By NICOLE VALICEK
YOUNG ladies are being asked to step up to the plate and try out for a brand new women’s baseball team.
Newport Baseball Club will introduce a Women’s Baseball program for the 2013/14 summer season.
The RAMS briefly had a women’s baseball team in the late 1990s.
New club president Trent Curwood hopes that the re-introduction of a women’s team will ensure the Newport remains a strong family club.
He said it would also give the current female junior players a clear pathway to continue their baseball careers once they graduate from the junior program.
“Currently our junior girls have no option but to leave the club once they finish playing juniors,” he said.
“We hope the introduction of a women’s program sees them stay at the club well into their senior baseball careers.”
Kirsten Bezzina, 14, started playing baseball 10 years ago and joined the RAMS two years ago.
“Not many people know about it, it’s a good sport to get involved in,” she said.
“People should just give it a go because it surprises a lot of people.”
The women’s program at Newport will be led by former Victorian Women’s Team coach, Dean Anglin, with the backing of club coach, Grant Weir who is also a former Australian Women’s Team Coach and a strong supporter of women’s baseball.The club will host a Women’s Baseball Come and Try Day on Sunday 25 August starting at 12.30pm.
All women and girls aged 14 and over, with or without baseball experience are encouraged to attend.
Over the past two years, Newport has had 15 boys and girls represent the club in international tournaments in the U.S. and Japan, as well as over 35 who have played in other state and regional tournaments.
In addition to the Women’s Baseball come and try day, the club is also holding two junior come and try days on Sunday 25 August and 8 September both starting at 9.30am.
For more information, contact Paul Walshe on 0400 315 166 or ramsonline@optusnet.com.au.
