Bellarine Bears top the Division 1 and 2 ladders in the Geelong Baseball Association

A Bellarine baseball club is enjoying the fruits of a visionary junior T-ball program as the club sits on top of the GBA’s top two divisions.

The Bellarine Bears are enjoying the fruits of a visionary junior T-ball program as the club sits on top of the Geelong Baseball Association’s top two divisions.

Meanwhile, the women’s first grade continues to strengthen with three clubs joining the competition in 2023.

Bears secretary Matt Connell said the Bellarine-based T-ball competition, which began about a decade ago, had produced a number of juniors who had gone to play senior baseball in the GBA at Wallington Reserve.

One in particular is 16-year-old Division 1 pitcher Bradyn Barker, who overcame an elbow injury to perform strongly for Victoria at the recent School Sports Australia Championships.

Bradyn Barker pitches for the Bellarine Bears. Picture: Mark Lazarus.

“He was one of those original (T-ball) kids, he’s now pitching in the ones,” Connell said.

“He’s a very good player.”

The Bears are currently on top of the Division 1 and 2 ladders after dominant early seasons.

Until their first loss of the season in round 5, 10-5 to the Ballarat Royals, no team had got within four runs of the Bears in the top flight.

Barker (centre) with a representative Geelong team that took on the eastern suburbs in 2017. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The Bears also crushed second-placed East Belmont Saints last round, 7-1.

In Division 2, the Bears won their opening three matches, including 6-1 and 12-0 beltings of Deakin Blues and the Werribee Giants.

A Bellarine Bears player slides in against the East Belmont Saints. Picture: Mark Lazarus.

“We seem to have gained a lot of really good young players this year,” Connell said.

“What you’ll see in our twos is a lot of 15, 16, 17-year-olds.”

He said the Bears had also benefited from having a long term approach, giving younger players plenty of opportunities rather than favouring older members.

Barker has come through the junior ranks at the Bellarine Bears. Picture: Bradyn Barker.

It also boasted a strong spread of Under 16 players, an age when some find other things to do.

“A lot of clubs struggle in that age category which is understandable, it’s the year kids tend to drift off,” he said.

It comes as the GBA’s women’s competition is running at an all-time high, after the Bears initially fielded a female team in Division 3 several years ago.

“We’ve got two sides in,” he said.

“It’s starting to become a much better comp now.

“Werribee have joined for the first time this year, the Saints have joined, Lara have joined.

“It’s exciting. There’s lots of people out there having a go.”

Originally published as Bellarine Bears top the Division 1 and 2 ladders in the Geelong Baseball Association