The Greater Western Baseball Association has had its entry in the New South Wales State Baseball League approved this past weekend, 13th June, and will face off against the best players in Sydney when the summer competition begins later this year.
A feeder competition for the Australian Baseball League, the news will see the local entry shift from Penrith Baseball Club in an aim to be more representative of the region, and provides full alignment of the high performance programmes in the area under the Greater Western Baseball Association.
“The Greater Western Baseball Association has continued to grow in strength and numbers over recent years,” said Greater Western President, Michael Bryan, “with the Clubs working well together and support for our Warriors representative programmes continuing to increase, it seemed like the right time to make the change in the best interests of the sport”.
“The Penrith Baseball Club has done a fantastic job since entering the competition, including a number of first grade premierships, and we are looking forward to having their support as we take on the extra responsibility to keep moving the sport forward.”
An agreement struck with the Penrith Baseball Club will see the Greater Western Warriors play their weekend home fixtures from the Andrews Road Baseball Complex, and include added insight on the Association’s planning and operational committee from Penrith’s President, Shaun Bowen.
“This alignment with the Greater Western Association will help ensure the future of high calibre junior baseball development in the West,” said Bowen, “Penrith Baseball looks forward to working alongside GWBA in helping juniors work towards reaching their potential”.
One of the key drivers behind the change has been the aim of keeping local talent playing locally, instead of opting to play in other areas in the same competition.
“We have had former Junior Warriors going on to make teams within the Australian Baseball League, represent both the NSW and Australia as well as playing on contracts overseas,” said Bryan, “we expect that these new arrangements to have a regional entry, will encourage players to not only stay in the area, but also return to play for us in the State Baseball League”.
The State Baseball League is planning to start on 12th September with nine teams across the Sydney Metropolitan region, as well as an entry from the Central Coast.
“It’s definitely exciting times, and now that we are able to formalise some arrangements that we had explored before being approved, it’s full steam ahead for what we expect to be a strong season.”