We are excited to announce two new staff members joining the Baseball NSW team.
 
Coen Wynne joins us as the Baseball Development Officer and reports directly to the Baseball Development Manager.
 
Coen recently completed his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and graduated from Grand Canyon University in Arizona where he was a player and leader on the collegiate baseball team.
 
Fortunately for us, Coen has returned home to Sydney and is now responsible for the development pathway and providing opportunities for underpinning athletes and coaches within the membership of Baseball NSW. Since Coen’s return home to Australia, he has signed a contract with the Sydney Blue Sox as a pitcher in the ABL.
 
Karen Doane joins us as the Communications & Media Manager and reports directly to the CEO.
 
Karen has a long history of working in the sports communications and media space around the world, including the Hawaii Ironman, Reebok, and NBC Sports. While growing up in California, she played and umpired baseball throughout her primary and senior years of school. You could say baseball is in her DNA as her great-great-grandfather, James “Deacon” White, was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 (he invented the catcher’s mask and glove).
 
Karen will be responsible for creating and implementing the communications for Baseball NSW with the team.
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Leaving the Baseball NSW dugout
 
As with all teams, we have a few members who have recently departed Baseball NSW to pursue other opportunities.
 
Jodi Napoli, who held a position as our Accounts Manager, has moved on to bigger and better things with Blue Mountains Council.
 
Michael Ibbotson (Ibbo) has accepted the General Manager role at Cabramatta Bowls Clubs. As you may know, Ibbo holds a vast amount of love and knowledge for the game of baseball and remains in contact with us here at BNSW. We thank him for his contributions to our team and wish him all the best in his position.
 
Garry has been a loyal servant to Baseball, and we sincerely appreciate his contribution to the sport and will continue to be involved some level with local and state baseball programs. We wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.
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We have a new accounts manager starting in February. All account-related enquiries are still to be directed to accounts@baseballnsw.com.au where they will be attended to.

Baseball in New South Wales will enter an exciting new era in 2022 with Baseball NSW and Australian Baseball League franchise, the Sydney Blue Sox, joining forces to launch ‘The Baseball Academy’. With a shared vision to provide increased opportunities for the state’s future stars to develop their skills in a variety of environments and scenarios, The Baseball Academy will provide the support and training needed to compete at the elite level.
 
The Baseball Academy will provide an extension to the existing high performance and development programs conducted through Baseball NSW, by offering additional opportunities year-round through:

• specific squad-based programs
• speed and agility programs
• video analysis sessions
• camps and clinics
• private and semi-private tuition
• inbound/outbound tours.

 
Both Baseball NSW and the Sydney Blue Sox will oversee the management and delivery of The Baseball Academy with players and coaches from the Blue Sox forming part of the coaching staff. This is an invaluable resource as they impart their experience and knowledge onto the younger generation of baseball players in NSW.
 
Whilst maintaining some presence at Blacktown International Sportspark, The Baseball Academy will focus on providing increased local access for all players across NSW, with opportunities being made available to participate in the program at a number of local club baseball venues (to be announced shortly).
 
Baseball NSW CEO, Mark Marino commented on the significance of combining forces with the Sydney Blue Sox and the importance of a united approach in this space.
 
“We are thrilled to be joining the Sydney Blue Sox franchise in this next step in growing baseball in NSW and Australia,” said Marino. “Working together with a shared vision and goal is the very thing we look to share with the baseball community and our members as a whole. The Baseball Academy is the first step towards more teamwork and synergy, which we are thrilled to be a part of.”
 
Mark Wilton, CEO of Sports Management Australia, and Licensee for the Sydney Blue Sox shared his excitement about the partnership and aligned vision for the Blue Sox organisation.
 
“The Baseball Academy has always been part of the Blue Sox vision and philosophy,” said Wilton. “Through tailored programs, we can help as many kids as possible by providing more opportunities to all players. This gives baseball a wider reach to all players coming up through the ranks.
 
“The Baseball Academy will be able to service all levels of players wishing to keep improving their skillset and have longevity within the sport. The partnership with Baseball NSW has always been strong and will continue to strengthen our long-standing relationship by providing an environment in which players can reach their goals.”
 
As part of The Baseball Academy, a number of school holiday camps and clinics will be held over the December/January School Holiday period at various locations around the State. These camps are aimed at kids between 5-15 years old and cover all aspects of the game of baseball and t ball as they develop their skills on and off the field, in a fun environment. To find out more about these holiday camps, please head to the Sydney Blue Sox website.
 
Stay tuned for more details in early 2022.

​Round 1 of the Sydney Cup is in the bag. Baseball NSW is extremely grateful for the efforts of the volunteers from the Pittwater Baseball Club and Castle Hill Knights Baseball Club respectively for hosting at short notice.
 
Thanks also go to the umpires for doing a fantastic job considering the change of venue due to the wet weather. It was great to see players across the three age groups back on the diamonds and competing with smiles on their faces.
 
Stay posted for Round 2 updates.

To Our Members,
 
As of today, December 15, all people in NSW have been granted the same freedoms, regardless of their vaccination status with changes including:
 
Exercise and recreation

• No person limit in gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities.
• Indoor swimming pools open for all purposes.
• Community sports are permitted for all staff, spectators and participants.

 
Masks and QR codes

• Masks will only be required on public transport and planes, at airports, and for indoors front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.
• Masks will be strongly encouraged in settings where you cannot social distance.
• COVID-19 Safe check-ins only required for hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funerals or memorial services, personal services (including sex services), pubs, small bars and registered clubs, nightclubs, strip clubs, sex on-premises and indoor music festivals with over 1,000 people.

 
For additional information, please refer to the resources below.

• NSW Health and Education Public Health (COVID-19 General) Order (No 2) 2021
• NSW Office of Sport COVID-19 Information

 
Should you have any queries relating to the changes in the Public Health Order, please contact us at COVID@baseballnsw.com.au.