Club Portfolio
One of attractive attributes our club has is the abundance of junior talent that has come through the ranks, but more importantly, that is currently playing within our junior and senior teams. One of our main aims over the previous two seasons was to make sure that we didn't lose too many juniors that so many clubs experience in all sports during the confusing teenage years.
We are proud to report that this goal has come to be and we will strive to keep the momentum. With the continued support and encouragement that the club provides to our young players has resulted in their willingness to be long time committed players/members. The enjoyment they continue to find both on and off the field is fantastic to see. We currently have a team of players who have played with each other from tee ball through the ranks and is this year playing together at senior level.
It is through our continual preparation, professionalism, good management and hard work that we can continue to move forward toward our goal of being at the top end of the Association and be the club that other clubs aspire to become.
From a Sheep Paddock to a Giants Kingdom
Werribee Giants Baseball Club was formed in 1983 primarily as a Winter Baseball Club to give players from the VBA Summer Competition somewhere to play in the Winter. After several years playing in the Geelong Baseball Association the Club decided it was time to step up and joined the Victorian Baseball Association in 1994.
Werribee is a very progressive club. The club, with the support and help of the Wyndham Council, have transformed the Land of the Giants from it’s very humble beginnings where the club played on what could best be described as a sheep paddock. It had a good diamond, but no clubrooms etc. to what now rates as an exceptionally complex. Our improvements to its' grounds is a continual project.
Our club has grown to such an extent on the field that Werribee now boasts one of the largest registered players lists in Baseball Victoria. Last season Werribee fielded 4 senior teams, 2 women's teams, an U18, an U16, 4 x U14 teams and 6 x U12 teams. We also had 65 Tee Ball participants. This year we are adding an U15 Girls team and another womens team to our portfolio.
Giants Offer
Phil Balzer
Our Club is a host to the U12 Japanese vs Australia Series held on a yearly basis. This is a fantastic series to view with apx 5 Junior Japanese all star teams, 1 NSW, 1 South Australia and 4 Victorian All Star teams participating. The baseball grounds are full of activity as we can hold up to 6 games at one time.
One of our talented coaches who this year has taken on the Head Coach position for Senior players is Phil Balzer. Phil is one of Victoria’s experienced players who represented Australia at the age of 18 and continued his success playing in the US at 20years and later with The Melbourne Bush Rangers. He wears many hats over the years including club Head Coach, Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach for our club and Regional/State teams in the various age groups. The Werribee Giants are lucky to have such an experienced and dedicated member. Along with Phil are many other dedicated and experienced members to take part in many aspects of the running and success of our club.
Another coach who recently joined our club is long time player/coach Tony Culph. Tony better known, as Culphy has been the Women’s Provincial Head coach for a number of years, his experience and knowledge is truly a benefit for players from junior to senior level.
We are proud to announce adding to the credentials of coaches Balzer and Culph, our club has at present 12 accredited coaches and 8 accredited umpires.
Each season eager applicants put their hand up to coach our junior players all with enthusiasm to take on the great task in developing a group of children to young adults and turn them into remarkable players. It is because of these dedicated men and women that we can produce such talented players.
Just last Summer season we saw achievements of Oliver Box who was presented with the Under 16 and Senior’s 2nd team MVP trophies, Ryan Balzer won the U18's MVP and Junior Club-person
award and Tayler Rowe won the 1st Senior team MVP. At 14, 16 and 16 years old respectively, these boys are the future of the club along with a number of other junior players coming through the ranks. Our aim is to continue breeding these exceptional players.
One of the major benefits that the juniors, and the club receives as these juniors come through the system, is that they learn to play the game the right way in a positive and fun manner, they are taught a club culture that we as individuals and teams need to embrace if we are going to rise to the top of the Association. This cannot be done without the valued participation of players, members and family support.
Another Key member of the club is Mark Riches. It is truly amazing what Mark does for this club. There is one trait that drives good clubs forward and that's passion, passion for the game and for the club. Many of our members are willing to jump in and do what it takes to make our club successful. However, Mark’s passion goes beyond what is expected. As a Junior Coordinator his drive and devotion is what a successful club needs to help push the club forward. Remembering the future of the club is dependent on our junior players.
There are many involved with the running of the Werribee
Giants Baseball club both in the lime light and behind the scenes, maintaining
and managing the club. This is a big task and it cannot be done without so many
willing to help out. It is because of our wonderful players and family who are
involved and support our club that it has such a friendly and wonderful
atmosphere that makes it comfortable to make the “Land of the Giants” our second
home.
Many players and parents choose our club for the enjoyment, to make friends who have the same interest, to be active and keep fit. Playing club ball is all they need and want. The Werribee Giants are happy to maintain their interest at this level. However, many of our players strive for more intense competition. For these players the Werribee Giants has been successful in breeding these elite players. We have had several players making representative teams and have had the chance to travel within Australia and Overseas. In the last 12 months we have seen players from our club play for Regional and/or a State Representative team.
Each Representative team will have apx 14 players on the team. This means our club has done extremely well when you look at the number of players trailing to make these teams in some cases there could be 80 players or more.
Success over the last 12 months:
· 2 x U12 made the Regional team, 2 x U12 made a State Representative team.
· 3 x U14 made the Regional team and 6 x U14 made a State
Representative team.
· 3 x U15 (Girls) made the State Representative team
· 1 x U16 made the Regional team and 2 x U16 made a State
Representative team.
· 6 x U18 made the Regional team and 4 x U18 made a State
Representative team and 1 x U18 made the Australian team.
Two of our young and very talented players made Australian
history. Yochim twins Harley and Preston were the first two
players ever to make the Junior All World Series All Star Team.
This team was comprised with the best of the best around the
world who played in the Cal Ripkin Baseball Series.
Our club has also helped develop players such as Shane Lindsay who signed to play in the US. We are very proud to boast our very own home grown player, we have been involved in his development and achievements every step of the way since he joined us in the U12s. Tayler Rowe is currently playing with the U18 as well as in our senior side and is one of this years top prospect has been signed to play in the US.
Tayler Rowe
Due to the talent our club has produced these players over the years have had opportunities to travel all throughout Victoria, NSW (Sydney and Lismore), South Australia (Adelaide and Mount Gambier), Queensland, Alice Springs and Western Australia. Other players have had the opportunity to travel to USA (Florida, Cooperstown and Maryland) and New Zealand.
The Werribee Giants has a unique club environment where many of our junior players have become involved in various aspects of the club and the game.
Their participation has ranged from helping in canteen, setting up the ground, umpiring and coaching.
We have several juniors who have completed their level 0 and level 1 umpire coarse and 1 U18 player who is currently completing his level 2 umpire certificate. Werribee Giants boast more junior players who umpire games than any other club in the association.
Phil Box a tee ball parent, unfamiliar with the game of baseball joined our club a few years back. Since that day his son stepped on the diamond neither have looked back. Phil has become passionate about this fantastic game and started umpiring a game here and there, now he is one of the most accomplished umpires in Victoria umpiring both at a national and international level.
We also have had several juniors who have successfully completed their level 0 and level 1 coaching coarse. Again Werribee Giants have more junior players coaching games than any other club in the association.
We support and encourage all players whether it is at club level just for fun and fitness or for the more serious at representative level. If a player wants to learn more about the game and look at other avenues such as umpire, scoring, coaching or becoming a committee member the resources are available for them.
Therefore, no matter which game you play, whether it is a player, coach, umpire, scorer, committee member or spectator the Werribee Giants has it all!