Lions roar in championship

By Paul Pickering
A PRIDE of Springvale Lions has led Victoria to a memorable victory in the Australian Women’s Baseball Championships.
Four Springvale players were among the Victorian team that claimed a rousing comeback victory against New South Wales to successfully defend their national title in Wollongong late last month.
Springvale’s Simone Wearne, Kellie Manzie-Novotny, Shae Lillywhite and Vic Brown all played significant roles in the Vics’ unbeaten run through the championships, while fellow Lions Bronwen Lasky and Kelly Wolfe represented the Victorian Provincial side.
In the final, it was Wearne who wrenched the trophy from New South Wales’ grasp, shutting out the challengers in the last four innings as Victoria recovered from a two-run deficit to win 3-2.
Wearne’s late-game heroics were not lost on head coach Leo Viviona.
“Simone called on her experience and kept us in there, showing what a champion she is,” Vivona said after the match.
Having returned from a serious knee injury last year, Wearne was used sparingly during the tournament in a bid to keep her fresh for the decider.
“It felt like I spent half the week pitching and half the week icing up,” Wearne said of her return to top-level competition.
“But (the final) ended up being a really good game.
“We didn’t have the strength that we’ve had in the past, but somehow we found a way to win.”
Having pitched in her sixth championship game and collected the tournament Pitching Trophy for the third time, Wearne has now decided to retire from the state team.
She is expected to be named this week alongside Manzie-Novotny and Lillywhite in the Australian squad for the Women’s World Cup in August.
According to Wearne, Manzie-Novotny’s all-round talents made her the most valuable player in the championships.
Manzie-Novotny assumed the catcher duties for much of the tournament, but pitched one game and fielded at third base in another.
“I wouldn’t be alone in saying she was probably the best player at the tournament,” Wearne said of her teammate.
Meanwhile, Lillywhite won the Golden Glove Trophy in recognition of her supreme fielding throughout the championships.