MLB veteran Warwick Saupold got the ball in the ninth. With a runner on second and one out, Robbie Glendinning snagged a line drive to double-up the baserunner and keep it a 4-3 game heading to the ninth.

Cuba got a 1-2-3 inning from their closer, to end Australia’s tournament.

—–

Thank you very much to everybody that tuned it. Australia showed they are right there with baseball’s big players.

We’ll be back.

BOX SCORE: Click here for MLB.com stats and summary.

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