New women's baseball team launches

Mitchell Shire’s only women’s baseball team was launched at the weekend.

The Mitchell Majors hosted a free ‘come ’n’ try’ day on Saturday, August 20, at Minnit Park in Broadford.

The session was co-ordinated by guest coaches Samantha Hamilton, Bronwyn Gell and Amy McCann, who play for Australia.

These women have had 16 World Cup appearances for the Australian Emeralds between them, including the 2010 World Cup silver medal.

McCann, who sits on the Baseball Victoria board of directors, is eager to support women to try the sport.

“Baseball for women and girls in Victoria is such a great community and it’s so fantastic to be able to support the Mitchell Majors with their goal to start a women’s program,” McCann said.

“Baseball has given me so much in my life, so now I just want to do what I can to get more women and girls to experience the great things I have both on and off the field.

“(The) more girls and women playing baseball, the better.”

Saturday’s session involved a range of conditioning, throwing, fielding and hitting stations.

Mitchell Majors Baseball Club has welcomed women to play in mixed teams since its inception in 1998.

Club secretary Andrew Robinson is pleased to see the club grow to include a women’s program.

“We know that our club has been predominantly male since we started in 1998, but we are committed to making the experience for anyone who wants to play baseball at Mitchell Majors as inclusive and welcoming as possible both on and off the field,” Robinson said.

He said the come ’n’ try day was a great success.

“Everybody that was there had a great time. We had some new people come along, too,” he said.

The club’s home ground, Minnit Park, has recently received an upgrade which includes dedicated female change room facilities. majorsbaseballclub@gmail.com