Perth Heat Secures Five-Year License Extension, Demonstrating Commitment to Australian Baseball League

16 June 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Perth Heat Secures Five-Year License Extension, Demonstrating Commitment to Australian Baseball League

The Perth Heat have solidified their place in the Australian Baseball League signing a five-year license extension with Baseball Australia and the Australian Baseball League (ABL).

Baseball Australia Chief Executive Glenn Williams saying the agreement highlights the Heat’s dedication to the league and their ongoing contribution to the Australian baseball community.

“We are thrilled to see Rory Vassallo and his group extend their commitment to the Perth Heat for another five years. The Heat has been one of the most successful teams in ABL history, and their outstanding performance during the 2022/23 season truly showcased their dedication and skill. We anticipate further growth and success for the West Australian team in the coming years.”

Since their inaugural game on October 27, 1989, where they faced the Adelaide Giants at Parry Field, the Perth Heat has established a strong presence in Australian baseball, winning 15 Claxton Shields, including six ABL championships, in short, the Heat is synonymous with success. Building on the momentum from the memorable 2022/23 ABL Championship series against the Adelaide Giants, the Heats license extension ensures their continued participation in the Australian Baseball League for the next five years with owner Rory Vassallo pleased to have secured the extension.

“We are super pleased to have extended our license agreement with this iconic West Australian team. As the longest-serving ownership group in the ABL, we remain fully committed to the Perth Heat and our local community. Preserving the essence of the Perth Heat is of utmost importance to us, and we eagerly look forward to collaborating with Baseball WA to provide an elite pathway for all West Australian baseballers.”

The Perth Heat’s legacy in Australian baseball is exemplified by their passionate fan base and their numerous accomplishments. From their memorable participation in the first-ever ABL game to their recent success in the finals, the Heat continues to captivate baseball enthusiasts.

This license extension not only reinforces the Perth Heat’s prominent position in Australian baseball but also demonstrates their unwavering commitment to the Australian Baseball League. The ABL looks forward to witnessing the Heat’s continued contributions to the sport and their invaluable role in shaping the future of Australian baseball.

13 June 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

ABL

Baseball Australia joins forces with Mad Panda Media & The Sponsorship Group

Baseball Australia and the ABL have joined forces with Gold Coast based Creative, Marketing and Digital Agency Mad Panda Media. Established in 2016, the MPM team have, and continue to work with a number of elite sporting teams and franchises, along with a suite of local, national, and international brands and businesses.

Mad Panda Commercial in collaboration with The Sponsorship Group have also been retained to assist with commercial sales for BA & THE ABL. Working closely with Chief Executive Officer Glenn Williams and Australian Baseball League General Manager Paul Gonzalez, MPM & The Sponsorship Group have been assessing, evaluating, and creating a number of commercial partnership opportunities for the league. TSG owner Paul Robinson & MPM Managing Director Jason Sintome have worked and collaborated for more than a decade facilitating a number of key sporting sponsorship partnerships including a major partnership for the Cronulla Sharks in Aramex and Front of shorts Partner Pilot Men’s Health.

Robinson has also achieved recent success with Supercars, A League Women’s, Richmond Football Club, Hobart Hurricanes, North Melbourne, World Surf League, Surfing Queensland & Tough Mudda.

The partnership was launched after lengthy discussions with Baseball Australia’s Executive Leadership team and with Paul Robinson saying The Sponsorship Group and MPM Commercial were excited to be working with the sport as it enters an exciting new phase.

“We are delighted to be working with Glenn, Paul and the broader team at Baseball Australia during what is a very exciting time for both the sport and the upcoming ABL season and feel that the time is right for the sponsorship community to embrace a product which is not only growing at an impressive rate here in Australia, but also internationally.”

Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams welcomes Mad Panda Media and The Sponsorship Group to Baseball Australia in what is an exciting time for the sport after the success of the World Baseball Classic and ahead of Australian Baseball League 2023 / 2024 Opening Day.

“Baseball Australia has seen significant growth and opportunity across Baseball in Australia, Team Australia and the Australian Baseball League, it is an exciting time to be able to work with a group such as Mad Panda Media to achieve commercial growth and to keep telling the stories of our athletes and what we do as a sport. To be able to share this news to key stakeholders, our partners, fans and a new international audience is a space we are motivated to achieve growth.”

Boasting decades of high-level marketing, media and digital experience, the Mad Panda Media team will collaborate with the Australian Baseball League to continue to grow and expand the sport domestically and internationally. With extensive experience working across NRL, AFL, NBL & Super Rugby, the Mad Panda Media team bring a wealth of knowledge to BA and the ABL, with Managing Director Jason Sintome pleased to be working alongside baseball Australia’s current Marketing, operations, and Executive team.

“We undertook a lengthy discussion and exploration phase to gain a greater understanding of the sports goals, operations and goals, and to ensure that as a business we were the right fit for Baseball Australia and the ABL, We were certainly encouraged by the administrations professionalism and drive to grow the sports reach and profile and we very much look forward to working with Kaitlin, Glenn, Paul and the team.”

07 June 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Women's Baseball

Indonesian Women’s Baseball Team creates history with some help from Australia

A few short days ago, the Indonesian Women’s Baseball Team achieved a feat that had seemed unimaginable just seven years prior. From May 21st to 30th, they proudly represented their nation in the 3rd Women’s Baseball Asian Cup held in Hong Kong, China, winning their Group B pre-qualifier to progress to the second round of the tournament.

Team Indonesia faced a challenging second round facing India as the winner of Group A, who only played two games in the pre-qualifier, while the other four teams they played against were fresh, having not competed in the pre-qualifier due to pre-qualification.

Everyone who watched Indonesia play were impressed with their skill, professionalism, approach, and their joy at being part of the tournament. This included the world’s best female pitcher, Ayami Sato (Japan), publicly reflecting on their performance on a social media post.

Indonesia finished 8th out of 12 teams, securing their first-ever ranking points and showing the world that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. This accomplishment was even more remarkable considering that women and girls were once restricted and discouraged from participating in baseball.

Thanks to initiatives like Diamonds in the Rough, a program aimed at empowering Indonesian girls through baseball, and the dedication of many local individuals, including the late Mr Djulondin Djang, (a passionate supporter of women in baseball), the landscape of women’s baseball in Indonesia has experienced a transformative shift, creating opportunities for these exceptional athletes to showcase their talents on a global stage.

For years, baseball in Indonesia was seen as predominantly a men’s sport, leaving limited avenues for women and girls to pursue their passion. However, in 2016, the Diamonds in the Rough program emerged, aiming to provide equal access and encourage female participation in baseball.

Led by Narelle Gosstray and a group of committed coaches and advocates, with support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Baseball Australia, the Diamonds in the Rough program identified and nurtured talented Indonesian girls.

What began as a small group of aspiring players quickly gained momentum, attracting numerous young women eager to break free from societal norms and embrace the world of baseball.

A key component of the program was equality, respect and leadership, and these aspects were supported by the NO MORE Campaign, an Aboriginal initiative created by Charlie King, AM, aimed at ending family violence.

While NO MORE is primarily a Northern Territory initiative, the issues faced in the NT and Australia are no different from those faced by girls and women in Indonesia.

Each program delivery included workshops and information sharing to raise awareness, and public demonstrations of linking arms to show a united approach to ending violence against women.

Diamonds in the Rough became a catalyst for change, reshaping perceptions and empowering female participants to overcome barriers. It also fostered a strong bond between Indonesian players, coaches, and their Australian counterparts. This collaboration paved the way for cultural shifts and inspired future generations to pursue their dreams in the game.

Diamonds in the Rough played a crucial role in creating a foundation for the team that participated in the Asian Cup. The inaugural program took place in Jakarta in February 2016, and two players from that program were part of this inaugural team. The program’s initial funding enabled two more successful deliveries in Indonesia in 2017 and 2018.

This all led to the formation of a girls team that competed in a series of friendly games in Brisbane in 2017, and then the Australian Youth Championships in Canberra in 2019. Seven players from the 2019 team competed in this Asian Cup.

Building on these achievements, Paul Mead, co-founder of She Maps, a program empowering girls in STEM fields, secured funding once again through DFAT to run a combined drone and baseball program in Indonesia. The first program under this funding took place in 2018, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Another She Maps – Diamonds in the Rough collaboration is planned for the end of June 2023, returning to Bali to expand on previous work and expanding to Surabaya at the request of the Indonesian Federation, the proposed location for the Indonesian Junior Girls National Championships later this year.

The dedication and perseverance of these extraordinary athletes, along with the support of programs like Diamonds in the Rough and She Maps, have transformed women’s baseball in Indonesia and serve as an inspiration to individuals breaking down barriers and pursuing their dreams.

Watch this space to see the Indonesian women’s program continue to flourish. The Indonesian team has two new short-term goals
1) To have women’s baseball included in the Indonesian National Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional – PON) held every 4 years. The next edition of PON will be held in 2024 in Solo, Central Java.
2) To participate again in the Australian Youth Women’s Championships as an invitational team in April 2024.

06 June 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Women's Baseball

Emeralds 2023 Group A World Cup tournament in Thunder Bay, Canada - Tour Details

SportsLink, Baseball Australia’s preferred travel partner, invites you to support the Emeralds in their 2023 Group A World Cup tournament in Thunder Bay, Canada.

Details below:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

05 June 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League

2023 AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP

For the Wanneroo Giants it was the championship game that proved to be their greatest test as the offensive juggernaut turned to their pitching staff as they grinded out a 3-2 victory over the Adelaide Marlins.

03 June 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Aussies Abroad

Aussies Abroad: Local Talent Recognised Through End-Of-Season Awards

As the college season starts to wind down, it is time to celebrate some of our young Aussies whose talent and efforts have been recognised by the conferences and regions they play in.

29 May 2023 By

- Little League

2023 AUSTRALIAN INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP

The Brisbane North squad came to play at the 2023 Australian Intermediate League Championship series in Mildura, Victoria. The undefeated tournament run was
capped with a 7 – 3 final game against the Ryde Hawks and earned the squad a ticket to compete internationally in Livermore, California.

26 May 2023 By

- Team Australia

U16 NATIONAL CAMP INVITEES ANNOUNCED

Baseball Australia has announced the invitees for the Under 16 National Camp. The camp, to be held in late September, will see 40 players from across the country coming into the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra completing the National Junior Program’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Players were selection based on performances at the 2023 Australian Youth Championships in Sydney last January.

The camp will see a combination of on field skill development, workshops with the world renown staff of the AIS, and the ability for players to test their development from across the state winter programs against their peers in a series of squad games.

Stay up to date with Baseball at baseball.com.au Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and ondemand.baseball.com.au for games live & free.

26 May 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Corporate News

Australian Sport Open Letter

Dear Sports Fans of Australia,

We, the representatives of leading sport organisations in Australia, come together to make this statement to all Australians who love their sport:

Sport has always served as a unifying force for our diverse Australian society.

Regardless of where we come from or what we believe in, sport brings people together in the spirit of achievement, community and celebration.

Moreover, sport plays a significant role in reconciling Australia.

It has long been a means for the inclusion and celebration of the incredible achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year, all Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

We, as a collective, support recognition through a Voice.

We believe our nation can achieve this profound recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first peoples of our country, in our Constitution. And that we should do that by ensuring Indigenous Australians have a meaningful say in shaping their own future.

We commit to using our platforms to lead conversations that promote respect, trust and goodwill between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

We commit to improving education and understanding among the Australians who play, administer and watch our sports.

We encourage all Australians who love sport to listen with an open heart and an open mind through this historic moment.

We respect that everyone is entitled to reach their own decision come the referendum.

Together we share a vision for the future as a nation that values equity, fairness and the rights of the Traditional Custodians of our land.

The land on which we play, love and celebrate sport in Australia.

17 May 2023 By

- Little League

2023 AUSTRALIAN SENIOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP

The Ryde Hawks unleashed a run barrage as they steamrolled their way through the 2023 Australian Senior League Championship. The dominant run began on Day 1 with a 10-0 victory and saw the squad post double digit run totals across the tournament in the lead up to the gold medal game against the Eastern Phantoms.

13 May 2023 By

- Aussies Abroad

Aussies Abroad: As the College Baseball Season Heats Up, so Too Do Our Aussies

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 players who are making waves overseas as the college baseball season heats up!

LHP Conor Myles (Odessa)

The southpaw has started 12 games for the Wranglers this spring going 6-1. From 53.2 IP, he has only given up 45 hits and 17 earned runs which is good for a 2.85 ERA for the year. The Baseball Victoria product has also punched out a significant 78 hitters. He will be taking his talents to the University of Texas – San Antonio for the next two years after this spring.

OF Keenan Spence (Howard College)

The Victorian native has had a huge spring for the Hawks. After this weekend, he is now hitting .348 with 11 2B, 23 HR & 63 RBI in only 50 games. To put that into perspective, if you averaged that out for an MLB season he would hit almost 75 home runs. A ridiculous show of power from the outfielder who has also committed to Purdue University for the next two years if he is not taken in the MLB Draft in July.

INF Brent Iredale (New Mexico Junior College)

The power has really started to show up for the Blacktown Workers and New South Wales junior. Brent has had a huge freshman year for the Thunderbirds tallying .416, 18 2B, 16 HR, 61 RBI and 15 SB while playing all across the infield splitting his 50 games between SS and 3B mostly. He has been a massive part of helping NMJC make a playoff push while going 43-12. They will head to Weatherford next weekend for the Region 5 Tournament and a spot at the NJCAA World Series up for grabs.

RHP Jaxon Forbes (Sussex County CC)

Forbes has been a huge part of the Sussex County Community College bullpen this spring. The Sydney-sider and MacArthur junior has put up phenomenal numbers as the closer for the Skylanders. Through his 15 appearances, he has thrown 18 innings, only giving up 3 earned runs while striking out 22. This has lead to 5 saves already and a 1.50 ERA.

Updates from our last post:

We spoke about Travis Bazzana at Oregon State and Blake Cavill at Northwest Florida State in our last post but felt they needed a special mention and update.

Travis Bazzana has just broke the Oregon State single-season stolen base record over the weekend by stealing his 30^th bag v Utah. Congratulations on a great achievement Trav!

Not to be outdone, Blake Cavill hit his 14^th HR of the spring yesterday and it happened to be a walk-off 3 run-HR to take Northwest Florida State to the Florida Regional Tournament. He was 4 for 6 at the plate with three singles and the blast in the bottom of the 9^th while the game was tied at 11-11. The Raiders will now head to Lakeland next weekend to try and win a spot in Grand Junction, Colorado for the NJCAA World Series.

Tune in for another Aussies Abroad update soon!

News