SUNRAYSIA Baseball League will welcome a new club next season with Mallee Bandits joining the competition in 2025.
The Bandits will be the league’s first new club in about a decade and will bring the SBL’s total to five.
The club will initially field a B-Grade side, with a C-Grade lineup a possibility but an A-Grade outfit unlikely.
The club is the brainchild of brothers Stephen and Cameron Edwards, who set upon the idea about two years ago.
The pair have played at various clubs for more than 10 years and agreed there was a big enough demand to sustain a fifth club.
“Our main goal is, one, we want to bring people back to the sport and, two, we want to bring new people in,” said Stephen, who will serve as club president in the inaugural year.
“Cam and I had been floating the idea for about two years and it’s come into reality in the last six to 10 months.
“A few things fell into place, some people showed interest and we formed the committee, and now we’re ready to give it a go.
“It’s been a team effort for sure. We’re looking forward to the season and looking forward to having a good first year.”
The club has secured Wanderers and SBL life member Graeme Witte as coach and will play at Newey Field, sharing the facility with the Eagles.
SBL president Kale McBain said it was great to have a fifth club enter as the league tries to rebuild after being hurt by COVID.
“It’s always a positive to have guys trying to work to expand the league,” he said.
“Baseball numbers have been unfortunately declining, especially through COVID, and haven’t bounced back as well as some other sports.
“The goal with the Bandits in attracting new players is an exciting approach.
“The guys are working hard and that’s positive.”
Stephen, 30, began his baseball career at Eagles a decade ago after playing in school while Cameron, 27, started earlier via the T-ball program run by Wanderers at Mildura South Primary School.
“I love baseball because it’s an individual sport based on a team performance and you can have an absolute stinker of a day on paper and still do everything right and help your team out,” the Bandits president said.
He said he was always amazed how quickly people came along in the sport.
“You see people come and they can’t throw or hit a ball but by the end of season they’re hitting it all around the park, on the base path, and making outs.
“We welcome people who have never thought about baseball, you don’t even have to play to have a good time, there’s plenty to do.”
Saying that, the club president said he thinks the Bandits B-Grade side will ruffle a few opposition feathers.
“I think we’re going to do really well,” he said.
“I think there is a good mix of talent there. I really think we are in with a chance, and I’m not just saying that to blow wind up our sails.
“On the day is what really matters, and if you do the right things throughout the season you have only got to be in the mix to have a chance.”
The club has already secured sponsorships from The Gateway Mildura, Enjoywine Chargrill and Bar, Ductmakers Sheetmetal, JK Mechanical Solutions, and Mildura and District Pest Management.
And Stephen said there was interest from players from rival sides looking for a fresh start.
“To have sponsorships and current players interested in moving across is, for us, just a show of confidence from the league and the community,” he said.
“They’re putting their faith in us and it just motivates us to keep pushing it forward and make it the best it can be.”
McBain said the fifth club might see divisions move to a top four, instead of top three, but finals would still be held over the same number of weeks.
The Mallee Bandits plan to start training in early February, on Monday and Wednesday nights, at Newey Field.
Go to the Mallee Bandits Facebook page for more information.
