Tara Murray
Newport Rams women’s program continues to go from strength to strength, with a Baseball Victoria summer league women’s 2 premiership in their sights.
The Rams, who first formed a women’s side in 2020, have three female sides this season, two in division 2 and one in division 3 west.
While there’s different expectations for each of the three sides, it’s been exciting to see for coach Dean Anglin.
“We have been pretty ambitious with our women’s program,” he said. “Our first year in 2020 we thought we would have one team and ended up with two teams straight away.
“It’s been a bit of a grind to get a third team. We don’t quite have the numbers and we’ve forfeited a couple of times.
“We are sitting at about 30 players, ideally we would like 40 players next year and maintain three teams.”
The club has several junior players coming through into the side, many combining playing in the women’s sides and mixed junior teams.
The Rams top side which plays in division 2 sits second on the ladder with two rounds remaining.
They will finish the regular season in second spot.
Anglin said it was exactly where they wanted to be.
“We’re playing in division 2 for a second year in a row, their acquitting themselves well,” he said.
“We have two sides in division 2. One is clearly focusing on success and the championship, the other one is more about development.
“It’s on par with our expectations. We came in wanting to win the championship.”
Anglin said the group was keen to play in division 1, but they need to win the premiership to be able to do that.
He said they were hoping to continue their high level of play into the final couple of rounds.
On Saturday, the Rams top side won 19-8 against the Geelong Baycats, while the second side lost to the North Western Titans.
Meanwhile, Anglin is back involved in the state program after 12 months off.
“I’m the Victoria youth women’s coach, the under-16 team,” he said.
“I was the open coach for 13 years and then had a year off. I missed it so much and I wanted to get involved.
“I’m the youth coach for the next two years, it’ll be a nice challenge.”
The Rams division 2 men’s side had an 18-2 win against St Kilda on Sunday.
The Rams sit in fifth spot.
