An update on what college baseball life is like for South Aussie Max Stagg

12 March 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

An update on what college baseball life is like for South Aussie Max Stagg

by James Dyer, originally published on AdelaideGiants.com.au

An Adelaide Giant and South Australian Max Stagg is off to a fantastic start to his junior college (JUCO) season with Division 1 Central Arizona. It’s his first full-season in the program.

In 17 games so far this season, Max has been impressive on both sides of the plate.

Max has recorded 16 hits with four doubles, two HR’s and six RBI. He has showed great discipline at the plate with only 10 strikeouts to eight walks.

Max has also been elite in the field getting 19 put outs from 19 chances.

His breakout season comes after he was “red-shirted” in 2024, meaning he was with the active roster but not able to play games.

Stagg says it taught him valuable lessons.

James Dyer from AdelaideGiants.com.au recently spoke with Max and asked him how being a redshirt last season prepared him for this season.

“I developed a different level of discipline and grit,” says Stagg. “Waking up to do 6:00AM workouts with [fellow Australian] Nick Bertucci even when I didn’t feel like it.”

He says the little details allowed him to develop tremendously, which gave him great confidence in returning to play games.

Max says he really focused on getting value from each and every rep at practise and credited this to his readiness for the season.

There’s also been a positional change.

Stagg moved to centrefield. It’s a new experience, one he says he finds exciting.

“I’ve focused heavily on developing my defensive abilities,” says Stagg.

Max has been working closely with Coach Isaiah Overman both on his outfield defence and offence approach, stating Overman’s care and understanding have allowed him to be successful on both sides of the ball.

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A post shared by Max Stagg (@max.stagg)

Max credits his growth and development as a player and person to many.

The West Torrens baseball club, and Riley Moore helped Max find ‘love for the game.’ He credits the Adelaide Giants and Coach ‘Tank’ Adamson too.

“They have supported me and helped me develop in a high-performing, professional environment,” says Stagg.

Many others have been crucial to Max’s success including Baseball Australia, and the Australian Athletic Centre.

More recently Sean Cashman (Head Coach, Central Arizona) has played a big mentor role for Max.

“I’ve gained so much from his expertise about the game, he allows me to play the game with freedom and confidence. I can’t thank him and the rest of the Central AZ coaching staff enough for the opportunity to be a Vaquero every single day,” says Stagg.

Max and Central Arizona have high National Championship hopes this season. As of the time of this article, the team is 14-9.

Max says his goals are to win it all.

“I want nothing more than to win a national championship,” says Stagg. “I believe we’ve got the talent, work ethic, and culture to do it.”

He went on to say on a personal level, he’d love to be recognized with both ACCAC All-Conference Selection and NJCAA First Team Academic All-American Selection.

Some long-term goals for the 20-year-old are to play NCAA Division I baseball with the final goal of being drafted and having an opportunity to play professional baseball.

Alongside this, Max hopes to earn future opportunities with Team Australia Baseball at the U23 and senior levels.

Max has some advice for young ball players looking to play college baseball.

“It won’t be easy, and you’ll face adversity along the way, but it’ll be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do,” he says.

We look forward to watching Max and will monitor his development and growth closely over the coming years.

06 March 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community Corporate News

TeamSports4All and Baseball Australia Partner to Make Baseball More Accessible for Disadvantaged Kids

TeamSports4All (TS4A) and Baseball Australia are proud to announce a new partnership aimed at increasing access to Baseball for financially disadvantaged children across Australia.

Officially launched on 25 February 2025, this collaboration seeks to break down financial barriers and create greater opportunities for young Australians to engage in the sport.

The partnership between Baseball Australia (BA) and TeamSports4All (TS4A) removes the financial barrier to participation in sport and connects children from low socio-economic backgrounds into their communities, which they are often isolated from.

TS4A is an Australian charity dedicated to ensuring that financial disadvantage does not prevent children from experiencing the benefits of team sport.

The organisation covers costs such as registration fees, uniforms, and equipment while offering ongoing support to keep children engaged in sport for multiple seasons.

Currently, TS4A supports over 650 children, with ambitions to expand its reach to thousands more.

The first phase will start with a pilot in Melbourne, so if you, or a family at your club, is experiencing severe financial disadvantage, simply fill out the referral form on the TeamSports4All website.

Refer a Family: www.teamsports4all.com.au/refer-a-child/

Research from the Australian Sports Commission highlights cost as the number one barrier to participation in sport. By addressing this issue, the TS4A and BA partnership will ensure that more children can experience the benefits of Baseball, including physical activity, teamwork, and community connection.

“We believe that every child deserves the chance to play sport, regardless of their financial situation,” said Simon Davie, at TeamSports4All. “This partnership with Baseball Australia is a significant step toward making Baseball more inclusive and accessible for all Australian kids.”

Glenn Willams, the CEO of Baseball Australia, echoed this sentiment.

“Sport has the power to unite communities and transform lives,” said Williams. “By working with TeamSports4All, we can ensure that more young Australians get the opportunity to play and enjoy Baseball.”

For more information about this partnership or how to support the initiative, visit www.teamsports4all.com.au.

05 March 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad Aussies Sign Pro

Team Australia outfielder Briley Knight signs with Billings Mustangs

25-year-old outfielder Briley Knight has signed a contract with the Billings Mustangs, a team in the independent Pioneer League in the United States.

Knight played for Billings in 2024, hitting .268 in an injury shortened 33 game season.

Knight recently appeared for Team Australia in at the 2025 International Baseball Showdown, an exhibition series vs the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles.

He had a huge series, hitting a homer, throwing out a runner, and playing regular innings in the outfield.

Knight has cemented himself as one of the top Australians in the Australian Baseball League over the past two seasons.

In 59 games with the Adelaide Giants, Knight has a career .317 average. He was notably the Game 3 hero of the 2024 ABL Championship Series, taking a game saving diving catch and driving in the winning run.

For a list of all 35 Australians with professional contracts you can check out our Aussies Abroad page on Baseball.com.au.

For a feature on Briley Knight from the Hanwha Series, click here: www.baseball.com.au/news/knight

05 March 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad College Baseball

South Australian Flynn McKee commits to Galveston College in Texas

A second Australian in as many weeks has committed to Galveston College, a junior college (JUCO) in Texas.

South Australian utility man Flynn McKee will head to the United States in August, 2025.

He joins Ben Karakasis, a pitcher from New South Wales, and fellow South Aussie Nic Paparella at the Texas-based school.

McKee brings some pedigree to junior college. The 19-year-old has been playing Division I baseball in South Australia with Port Adelaide Magpies since he was 14-years-old.

McKee won the 2024 U18 National Championship Golden Bat as the top offensive performer in the tournament.

“Choosing Galveston just felt right,” says McKee. “I had many conversations with coach Ryne Edmondson and got a good feel of the competition and level I’d be playing at.”

Edmondson scouted Mckee, and other Australians, at the MLB International Showcase event in Arizona before following them across to Florida for the Team Australia trip to ensure he got to speak with the players and families that he wanted to recruit.

“I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet Coach Edmondson in person and I liked the way he went about things,” says McKee. “I felt we had similar opinions and outlooks on my future development. I felt like it was a place where I could develop.”

The McKee name has been prevalent in the Australian baseball community. Flynn is hitting .329 with 15 RBI through 22-games with Port Adelaide in the South Australia Division I competition.

His brother Tyson just won a Claxton Shield while pitching for the Canberra Cavalry.

Flynn says Baseball South Australia’s performance pathways coach Austin Gallagher has been a huge influence on his career.

“He has not only helped me fix my mechanics over the years but has also helped me understand the game better on the mental side,” says Flynn.

McKee has a big frame and can drive the ball to all parts of the field. He is a solid infielder with an arm that can zip it across the diamond.

McKee plays first, third and corner outfield. Now, he hopes to take his game to the next level at college.

“I’d have to say my biggest strength is my bat. I feel I can hit the ball to all parts of the field with authority and can adjust to off-speed pitches. I also think my mental side of the game is strong. I feel I read plays pretty well and have a good sense of what’s coming next,” says McKee.

He says opportunities in the high-performance department of the Australian Baseball system helped develop him as a player.

“Without events like the Australian Youth Championships, the U18 Australian team and the Arizona Fall Series, I would not have the opportunities I do today. They played a massive part in not only my development but also getting my name out there. It gave me the ability to show my skills in a competitive environment in front of people all around the world,” says McKee.

Above: McKee with his parents while representing Australia in October 2024 in the USA

Now he has a chance to take his game to the next level at Galveston.

“Having the opportunity to be competitive and train & play everyday with players at a high level will do leaps and bounds in my development,” says McKee. “I would like to become a better fielder while I’m away. Not only would I like to be more consistent at 3rd but I’d also like to have the ability to play multiple positions well.”

Congratulations, Flynn! We will be following your journey with great interest.

For more college stories, click here.

MORE NEWS

28 February 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Team Australia

Team Australia invites 29 players to 2025 Under 18 National Team Selection Camp

Team Australia Baseball is proud to announce the players who have received an invite to the 2025 Under 18 National Team Selection Camp in August on the Gold Coast.

The camp will be used to select the players on the final roster for the 2025 Under 18 World Cup in Okinawa, Japan (Sept 5-14, 2025).

27 February 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad College Baseball

Ben Karakasis becomes latest Australian to commit to Galveston College

New South Wales pitcher and Australian U18 World Cup representative Ben Karakasis has announced his commitment to Galveston College, a D1 junior college in Texas.

South Australian Nic Paparella is already playing at Galveston this spring, and Ben will join him in August for the 2025/26 season.

Karakasis represented New South Wales at multiple Australian Youth Championships, played for Australia at the U18 World Cup in 2023, was part of the Team Australia trip in 2024 and also attended the MLB International trip twice.

It was on these trips last year that Galveston head coach Ryne Edmondson was able to see Ben pitch and he liked what he saw so much of a few Aussies that he then followed Team Australia across to Florida once the MLB trip had finished.

“The location of the schooling was ideal for me being in Texas with good weather, strong competition and a winning culture,” says Karakasis. “The coaches were extremely important and were very informative and helpful in my decision advocating their ambitions and role they see me playing in at the school and the project ability I have with them.”

The right-handed pitcher says he is looking forward to continuing his development on the mound at Galveston and improving his velocity to match his quality curveball and change-up.

“I’ll have the opportunity to start a lot of the games and see myself working extremely hard both on and off the field to benefit my chances in competing at the next level of my career,” he says. “Having the opportunity to go to college with amazing coaches and players, along with the ability to play more games against better competition will benefit my development as a player.”

Karakasis grew up playing his baseball with the Ryde Hawks.

He cites Ryde coach Matt O’Neill and Baseball NSW coach Coen Wynne has great mentors.

“They were encouraging me with my pitching and performance to pursue my dreams of playing baseball on the big stage,” says Karakasis. “They were extremely important in motivating me through my journey.”

He also says playing for his country on the international stage – both at World Cups on Team Australia tours in the USA – helped him recognise where he was at in his development.

“Playing at these tournaments showcased to me the importance of trusting your craft and doing the little things right,” says Karakasis. “Through tough situations having the ability to adapt to when you’re coming in or if your playing is extremely important this further helped me prepare for future games.”

He says he hopes to truly improve his game through gathering advice from coaches and players overseas.

Congratulations Ben! We can’t wait to follow your journey.

Here's how Australians are faring in the US College Baseball system | February 2025 Update

The 2025 American college baseball season is in full-swing. We are one month into the junior college year and about three weeks into the NCAA season.

I’ve scavenged the internet and updated you on some big performances.

Please note, this list is not a complete list of every Australian in the system, simply big performances I’ve noticed. If I missed someone I apologise – it’s not easy keeping track. Please email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au if you have any updates I should be aware of.

Make sure you follow us at Baseball.com.au on social media for highlights and updates.

There are over 100 Australians playing baseball in the college system at varying levels including a record 24 at the NCAA Division 1 level.

Stay tuned for more commitments.

NCAA Division I

Blake Cavill (NSW), Troy – A torrid start. In seven games, he is 13-for-26 with 12 RBI and eight walks. He has a .611 on-base percentage.

Chase Diggins (WA), Kansas – Hitting .320 in his first seven games of the season with three runs batted in.

Ben Fierenzi (VIC), Long Island State – Third on the team with a .286 average through seven games.

Brent Iredale (NSW), Arkansas – Hitting .375 with two homers and 10 RBI in his first seven games at Division I level.

Conor Myles (VIC), Texas San Antonio – In 10.2 innings, Myles has yet to allow a run. He has ten strikeouts and opponents are hitting .194 off of him.

Jimmy Nati (NSW), Stanford – Hitting .364 in eight games with six RBI to begin the season.

Cayden Nicoletto (WA), Missouri – In three games, Nicoletto is 3-for-10 with an RBI.

Zak Skinner (VIC), Lamar – The catcher is hitting .300 in nine games. He hit his first homer of the year this week and has seven RBI. He’s also thrown out four runners.

Keenan Spence (VIC), Purdue – Hitting .320 with an OPS of 1.057 in eight games.

Jarryd Wood (VIC), Pacific – A 1.59 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 5.2 innings pitched.

NCAA Division II

Max Mrakovic, (NSW) Arkansas Monticello – A 4.00 ERA in his four starts (18 innings) with a 1.22 WHIP.

Brock Wollin, (QLD) Emmanuel – Hitting .333 in 15 games with three homers and a team leading 25 RBI.

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

Brett Allen (NSW), Reinhardt – A 2.92 ERA in six games so far across 12.1 innings.

Darcy Barry (SA), Dakota State – Hit his first homer of his NAIA career on February 24 in a game vs fellow South Aussie Sean Maple at Mid-America Nazarene.

Trent Buchanan (ACT), Campbellsville – Hitting .348 in his first nine games of the season.

Kailen Hamson (QLD), Cumberlands – In 12.2 innings, Hamson has a 2.84 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP. He’s started three games this year.

Riley Light (VIC), Cumberland – He is 5-for-10 with a homer and three walks to start his senior year.

Sean Maple (SA), Mid-America Nazarene – Hit homers in back-to-back games on February 24 & 25, upping his average to .261.

Ethan Stacy (NSW), Bushnell – Hitting .279 with two homers and 7 RBI in 11 games.

JUNIOR COLLEGE (JUCO)

Bronson Neave (VIC), Arizona Western – Second on his team in average with a .350 mark in 18 games. He has one homer and 21 RBI while reaching base in eleven straight.

Max Stagg (SA), Central Arizona – Hitting .316 in 13 games so far with a homer and five RBI.

Blake Barlow (QLD), Clarendon – In his last appearance (Feb 23), Barlow threw 3.2 innings allowing on hit with six strikeouts.

Tom Chessell (QLD), Clarendon – Third on the team among players with at least 30 at-bats with a .289 mark.

Flynn McGahan (WA), Colby – 3.0 scoreless innings on the season.

Will Page-Allen (ACT), Feather River – In seven appearances and 9.0 innings, Page-Allen has allowed just two runs with 12 strikeouts.

Charlie Pierson (VIC), Frank Phillips – Leads his team in innings pitched (20.0) while compiling a 3.60 ERA across his four starts.

Nic Paparella (SA), Galveston – Hit a three run homer in his last game out, his second of the season.

Raul Romero (QLD), Hillsborough – 2.0IP with 5K

Lachlan Rosser (NSW), Hutchison – A 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched with an outstanding 12 strikeouts

Owen Glover (NSW), McCook – Hit his first homer last week and is hitting .273 on the season through nine games

Callum Donnelly (NSW), New Mexico – Hitting .292 through eight games with three stolen bases.

Cam Landy (WA), National Park – On a four game hit streak, hitting .273 for the season and hit a homer in his first college game.

Quinn Johnson (NSW), Pratt – Leads his team with a .457 average in 12 games with two homers and 5 RBI. He has hits in ten straight.

Oscar Hyde (QLD), Tacoma Community College – One earned run in his 2.2 innings pitched.

Josh Ashen (VIC), Vernon – Second on his team with 16.1 innings pitched. He has a 6.06 ERA but a wildly good 17.08 strikeout per nine innings mark after tallying a team leading 31 punch outs and counting.

Koby Chesterton (ACT), Vernon – A 3.60 ERA in 5.0 innings this season.

Travis Finney (VIC), Yakima – Batting average on the rise, hitting .286 so far on this young season.

17 February 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community

Tournament Details: Little League Invitational to appear on calendar in 2025

Baseball Australia is pleased to announce details of its new Little League tournament – the Little League Invitational.

With a focus on enhancing Little League’s position as Australian Baseball’s primary participation competition program, the Little League Invitational is aimed at providing existing Little League charters who do not regularly qualify for the four international tournament pathway national championships (LL, IL, JL, SL) a chance to experience competing against their peers form across the country in a national tournament.

“The International Tournament Pathway to the World Series events is a fantastic opportunity for our local leagues to engage with, which sits high on the agenda for many of our charters across the country”, Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams noted.

“We also have places around the country where baseball is being played where the pathway isn’t the priority, which presents us with a great opportunity for us to provide their players with an amazing experience.”

“Everyone has a place in Sport, and finding ways to engage with players, teams and charters who would not necessarily qualify or seek qualification at a national event an opportunity to compete at one goes a long way to providing more opportunity for more players’.

After a full internal review of the existing national Little League tournaments, it was determined that the Little League Division 2 tournament had strayed from its original intention of providing opportunity for players who may not otherwise experience a national tournament as they progressed through the age divisions, and as such the decision to refocus that intention into the new Invitational program was made.

The Little League Division 2 event, therefore, has been discontinued.

A full list of programs who will be offered a position in the Invitational is currently being developed in consultation with the District Administrators of each state and communication with those programs will follow shortly.

16 February 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

ABL

Team Australia and Hanwha Eagles Inseparable Through Nine, Draw Series

In a low-scoring affair, Team Australia and the Hanwha Eagles battled through nine innings, with their exhibition matchup ending in a deadlock.

While both teams fought to find offensive momentum, a third contender—Mother Nature—played a key role in shaping the game. Persistent winds created challenging conditions, keeping hitters and fielders on edge throughout the contest.

Lachlan Wells took the mound for Team Australia and delivered an impressive six-inning performance, limiting Hanwha to just one run while tallying four strikeouts. The bullpen trio of Liam Doolan, Matt Beattie, and Dan McGrath combined to close out the remaining three innings, allowing just three hits, one run, and adding one strikeout to the tally. McGrath sealed the game with consecutive pickoffs, snuffing out Hanwha’s hopes of a late-inning walk-off.

Team Australia struck first in the top of the second, capitalizing on a pitching miscue to bring home the opening run. Hanwha responded swiftly, as Park Sung-un drove in a run with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to even the score.

In the seventh, Australian catcher Robbie Perkins delivered an RBI single to plate captain Tim Kennelly, giving his side a temporary 2-1 advantage. But Hanwha answered right back in the bottom of the frame, with Park crossing the plate again on another RBI single to tie things up at two apiece.

Despite late-game opportunities, neither team could break the deadlock, leaving the exhibition contest to conclude in a hard-fought draw.

15 February 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

ABL

Hanwha Steal Win from Aussies in Game 2 of the Series

In a thrilling contest, Hanwha staged a late-game rally to snatch a 6-5 victory over Team Australia in Game 2 of the series. Despite an early lead and strong performances from key players, Australia couldn’t hold off Hanwha’s late surge.

Connor MacDonald took the mound for Australia and delivered another solid outing. Although he had to navigate some traffic on the bases, he largely limited the damage, keeping his team in the game. MacDonald’s efforts were rewarded in the bottom of the third when Tim Kennelly sparked the offense with a single to left field. That set the stage for Jesse Williams, who continued his breakout season with a line drive into right-center field, bringing Kennelly home for a 1-0 lead.

Australia’s defense stepped up in the fourth inning when Jalen Ray grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, helping the Aussies escape trouble. Sam Holland took over on the mound and got some assistance from George Callil, who made a stellar diving stop to prevent Hanwha from gaining momentum.

However, Hanwha found a way to break through later in the game. A ground ball rolled through the right side, driving in two runs after an attempted throw home by Briley Knight came in just late. This gave Hanwha their first runs of the series and a 2-1 lead.

Australia responded in dramatic fashion in the bottom half of the inning. Hometown hero George Callil crushed a two-run home run to left-center, flipping the score back in favor of the Aussies at 3-2. They extended their lead further when Rixon Wingrove shot a ground ball past the diving Hanwha first baseman, scoring both Hall and Williams for a 5-2 advantage.

Hanwha refused to back down, executing small ball to perfection in the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, they plated two runs on consecutive RBI groundouts, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Then, in a stunning moment, pinch-hitter Choi launched a rain-soaked home run in his first at-bat of the year to tie the game at five.

The ninth inning proved decisive. Hanwha’s catcher lined a clutch RBI single, allowing a run to score all the way from first base, giving Hanwha their second lead of the night at 6-5. Australia had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on third and nobody out, but Hanwha’s closer delivered three consecutive strikeouts to slam the door shut and secure the comeback victory.

It was a tough loss for Australia, who had the game within their grasp, but Hanwha’s resilience and execution in key moments ultimately made the difference.

14 February 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

ABL

Team Australia Stun Hanwha Eagles in Rain interrupted series opener

Team Australia put on a dominant performance in the first game of their series against the Hanwha Eagles, securing a 5-0 victory before rain brought an early end to the contest after just four innings.

Starting pitcher Alexander Wells was in sublime form, striking out eight batters in just four innings of work. The left-hander, fresh off his ABL Helms Award win for the 2024/25 season, showcased his elite command and control, keeping the Eagles’ offense off balance from the outset.

The scoring began with Team Australia’s captain, Tim Kennelly, launching a solo home run to put his team on the board. Shortly after, Rixon Wingrove capitalized on an opportunity, sending a sacrifice fly to drive in Alex Hall and extend the lead to 2-0.

Briley Knight made his presence felt both in the field and at the plate. He delivered a rocket throw to third base to shut down an early offensive threat from the Eagles, then later launched a two-run homer, pushing the lead to 4-0.

Liam Spence would add the final tally, scoring off a sacrifice fly from Alex Hall before the rain started to intensify. Waves of showers halted play intermittently before ultimately forcing an early conclusion to the game in the fourth inning.

With the series opener in the books, Team Australia will look to carry this momentum into Game 2, which is set to begin at 7 PM AEDT tomorrow at Melbourne Ballpark.

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