By Parker McKenzie
Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club can look back on a season full of success, with every senior team and their under 18s qualifying for finals.
Club President Dwayne Richardson said the 2022/23 season was the most successful in recent history.
“Last year, we won the Division One Cup and that’s the first time in 20 years we’ve won it,” he said.
“To have our ones, twos, threes, fours, and women’s, 18s and both masters’ teams in finals this year is a huge overall success for the club.”
The club won the Division One Premiership after going on a 12-game undefeated streak, before winning the finals series and their first title since 2002.
Richardson said a long-term focus on building the community around the club has been the major factor in the successful season.
“People have recognised that it’s about more than just sport. We’re a second home for a lot of people and it’s the community that we’ve been focusing on building that has led to people enjoying themselves,” he said.
“When you enjoy yourself, you perform better whatever you’re doing. I really do believe that, and the great coaching we’ve got at the moment has contributed too.”
The club now has over 100 junior players, with four u12 teams, an under 14s and an under 18s.
Richardson said while the club isn’t as large as during the 1980s when he first joined and had 500 junior players, it is “on the rise again.”
“We’re going to continue to build our community, build the culture that we have down there and hopefully be able to continue to attract new people to the sport,” he said.
“That’s the big thing for us, getting more kids out the hills and getting them down to play our sport and hopefully then be able to continue to see the success that we are seeing on-field.”
The club also has a high chance of winning the Club Championships, which is the total tally of the top four teams at the club, after finishing second behind Essendon Royals last season.
Richardson said the biggest success of the year is the women’s team, which was established the previous season after 15 years without one at Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club.
“I think they won one game last year, they won one game before Christmas and then they’ve just gone five games in a row after Christmas to scrape themselves into the four and make finals,” he said.
“Two years after coming back into a women’s competition, that’s just if we can continue to grow all of those aspects that I’ve mentioned there, that would be what I would like to continue to see.”
The club also has two junior players who could potentially represent Australia at the u18 World Cup.
Richardson said baseball is a sport unknown to many in the community but he’d encourage people to give it shot.
“It can seem like a bit of scary sport, but come down and give it a go,” he said.
“There’s no harm in trying and you just never know if you’ll love it.”
Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club was founded in 1963 and is based out of Kings Park, Upper Ferntree Gully. You can find more information on the club at www.upweyftgbaseballclub.com
