Bendigo Bank signs new partnership with the Australian Baseball League

Bendigo Bank has signed deal with the Australian Baseball League (ABL) and Baseball Australia have signed a deal with Bendigo Bank, as their major partner for the next three years.

The announcement was made today by Australian Baseball League CEO, Peter Wermuth and Bendigo Bank Executive, Marnie Baker.

Under the terms of the deal, Bendigo Bank will be the naming rights partner of the popular Australian Little League Championships, which gives 11 and 12-year-old ballplayers the chance to represent Australia at the Little League World Series in the USA.

Australia is the fastest-growing nation in the world in terms of Little League participation, with nearly 9000 active ballplayers nationwide, so Bendigo Bank's support of this event will allow it to connect with a significant part of the grassroots community.

The Bank will also sponsor the Kit Out Your Club campaign, where one lucky community club will be provided with brand new uniforms and/or equipment for their coming season.

When the new ABL season opens on 23 October, the Bendigo Bank Baseball Buddies program will allow grassroots clubs to line up with ABL teams on field prior to the first pitch of every ballgame. During games, Bendigo Bank will sponsor a variety of in-stadium activities, from giving kids the chance to sprint across the field in the Kids Diamond Dash to running the bases after select ballgames.

The new partnership also includes the creation of the video series Bigger than Baseball, highlighting the ways Bendigo Bank contributes to its local communities.

"The true heart of the Australian Baseball community is the ballplayers whose passion for the game blossoms at a young age," ABL CEO Peter Wermuth said.

"Given Bendigo Bank's strong community focus, we're once again thrilled to partner with them as they share our common values of community and building a strong foundation for an even greater future."

Bendigo Bank Executive, Marnie Baker, said the Bank is delighted to be involved in this new initiative and the continued growth of baseball across Australia.

"Organisations like the Australian Baseball League, and Baseball Australia, play such a vital role in the social and sporting development of young people.

"And that's a great thing for any community - one that Bendigo Bank is keen to support," she said.