Home run for FNC baseball

BIG money upgrade in the works for Albert Park baseball complex in Lismore

SAFE: FNC Under-14s player Toby Fitzgerald on the run against Brisbane North in the Timberjacks carnival at Lismore last week. Picture: Contributed

AFTER many years of campaigning Thomas George and Kevin Hogan, in conjunction with FNC Baseball, Lismore City Council and Baseball Australia, has secured $2 million in funding for the upgrade of the Albert Park complex in Lismore.

Once completed it is estimated that Albert Park will generate over $9 million each year in the local economy.

This injection of funds will enable Baseball Australia to commit to hosting events, competitions and training camps for the next five years.

Albert Park will put Lismore on the world stage as home to Australia's premier baseball hub which will be a tremendous draw card for tourism to the region.

Queensland focus

FNC Baseball annual Timberjacks carnival was held last week in perfect weather and was an outstanding success.

FNC juniors will now be setting their sights on the Queensland State Titles in September.

The Under 16s will travel to Cairns while the Under-18s will contest their tournament from Brisbane/Gold Coast venues.

FNC will be hoping to secure places in the Queensland teams to move onto to the National Tournament in January.

No funds

Australian Baseball has received a zero funding allocation from the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport.

This is despite the Australian Senior team reaching eighth spot in the world ranking after the recent World Baseball Classic.

The future is bright for baseball after the Australian Under 23 team grabbed silver at the Under 23 World Cup held last November.

Baseball remains the most underfunded sport, both men's and women's, by a considerable margin despite being a sport on the rise and the recent success in both senior and junior ranks.

International series

Julie Bishop MP announced last week that there would be an international baseball series between Australia and Cuba in late 2018.

Australia is currently ranked eighth on the world stage while Cuba comes in at fifth.

The series would alternate between the two countries. This tournament will bring top level baseball to Australia and will provide both counties solid preparation in the lead up to the 2020 Olympic Games.

Full details will be released by Baseball Australia in coming months.