Women’s baseball reached an exciting milestone in City West on Sunday, with the opening round of the first-ever Women’s Division 2 Red competition delivering big moments, strong spirit and a memorable start to the season at Essendon’s Chris Lane Field.
The new competition marks another important step in the continued growth of women’s baseball across the MWBL, which has proudly supported women’s participation in the game for more than 30 years.
Point Cook took the field for the first women’s game in club history against a powerful Sunshine lineup. While Sunshine claimed the win 22–5, the result only told part of the story, with Point Cook showing plenty of fight in a valuable first outing for the new side.
Sunshine’s Lily McKenner delivered one of the performances of the day, finishing with four hits and eight RBIs, including a grand slam.
The late game between Alfredton and Essendon then produced an instant classic.
After Alfredton fought back with three runs in the top of the fifth to level the scores at 14–14, Essendon looked poised to walk it off with bases loaded and none out.
But in one of the defensive moments of the round, Alfredton turned an incredible triple play to escape the innings and secure the draw.
More than just results, Sunday showcased exactly what makes winter baseball special — competition, community and new opportunities for women and girls to be part of the game.
If Round 1 was any indication, the Women’s Division 2 Red season is going to be well worth keeping an eye on!
