2025 Melbourne Intervarsity Report

The 2025 Intervarsity Baseball Tournament brought together university teams from across Victoria and New South Wales for a weekend of competitive baseball. The University of Sydney IV team showcased resilience, depth, and strong teamwork across five games against top opponents including University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, Monash University, and RMIT University. Sydney finished the tournament with three wins and two close losses, highlighted by strong pitching, hitting, and aggressive baserunning.

Game 1: vs RMIT University

Score: Sydney 11 – RMIT 6

Sydney jumped out to an early lead with a seven-run first inning. Xi Zhang drove in three runs, and Kiran Myutel-Mansur and Toshihiko Iwai-Wong added key hits. The team drew nine walks, stole four bases, and turned a double play in a strong all-around performance.

Game 2: vs University of Melbourne

Score: Sydney 7 – Melbourne 5

USYD secured a 7–5 win in their opening match, powered by strong contributions from the bottom of the lineup (Louis Kawesch, Jean Ahn, and Tim Tseng) and early extra-base hits from Ash Egan and Damian Man. Jean Ahn pitched three innings with three strikeouts, while Reuben Siegel stole two bases to help seal the game.

Game 3: vs Monash University

Score: Monash 3 – Sydney 2

In a tight pitchers’ duel, Louis Kawesch struck out 11 batters over four innings, while Damian Man’s home run and Reuben Siegel’s steal of home tied the game twice. Monash pulled ahead late in the game to secure a narrow win over Sydney.

Game 4: vs La Trobe University

Score: Sydney 9 – La Trobe 1

Sydney dominated from the first inning, capitalizing on early errors and consistent hitting. Jean Ahn, Reuben Siegel, Tim Tseng, and Kyumin Park each collected two hits, while Toshihiko Iwai-Wong threw four solid innings with six strikeouts. 

Final Game: vs Monash University (Championship)

Score: Monash 7 – Sydney 1

Despite a solid defensive effort with no errors and three stolen bases from Damian Man, Sydney fell short after Monash’s five-run second inning. Louis Kawesch struck out six, and Kiran provided Sydney’s only offensive hit in the final.

This tournament not only provided valuable game experience but also strengthened the team’s connection with other university baseball programs. Looking ahead, the club is excited to continue building on this momentum with more intervarsity opportunities in 2026, including planning an Easter competition in Wagga Wagga with the University of Melbourne and a potential inclusion at Uni Nationals due to the success of the 2025 Melbourne Intervarsity.