By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
JUNIOR baseball will take on a definite American little league flavour with a new charter revolutionising the sport locally.
Geelong Baycats Little League Baseball Charter president Larry Meager welcomed the change from the traditional club-based summer competitions.
“The new league will focus on maximising participation and enjoyment,” Meager said.
“This is an exciting development for junior baseball in Geelong and represents a great opportunity for all children to play and develop their baseball skills.”
Meager said Geelong had a rich history as an elite competition, developing international class players like Major League baseballers dual New York Yankees World Series Winner Graham Lloyd and San Diego Padres and Arizona State University National Championship pitcher Josh Spence.
Geelong has also developed 10 players who have made it to American professional leagues as well as many others taking up college baseball scholarships, James Wood most recently.
“There will be an opportunity for kids to join the Geelong Baycats charter development squads for both under-12 and under-14 teams playing in Melbourne,“ Meager said.
“There’ll also be a Baycats All Star team of 14 players selected from the charter competition to compete in the Victorian Junior League State Championships over the Australia Day long weekend. If the side wins the championships it will progress to the national championships and potentially represent Australia overseas.”
Meager said games would be played on Wednesday nights and every second Sunday at Geelong’s top-level baseball complex in Grovedale, with training on the alternate Sunday.
“Training will be in the form of clinics for kids to improve skills, with access to elite coaches. Playing this number of games is a fantastic opportunity for our children to develop their skills and have fun.”
The season opener is scheduled for 25 October before a break for Christmas and the grand final on 9 March.
Meager encouraged new and prospective players to attend two Come and Try Days from 10am to midday on 1 and 12 October at Geelong Baseball Complex, oposite Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.
“Interested kids only need to bring a can-do attitude,” he said.
“There’ll be representatives from all the current Geelong baseball cvlubs and from Geelong Junior Baseball Charter to help players get setup and allocated to a club.”
Meager said anyone wanting more information could phone him on 0417 418 995.
