Churchill Baseball Club Juniors excel at State Winter Championships

The Churchill Baseball Club's juniors have recently showcased their exceptional talent and dedication, representing the Latrobe Valley Baseball Association (LVBA) at the prestigious Baseball Victoria State Winter Championships. These championships, renowned for highlighting the best young baseball players in Victoria, have seen our juniors achieve remarkable success across various age groups and divisions.

U14 State Winter Championships Bendigo (June 29 - 30)

In Bendigo, four Churchill juniors competed in Division 2. Blake Duncan, Conner Gray, Hunter Duncan, and Hudson Duncan made the club proud with their performances. Blake hit a towering home run and pitched in the final game with Conner catching. Despite their efforts, the team finished as runners-up.

U18 State Winter Championships Wangaratta (July 6 - 7)

The U18 team, featuring six Churchill representatives, clinched the open division State Winter Championship in an epic final against Geelong, winning 7-6. Jarrod Thomas started the game on the mound, while Liam Duncan provided excellent support catching in the final. Jack Thomas played second base and closed out the game, Rhys McKenzie shone at shortstop, Connor McKenzie pitched a great semi-final game, and Riley Duncan's hits energized the team throughout the tournament. Looking back through the history books we believe that this is the first time any Latrobe Valley junior team has won a Division 1 Championship highlighting the remarkable achievement of this representative side.

U16 State Winter Championships Morwell and Traralgon (July 13 - 14)

The U16 State Winter Championships, held locally at Morwell and Traralgon, saw Churchill's three representatives contribute significantly to their team's success. The LVBA team won the Division 2 Grand Final, securing back-to-back titles by defeating Diamond Valley in a hard-fought final. Liam Duncan caught a fantastic game, Connor McKenzie excelled at first base and closed out the final as pitcher, and Blake Duncan led with the bat, picking up a hit in the final.

U12 State Winter Championships Werribee (July 20 - 21)

In Werribee, six Churchill juniors represented the LVBA in the U12 Division 2 Grand Final. Although they were narrowly defeated by a strong North Eastern Baseball Association team, their efforts were commendable. Hunter Duncan, Beau Saddington, Royden Williams, Hudson Duncan, Murphy Giles, and Kieghran Swallow all displayed great skill and sportsmanship. Notably, Hunter Duncan was awarded the Latrobe Valley Baseball Association's Most Valuable Player (MVP), a significant achievement voted on by opposition coaches.

The achievements of these young athletes highlight the bright future of the Churchill Baseball Club. Their dedication, skill, and sportsmanship serve as an inspiration to all, embodying the spirit and values of our club.

We congratulate all our juniors for their exceptional performances and look forward to their continued success on and off the field.