29 May 2023
The Brisbane North squad came to play at the 2023 Australian Intermediate League Championship series in Mildura, Victoria. The undefeated tournament run was
capped with a 7 – 3 final game against the Ryde Hawks and earned the squad a ticket to compete internationally in Livermore, California.
26 May 2023
Baseball Australia has announced the invitees for the Under 16 National Camp. The camp, to be held in late September, will see 40 players from across the country coming into the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra completing the National Junior Program’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Players were selection based on performances at the 2023 Australian Youth Championships in Sydney last January.
The camp will see a combination of on field skill development, workshops with the world renown staff of the AIS, and the ability for players to test their development from across the state winter programs against their peers in a series of squad games.
Stay up to date with Baseball at baseball.com.au Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and ondemand.baseball.com.au for games live & free.
26 May 2023
Dear Sports Fans of Australia,
We, the representatives of leading sport organisations in Australia, come together to make this statement to all Australians who love their sport:
Sport has always served as a unifying force for our diverse Australian society.
Regardless of where we come from or what we believe in, sport brings people together in the spirit of achievement, community and celebration.
Moreover, sport plays a significant role in reconciling Australia.
It has long been a means for the inclusion and celebration of the incredible achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year, all Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
We, as a collective, support recognition through a Voice.
We believe our nation can achieve this profound recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first peoples of our country, in our Constitution. And that we should do that by ensuring Indigenous Australians have a meaningful say in shaping their own future.
We commit to using our platforms to lead conversations that promote respect, trust and goodwill between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
We commit to improving education and understanding among the Australians who play, administer and watch our sports.
We encourage all Australians who love sport to listen with an open heart and an open mind through this historic moment.
We respect that everyone is entitled to reach their own decision come the referendum.
Together we share a vision for the future as a nation that values equity, fairness and the rights of the Traditional Custodians of our land.
The land on which we play, love and celebrate sport in Australia.
17 May 2023
The Ryde Hawks unleashed a run barrage as they steamrolled their way through the 2023 Australian Senior League Championship. The dominant run began on Day 1 with a 10-0 victory and saw the squad post double digit run totals across the tournament in the lead up to the gold medal game against the Eastern Phantoms.
13 May 2023
Each week we aim to share some insight into some of the players that are currently playing baseball abroad. Today, we highlight some of the players who are making waves overseas as the college baseball season heats up!
LHP Conor Myles (Odessa)
The southpaw has started 12 games for the Wranglers this spring going 6-1. From 53.2 IP, he has only given up 45 hits and 17 earned runs which is good for a 2.85 ERA for the year. The Baseball Victoria product has also punched out a significant 78 hitters. He will be taking his talents to the University of Texas – San Antonio for the next two years after this spring.
OF Keenan Spence (Howard College)
The Victorian native has had a huge spring for the Hawks. After this weekend, he is now hitting .348 with 11 2B, 23 HR & 63 RBI in only 50 games. To put that into perspective, if you averaged that out for an MLB season he would hit almost 75 home runs. A ridiculous show of power from the outfielder who has also committed to Purdue University for the next two years if he is not taken in the MLB Draft in July.
INF Brent Iredale (New Mexico Junior College)
The power has really started to show up for the Blacktown Workers and New South Wales junior. Brent has had a huge freshman year for the Thunderbirds tallying .416, 18 2B, 16 HR, 61 RBI and 15 SB while playing all across the infield splitting his 50 games between SS and 3B mostly. He has been a massive part of helping NMJC make a playoff push while going 43-12. They will head to Weatherford next weekend for the Region 5 Tournament and a spot at the NJCAA World Series up for grabs.
RHP Jaxon Forbes (Sussex County CC)
Forbes has been a huge part of the Sussex County Community College bullpen this spring. The Sydney-sider and MacArthur junior has put up phenomenal numbers as the closer for the Skylanders. Through his 15 appearances, he has thrown 18 innings, only giving up 3 earned runs while striking out 22. This has lead to 5 saves already and a 1.50 ERA.
Updates from our last post:
We spoke about Travis Bazzana at Oregon State and Blake Cavill at Northwest Florida State in our last post but felt they needed a special mention and update.
Travis Bazzana has just broke the Oregon State single-season stolen base record over the weekend by stealing his 30th bag v Utah. Congratulations on a great achievement Trav!
Not to be outdone, Blake Cavill hit his 14th HR of the spring yesterday and it happened to be a walk-off 3 run-HR to take Northwest Florida State to the Florida Regional Tournament. He was 4 for 6 at the plate with three singles and the blast in the bottom of the 9th while the game was tied at 11-11. The Raiders will now head to Lakeland next weekend to try and win a spot in Grand Junction, Colorado for the NJCAA World Series.
Tune in for another Aussies Abroad update soon!
12 May 2023
The college baseball recruiting world has been turned upside-down after the NCAA Division I Council approved recruiting changes that will drastically alter recruiting forever. The new rules will eliminate recruiting communication between college coaches and players until August 1st of Year 11.
The new rules make August 1st the first day when players and college coaches can communicate. The August 1st date will also be the first day 3rd parties can act as intermediaries between college coaches and players/families.
What does this mean for Australian Players?
The new rules put an end to scholarship offers prior to August 1 of Year 11 and will slow the recruiting timeline down for players. It will even the playing field for our players in Australia as kids in the U.S won’t be able to commit at such a young age and take any of the scholarship money that is on offer. Going to the U.S for college recruiting purposes is no longer necessary until August 1 of Year 11 if you are wanting to speak directly with coaching staffs.
Families can now pump the breaks and learn about the recruiting process and college baseball before having to make any big decisions. The best advice moving forward is to enjoy the delayed recruiting timeline and use the additional time to prepare for a shorter window to make your decision by researching college baseball and college programs, taking time to understand the ins-and-outs of the recruiting process, and focusing on getting better in the classroom and on the field.
If you have any questions about the new rules and how it may affect you, please send an email to Andrew Riddell for individual discussions at andrew.riddell@baseball.com.au
04 May 2023
Baseball Australia is pleased to announce that as part of our coverage of the 2023 Little League events we will be broadcasting diamond one games at each of the Australian Little, Div. II, Intermediate, Junior and Senior League events on ondemand.baseball.com.au.
Ondemand.baseball.com.au is a live and free streaming platform that gives coaches, players, families, and fans access to baseball anywhere in the world.
With over 25,000 registered users and a global reach into Japan, America, United Kingdom, Taiwan and more the channel is a free sign-on. Simply head to ondemand.baseball.com.au, click register, enter your details, and watch all the 2023 Little League events.
To keep up with game times and schedule changes please head to www.baseball.com.au, click EVENT HUBS and your designated tournament and follow all the schedule.
Baseball Australia would like to wish all teams participating in the 2023 Little League events the very best and thank our valued partners for your continued support.
The Australian Senior League Baseball Championship proudly supported by The City of Mandurah and hosts Peel Diamond Sports.
The Australian Intermediate League Baseball Championship proudly supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Event Program and Mildura Rural City Council.
The Australian Little League Baseball Championship is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
01 May 2023
Off the back of a successful 2023 Women’s Championship hosted at Altona Ballpark in April, Baseball Australia is pleased to announce the Emeralds squad that will represent Australia at the 2023 World Cup.
With a group packed with experience and talented youth players, it is an exciting time for women’s baseball in Australia ahead of what will be a blockbuster year for international baseball.
Emeralds Manager Jason Pospishil will lead the group with the support of an accomplished coaching staff that includes Olympian and Major League Baseballer Chris Oxspring, World Cup Silver medallist and Women’s Team Victoria Manager Samantha Hamilton, Assistant Director of Baseball Operations and Women’s High-Performance Manager at Brisbane Bandits Lisa Norrie, Ursula Howard and Tammy Ong.
The squad will begin preparations immediately with Manager Jason Pospishil ready to change the game of women’s baseball.
“The quality of this squad is highlighted by the standard of players that just missed out on selection. We made it very clear to our playing group in 2019 what the international game demands and we are very confident that the 25 players we have selected can meet those demands. Due to the five-year hiatus of the Women’s World Cup, we are essentially “re-setting” the program and the coaching staff we have assembled are fully committed to building our program and achieving our goal of qualifying for the World Cup Super-Round stage next year in 2024.”
“The players are now fully accountable to preparing themselves to a standard that international play requires within their relevant State High Performance Program. The support that these players will receive from our High-Performance staff around the country will encompass current best practice methods so we are extremely confident that we will be as well prepared as can be heading into the tournament. I think the success of our WBC team highlights that we can compete with anybody on the world stage.”
Australia will be one of six teams placed in Group A with Canada, USA, Mexico and two qualifiers coming from the upcoming Asian Women’s Baseball Championship. The Emeralds will battle the competition in Group A action in Thunder Bay, Canada in August 2023.
Group B will take part in Japan in September.
Unlike other years and editions of the World Cup, this competition will take place over two years.
The Top Two teams from each group, plus two wild cards, will advance to the final group stage in August 2024 where the competition will return to Thunder Bay to determine the World Champion.
The 2024 tournament will be the ninth edition of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. Australia has traditionally fared well at the World Cup. They’ve finished in the Top 4 on six occasions with their best result being a silver medal in 2010.
Stay up to date with all the Women’s World Cup Baseball preparation on baseball.com.au and at our newly launched A League of Her Own Website https://www.aleagueofherown.com.au/
29 April 2023
Baseball Australia with hosts Blacktown International Sportspark are proud to announce the 2023 Australian Little League Championship in Blacktown, supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
The event will run from 7-12 of June, 2023 and will host Little League Majors and Division II participants in what is going to be an action packed six-day event.
Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams acknowledges the huge support both on and off the field by everyone involved.
“The Little League tournament in 2023 has the continued support from the NSW Government through Destination NSW to provide participants with a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and play baseball.”
The Champion team will head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA for the Little League World Series in mid August.
Stay up to date via baseball.com.au for all the Little League information.
28 April 2023
The 2023 Australia Junior League Championship will be held at Barratt Reserve in West Beach, South Australia.
Baseball Australia today confirmed the five-day event will be hosted in conjunction with Baseball South Australia and will run May 29th to the 2nd of June.
Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams says it’s an action-packed time for Baseball with another key event locked away in the calendar.
“I am excited for Baseball around Australia as we lock in another Baseball highlight on the calendar.”
“Giving emerging baseballers the opportunity to play in a national event, with their friends who they compete with locally is a great feature of Junior League. West beach is a great place to run the event and I am sure the players and their families will enjoy the experience”
“Bringing together kids from across the country who have a common love of baseball is always a great site. I am sure the teams will compete hard for the chance to head to the USA, but regardless of the end result come away with some lifelong friendships”.
The Junior League champions will earn the right to represent Australia Region at the 2023 Junior League Baseball® World Series in Taylor Michigan, USA from mid-August.
Eastern Phantoms from Western Australia won the 2022 Junior League Championship, and this year’s representatives will be decided at the state championships later this month.
26 April 2023
The 2023 Australian Intermediate League Championship will be held in Mildura from May 19-23 this year.
The Old Aerodrome Sporting Complex will host the event, which is supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Event Program and Mildura Rural City Council, across five days in May.
It will be the fourth time Mildura has hosted the event and fifth national championship since Intermediate League launched in 2018.
Mildura Mayor Liam Wood, is looking forward to continuing the long-standing partnership.
“It’s a partnership that has helped raise the profile of baseball in our region, as well as introduce our district to thousands of potential return visitors as we welcome players and teams from across the country each year.”
“I look forward to once again taking in the action and meeting the players when they return in May next year.”
Sunraysia Baseball League have hosted the Intermediate division the past couple of years with Wanneroo Giants WA, champions in 2022.
It was the Western Australian Wanneroo Giants who took out the Championship in 2022 Sunraysia Baseball League Secretary, Nick Carroll is thrilled to welcome teams and their supporters to the district.
“Along with our partners – Baseball Australia, the Victorian Government, Baseball Victoria, and the Mildura Rural City Council – we look forward to hosting another great tournament as the kids battle it out to represent Australia”.
Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams is looking forward to showcasing baseball in Mildura.
“Showcasing our sport across the country and into the regions is important, the Old Aerodrome Sporting Complex in Mildura is becoming the Intermediate league home away from home.
“With the support of the Victorian Government and local community it is becoming a highly-anticipated event on our calendar each year.”
The 2023 championships will head to Livermore, California USA, for the Intermediate League World Series, in late July.
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