For the first time since 2017, the North East Baseball Association were hosts to the Baseball Victoria’s under 18’s baseball carnival.

This carnival was held in Wangaratta on the Wangaratta Baseball Softball Sports Club’s diamond at Targoora Park.  North East entered a squad of 16 boys and girls who played together for the first time although North East players had never played in a carnival situation before.  They had some of the leagues most experienced leaders in team manager, Keith Quinn, coach Ed Simmons and assistant coach, Nathan Pool to show leadership.  The carnival was played as a round robin with each of the six teams playing one another.  The weather did not allow for good baseball but the clubs had the diamonds in good condition.

Although North East won only one game out of the five they played, the experience that these young players gained from more experienced teams from Latrobe Valley, City West, Ringwood, Dandenong and Geelong was something that they will carry forward into their baseball future.

Nick Jonker from Wangaratta Rangers was voted the North East’s most valuable player by the opposition coaches.

North East Baseball Association get another chance this weekend to show their future when they send another rep team to Bendigo for the Victorian Baseball U14’s carnival.

North East Baseball Under 18’s Squad ~ Top row - Nathan Pool- ass coach, Nick Jonker, Heath French, Baylin Ford, Zac Gower-Jones, Angus Weal, Kaleb Hoare, Ollie Chambers, Ethan Edwards, Sayah Parley, Keith Quinn - manager, bot row - Austin Clear, Hunter Wilson, Joseph Lotan, Liam Cathie, Ollie Gray.

Absent - Mikayla Jonker, Lachlan Rosser, Eddie Simmons - coach, Steph Odewahn - scorer