A third-generation player at the Newport Rams, Dean Malthouse is proud to be following in the footsteps of his father Darren in coaching the club in preparation for the Baseball Victoria summer league division 1 season.
Malthouse, a playing assistant coach last season, has agreed to take on the position indefinitely in a caretaker capacity while head coach Matthew Lawman tends to a busier than normal work schedule in the run-up to Christmas.
It will be a seamless transition for Malthouse, who was heavily involved in day-to-day decisions last summer.
The 28-year-old sees his role as merely a continuation of the foundations put in place last season.
“We’ve already set a path forward for the future, so it’s continuing Matty’s great work,” Malthouse said. “I know the challenges we will be facing. My dad was the coach a few years ago, so it’s nice to give back to the club and help them develop and take the next step from what I was doing last year.”
Since Malthouse was a six-year-old, the Newport clubhouse has been like a second home.
It provided a solid platform for him to carve out a baseball career that has included representing Victoria in the Claxton Shield and playing college baseball in the US for Texarkana and Southern Arkansas.
Malthouse is the reigning club most valuable player, so remains at the peak of his powers on the field.
“It’s felt like a second home for most of my growing up until I went off to college,” Malthouse said.
“That hasn’t really changed – there’s so many committed people around the club and it’s driven by a family environment.”
Malthouse has identified first-team depth as the main issue that needs to be addressed over the winter.
The Rams have already gone some way to alleviating the problem thanks to three highly-rated acquisitions this month. They secured an import in Jimmy Jensen, a starting pitcher from California.
Jensen is playing in the French baseball league, where he is an all-star.
“He’ll be over for the first game,” Malthouse said. “He’s committed and ready.”
The Rams have also brought in South Australian duo Chris Doyle and Sonny Beaumont. Doyle is a utility, while Beaumont plays outfield.
“We felt like our top-line talent was very good,” Malthouse said.
“But the fringe players, those 10th to 15th on the roster – we want to fill that up and then it creates a real challenge for spots.
“If your ones are a bit short, they take your twos, then they become a bit short and take your threes.
“We were pillaging all of our lower grades more often than what we would’ve liked.”
