HIGH FIVE FOR BASEBALL INITIATIVE
THE Gold Coast Baseball Association was put on the world stage this week when they hosted the first official Baseball5 game in Australia.
With the world baseball and softball confederation in town for the Sports Accord summit, Gold Coast Baseball was given the first look at the new five-a-side, five innings urban version of the game when a number of representative players got the chance to play the first official Baseball5 game in Australia at Kurrawa Park.
Even former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was in attendance to watch the new offering and sign a Baseball5 game ball.
“Baseball5 is a new, entrylevel urban baseball product,” said Gold Coast Baseball Association director of coaching Kevin Fenn. “It removes the need for heaps of equipment and space to play the game so you’re removing your footprint.”
Baseball Australia’s participation programs manager Scott Hillier outlined the game’s value.
“The game is played with your hands and only requires a ball so the accessibility makes this a game for all and able to be played everywhere,” he said.
The trial games saw some of the Gold Coast’s best junior talent take to the field, including Hannah Marshall who was recently named tournament MVP at the national youth women’s baseball championships.
While the players transferred traditional skills with ease, the speed of the game surprised many.
“It’s a very quick, dynamic game and I think most of the games were over within 15 minutes,” Fenn said.
“Basically you’re active for the whole time you’re playing. You’re having to make multiple efforts because the ball is always in play so you don’t have the opportunity to rest unlike normal baseball where you might strike out and then have to be active in the game again.”
Fenn flagged that the new concept may soon form a permanent part of the Gold Coast baseball landscape.
“It’s definitely something we’d target, especially in school programs,” he said.
“It’s easy to implement in a physical education setting and removes those risk factors.
“We’re hoping that it’s a transitional game and kids will play it and think ‘I wonder what traditional baseball is like,’ and come and play.”
“THE FORMAT AIMS TO ATTRACT YOUR NONTRADITIONAL BASEBALL PARTICIPANT.
GCBA’S KEVIN FENN