By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club is celebrating a huge milestone, with seven of its junior players selected to represent at the upcoming Australian Little League National Championships in Sydney this June.
The group of young athletes were chosen for the Little League Majors team as part of the Rangers Baseball Charter after standout performances at the Victorian State Little League Championships in April. Out of roughly 50 kids who trialled, seven were from Upwey – a rare and proud moment for the club.
The club’s junior coordinator, Bel Sadler said the news brought a wave of excitement through the club.
“It’s just very exciting for them, and a fantastic opportunity for not only them as individuals, but also for our club, for them to perform at a national tournament,” Ms Sadler said.
“They were absolutely overjoyed and thrilled. They’ve been really proud to represent at the state championships, and then they’re absolutely thrilled to be going to the national championships.”
The tournament will be held in Blacktown, Sydney, from 8 to 13 June, and it’s a major step up for the young players, who will now face off against some of the best junior talent in the country.
Ms Sadler said the achievement is not only significant for those selected, but for the entire junior program at the club.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to see the potential and where baseball can take them,” she said.
“There’s the opportunity for them to see that they get to perform not only for state championships, but then also represent the Rangers at the national tournament.”
The club’s success, according to Ms Sadler, is the result of a strong commitment to developing young players.
“I think the club are really committed to their junior program and are working with the kids, with a number of skilled coaches,” she said.
“Our head coach, Donnie, invests heavily in juniors, and the investment in the junior program continues to shine through these players.”
Behind the scenes, a whole community of support has helped these players get to this stage, with families, coaches, and volunteers playing a crucial role.
“We have families taking kids to training, parents that are committed to them, not only investing time and energy, but also the financial costs,” Ms Sadler said.
“They’re currently fundraising. They’ve held a car wash, they’ve done a Bunnings barbecue, they’re doing a bake sale, and they have a fundraising page.”
Junior coaches at club level and volunteers within the Rangers Baseball Charter have also donated their time to help guide and support the players.
For Ms Sadler, the moment represents something even bigger – a reminder of the importance of grassroots sport in shaping young lives.
“Junior sport is such a positive experience for all children, and encouraging them to participate and to strive for their goals is really important,” she said.
“Sports are one of the biggest protective factors for any young children. It teaches resilience, life skills, teamwork, how to win, how to lose, and how to be a good sport.”
“It also provides a sense of community and connectedness. These group of kids that are going, not only do they get to play together at club level and have great friendships, but getting to do that on a national stage is just great.”
As excitement builds for the upcoming championships, the club and wider community are rallying behind their players, with fundraising efforts in full swing and plenty of support from parents, coaches, and volunteers.
“We just hope that they continue to love baseball and enjoy sports, and to achieve their own individual best outcome that they can as well as for their team,” Ms Sadler said.
