Baseball Tasmania has outlined plans to resurrect a new Launceston-based competition for the first time in more than three decades.
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President David Searle has proposed to run a second league in the state, including clubs from Devonport, Burnie and the North-East, to coincide with the Hobart Summer Baseball League.
“We don’t have any sort of starting date sorted other than we start our [Hobart] competition in October and that’s the sort of date we’ll be looking at,” Searle said.
“The other scenario is to have representatives from Launceston come down and play us Hobart clubs, and we’d come up and play them throughout the season.”
The Hobart season that ends in March involves a six-club roster, but Searle said the number of Launceston teams would essentially be dependent on rising interest.
A Launceston Baseball League Facebook page has been gathered support since August 2016 for the proposal.
“We have a number of guys who are interested and have indicated they would like to play,” Searle said, “but there is no way at the moment, it is ready to grab the bull by the horns and run with it.”
Venues appear to be the biggest drawback. Churchill Park and Ulverstone have softball-purpose venues.
A baseball diamond at Maidstone Park in Spreyton will soon be demolished in favour of a gymnastics arena.
“I am a bit hesitant to impose upon softball,” he said.
“I much rather we have a standalone ground for the simple reason we can play our game all year around.”
The sport’s state body has been encouraged by Baseball Australia’s plans to bring an ABL side to Tasmania.
“That’s what the ultimate goal would be,” Searle said.
“But we’ve got to first get something started up in Launceston. It’s been some thirty-odd years since we’ve played in Launceston.”
Samuel Morrison relocated from Hobart to Launceston to study architecture at UTAS Inveresk campus.
But after missing Hobart club finals, this year’s league MVP has thrown his support behind a new competition.
“I’d be over the moon if a baseball league was to start up in Launceston,” he said.
“Being able to stay in shape and improve my skill would be amazing.”