Geelong Softball Association

Softball in Geelong began from a social baseball game between Geelong and Ballarat, at Victoria Park, Ballarat, on 29th August 1948, when girls on the trip joined in a baseball game and decided they would like to play softball.

Clarry Smith wrote to Melbourne for information and a rule book then approached Miss Hindell, President of the Basketball Association and Secretary of the Unity Club.  After several discussions she was convinced that a Softball Association could be formed in Geelong.

On the 4th October 1948, a meeting was convened in the Unity club rooms, Malop street and the Geelong Women's Softball Association was formed.

Office bearers were:

• President: Miss E. Hindell

• Secretary/Treasurer: Mrs G. W. King

• Vice Presidents: Mr Clarry Smith and Mr Col. Layton

Baseballers consulted their clubs for girls interested and on 16th October, 1948, a gathering was held at Sparrow Park, Geelong West, to teach the girls the rules of the game.

Fund raising efforts were held and after several practices six teams were formed with baseballers acting as coaches and umpires. 

The teams were:

• G.W.C. & F.C. (Home ground Sparrow Park)

• Guild (Claremont Park)

• Unity (Kardinia Park)

• St. Mary's (St. Josephs)

• North Geelong (Victoria Street)

• St. Johns (Manifold Heights)

 A Constitution was drawn up and competition began on 4th December, 1948.  The Grand Final was played at Sparrow Park on 2nd February, 1949, where Guild (Coach Col. Layton) defeated St. Mary's (Coach Bert McMurrick) for the first softball title.

In the 1949-50 season 14 teams were entered and softball has never looked back.

Although Geelong Association had only been formed a few weeks, they entered a B. Grade and Junior team in the Victorian Women's Softball Association (later the W.A.S.C. of Vic), championships at Ballarat, in March 1949.  Teams competing were Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.  Geelong teams were:

B GRADE JUNIORS

V. Cooper Val Jeffreys

N. Jenkins Barbara Harriot

E. Callander Betty Mcmanus

P. Wall Isabel Shanahan

R. Etherton Kath Canny

M. Ryan Winnie Juggins

U. Kelly Betty Stubbs

L. Hobbs June Rowe

M. Jenkins Della Evans

W. Metcalf Margaret McLean

L. Gibbon Beverley Peel

B. Allan Gwen O'Keefe

N. Wall Jean Noonan

M. King Heather Douglas

  Marie Byrne

Coach: Col Layton Coach: Clarry Smith

Scorer: M. Johns Scorer: R McDonald

Both teams did well and Geelong gained second place in both the senior and junior Field Games Aggregate.