2023 Laing Harrow Shield - U23 Men

Softball Australia acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 

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-23 Men’s National Softball Championship here at first-time-hosts Hume City Softball Association, in what is sure to be an exciting few days.

This week, athletes will compete for the Laing Harrow Shield, named in honour of the Australian softball legend who represented Australia at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Men’s World Championships and now coaches the Aussie Spirit and Steelers national teams.

The Under-23 Nationals was first introduced in 2004, and provides an important step on the pathway for players coming out of the Under-18 age group, as they continue their development towards the open level.

As such, many athletes this week will be out to catch the attention of selectors with the U23 Men's Softball World Cup to be held in Argentina this April.

Queensland will be out to continue their dominance in this age group, having won the past four titles from 2017-2022, while NSW will be bringing a strong team to try and break the Maroons streak. VIC and the ACT are also fielding quality men’s softball teams, so every game should be tightly contested.

To all of our players, coaches, volunteers, full-time staff from the Member States across the country and to our hosts Softball Victoria, thank you also for your hard work and dedication to making this week happen.
With plenty to play for, expect nothing short of world class competition at Waverley over the next four days, and I look forward to seeing who hoists the Laing Harrow Shield at the end of the tournament.

Best of luck again to all,

Rosie Williams
Chief Executive Officer, Softball Australia
 

It is my great pleasure to welcome all team members, officials and supporters to the 2023 U23 National Softball Championships where teams will be vying for the Laing Harrow Shield at Hume City 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

Officials

Officials

Officials

Officials

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
Hume City Softball Association, 18 Rhyolite Drive, Craigieburn VIC 3064

Event Officials

TBA

Umpires

Statisticians

Ticket Pricing

Entry to this event is free, no ticket required.

Venue Map

Click on map to expand.

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.