Werribee Giants could have walked the easy path and remained in the second tier of women’s baseball in Victoria like so many other premiership clubs before them.
The Giants won last season’s division 2 title and felt it was incumbent on them to take a stand and move up a division to test themselves against the best in the state.
Giants coach Tony Culph understands the challenges ahead but said that for the club to progress and for women’s baseball to progress, it was a no-brainer to accept Baseball Victoria’s invitation to play in the top flight.
“Over the past five years the competition has let other sides win division 2 and just stay down there,” Culph said.
“When we won last year, we felt things had to change, so we voted for us to go up.
“We might not win too many games, but it’s for the better of the competition that whoever wins division 2 should go up.
“Other clubs have gotten away with it for too long. We hope to be competitive.”
Culph has a long association coaching women’s baseball.
He was the inaugural coach of the Giants and was at the helm of the Victorian side for eight years.
He wants to see further growth in the Giants women’s ranks and has entered a side in the third division.
To ensure it gets up and running, he needs more numbers and is urging potential players to contact the club.
“We’re right on the borderline,” he said. “If we can find some more interested people we can guarantee the second team.
“It’s a good bunch of girls and they all get along pretty well. They accept any new players and young players.”
The Giants top side will be up against it. It will be facing the cream of Victoria’s crop and it will start the season without one of the side’s stars, Marita Wyatt.
Wyatt was the Giants’ best hitter last summer, batting at more than .700, and plays in the important shortstop position.
A persistent back injury will keep her out of the round one line-up.
“She’s not going to start the season and might not even come back after Christmas,” Culph said. “That will put a hole in our line-up.”
Nikki Durovic will take on the bulk of Wyatt’s duties.
She is almost as effective in the batters box and is capable of trading her outfield position for one closer to the diamond.
“She’s a good player and has played in the Victorian provincial team for a couple of seasons,” Culph said.
The most important defensive duo will be pitcher Emma Pastowski and catcher Janine Culph.
Pastowski was one of the hardest working pitchers in the competition last season. She churned out a truck load of innings with incredible efficiency and was also the grand final pitcher.
“Everything revolves around her and we’ve got to hope the fielders back her up,” Culph said. “She pitches nearly every game, throws strikes and doesn’t walk too many.”
The new summer league baseball season will start on October 4 with the Giants on their home patch at President’s Park facing Doncaster.
