2023 Esther Deason Shield - Under 16 Girls

On behalf of the Victorian Government, I’d like to welcome you to the 2023 Under 16 Girls, Under 16 Boys and Under 23 Men’s National Softball Championships.

These championships are an important pathway for our future champions, and we’re proud to support them through our Significant Sporting Events Program, which helps organisations to deliver national, international, or regionally significant sporting events.

Since 2014, the Program has secured more than 570 events for Victoria, with more than 285 staged in regional Victoria, boosting local jobs and economies, and showcasing our regions.

The championships are being hosted at two venues – more than 320 Under 16 girls and boys will compete at the Waverley Softball Association in Wheelers Hill, while more than 100 Under 23 men will battle it out at the new world-class Craigieburn Softball Centre, home of the Hume City Softball Association.

It will be the first national competition held at the Craigieburn, which was made possible thanks to a $9.4 million investment from the Victorian Government, Hume City Council and Stockland Corporation.

Fans will be in for a real treat with our best up-and-coming and established stars in action, including members of our Aussie Steelers who were victorious in the World Championships in December.

For visitors to our wonderful state, I encourage you to explore the many natural attractions, wonderful hospitality and arts and culture the state has to offer. For more information, go to www.visitvictoria.com. 

I wish you all the best for your time here.

Steve Dimopoulos MP
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events
 

On behalf of Softball Australia, I’d like to welcome you to the Under-16 National Softball Championships here at the Waverley Softball Association.

The talent on display this week represents our future Olympians and international players, and to have them here at one of the best venues in the country makes this an exciting week for softball.

Much like our Under-18s, these young players will have an opportunity to impress our selection panel and earn an invitation to join the Aussie Diamond pathway, an important step in bringing through our next batch of Aussie Spirit and Aussie Steelers.

From a team perspective, expect Queensland and NSW to again contend in the Girls' competition. Between them, the two states have won every title in this age group since 2003. NSW will also be one to watch in both competitions as the defending holders of the two Under 16 shields.

I would like to again make special mention of the Softball Victoria and Waverley Softball Association teams who host us this week. An enormous amount of work has gone into a short period of time to prepare for the Nationals, and I thank you for once again helping us showcase these events.

On behalf of Softball Australia, I’d finally like to thank the many volunteers and staff who are either coaching, umpiring, scoring, or working around the diamonds this week. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making this week happen.

I trust you’ll all enjoy the emerging talent on display as our next generation of softball superstars compete for the prestigious Esther Deason and Arthur Allsopp Shields.

Best of luck to those competing this week,

Rosie Williams OBE

Chief Executive Officer, Softball Australia 

It is my great pleasure to welcome all team members, officials and supporters to the 2023 U16 National Softball Championships where teams will be vying for the Esther Deason Shield and the Arthur Allsopp Shield at Waverley Softball Association this year.

Softball Victoria acknowledges and pays respect to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we will gather for these events.  We respect their cultures and their Elders both past, present and emerging, and recognise their ongoing contributions to our communities, both softball and beyond.  I would also like to acknowledge and welcome any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be attending these events.

I would like to congratulate all players and officials for being selected to represent your State or Territory.  I am certain you will do so with great pride and spirit both on and off the diamond.  I cannot wait to see the wonderful and exciting talent that will be put on display during this tournament by those who are the future champions of our sport.

An enormous thank you must go to the organisers and volunteers who have already put so much time and effort into the preparations for this tournament.  We greatly appreciate your dedication and thank you for all that is still to come.

Best of luck to all for a successful championship, I hope you take home many happy memories with you from this tournament.

Sharni Arthur 
Chairperson, Softball Victoria

In our commitment to creating an inclusive child-safe environment Softball Australia has made the decision to not live stream this event. Spectators are asked to refrain from live streaming.

For more information about our commitment to Child Safety and Member Protection, please head to our National Integrity Framework page.

Ticket Pricing

Entry to this event is free, no ticket required.

Venue Map

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Officials

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Officials

Event Officials

Umpires

Statisticians

Click here to view Softball Victoria Contacts.

Office Location
Level 2, La Trobe Sports Stadium La Trobe University Melbourne Campus (Bundoora) VIC 3086
justin.zelones@softball.org.au
0414 871 540

Ground Location
Waverley Softball Association, 2-30 Jells Rd, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150

In addition to Softball Australia’s values and general Code of Conduct, as a spectator involved with Softball Australia, a Member State or an affiliated association or club activity must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during that activity:

1. Applaud good performance and efforts from all players and teams. Congratulate all players on their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
2. Respect the decisions of officials and coaches and teach young people to do the same.
3. Never ridicule or scold a young player for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.
4. Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by other spectators, coaches, officials or players.
5. Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
6. Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
7. Do not use violence, harassment or abuse in any form (ie do not use foul language, sledge or harass players, coaches, umpires, officials or other spectators).
8. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.