Australian Little League Championship rescheduled
Baseball Australia has confirmed the final rounds of the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championship will be completed on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July at Blacktown International Sportspark, Sydney, at no additional expense to competing teams.
The announcement comes following in-depth discussions with teams, the Australian Little League Advisory Panel, the Baseball Australia executive team, sponsors and Little League International, with a fair and reasonable conclusion to the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championship the collective aim.
The Championship, hosted in Lismore, NSW, had to be postposed following heavy rain and wind that swept the NSW and Queensland coastline last week.
Bendigo Bank, Little League Australia's major sponsor, will make a significant contribution, along with Baseball Australia, to ensure that an Australian Little League Champion will be crowned, and competing teams are not disadvantaged.
Baseball Australia CEO Cam Vale has been humbled by the generosity of the baseball community.
"Baseball Australia has been blown away by the support from our event partners," Vale said.
"In a unique and difficult period for the sport, it has been humbling to receive such generous support from a number of different parties, and we look forward to crowning the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Champion in the coming weeks."
Bendigo Bank's Chief Customer Officer, Marnie Baker said it was an easy call to make.
"Our partnership with Little League Australia goes well beyond our strong brand alignment with grassroots sport," said Baker.
"As soon as we heard the Championship was going to be rescheduled, we looked at ways we could help."
"Bendigo Bank is proud to back the Australian Little League and its families, and we look forward to a great Championship weekend in early July."
Baseball Australia would also like to acknowledge the continuous support that Little League International has provided during the entire Australian Little League season, with particular emphasis on the recent challenges during the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championship.
The top eight teams following pool play will contest the remainder of the championship, as four quarter finals, two semi finals, and the gold medal game will decide which team will represent the Australia Region at the 2017 Little League World Series.
Baseball Australia would like to thank Bendigo Bank, the Lismore City Council, Destination NSW, the Far North Coast Baseball Association (FNCBA), Baseball NSW, Little League International, all technical officials and the unbelievable FNCBA volunteers for their unwavering support during a challenging period.
Broadcast information and tournament schedule will be announced in coming weeks.
