News

He’s a national champion, a state league winner, and a U18 World Cup representative.

Now, Ethan Bickel is a college commit.

The Blacktown Workers pitcher from New South Wales has confirmed his commitment to North Central Texas College, capping off what has been an impressive 2025 campaign across club, state and international levels.

Bickel was a key contributor to New South Wales’ U18 National Championship in January and a member of Blacktown’s premiership-winning State League side.

His success carried onto the international stage, where he threw 8.0 shutout innings across three appearances at the recent U18 World Cup, including 3.1 scoreless frames against the powerhouse USA lineup.

Bickel was one of 11 Australians selected to attend an MLB College Showcase Tour immediate following the U18 World Cup.

“I think the Australian Youth Championship tournaments we have every year have really helped me develop and learn the standard of baseball and talent around our country,” Bickel said. “That’s helped me find things to work on and get better. Playing in events like the World Cup has shown me that I can compete at that level.”

A right-hander with a four-pitch mix — fastball, sinker, slider and change-up — Bickel is known for his ability to throw strikes with any pitch in any count. He says his next goal is to add velocity as he transitions to college baseball.

“That’s a big goal of mine to move onto the next level,” he said. “I’m always refining my pitches in a way that will help me compete at the next level.”

Baseball Australia Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell says Bickel has been on the radar for the last few years.

“It’s been great getting to know him and his family better throughout the years,” says Riddell. “He was part of the Team Australia U16 camp in Canberra in 2023 which really put his name on the map with how many strikes he threw with multiple pitches and his poise on the mound.”

Riddell says Bickel’s work ethic and determination stood out.

“He made improvements to jump to the U18 bracket at the AYC as a first-year player and was selected in the U17 squad to head to Fort Myers for the WWBA Underclass World Championship. He continued to refine and develop his secondary pitches.”

“At the World Cup, we saw what he was able to do with eight scoreless innings in really pivotal and high-leverage situations. I’m really looking forward to continue watching his development in college. Big congratulations to him, his family & all the coaches throughout Sydney that have helped him become the person and pitcher he is today.”

Bickel will study Sports Business Management at North Central Texas College.

He credits his family, community and coaches for shaping his journey so far.

“I’ve had some amazing coaches throughout my journey,” he said. “My dad taught me the basics and really got me into baseball. The coaching staff at Blacktown Workers changed the way I approach the game and helped me understand the fundamentals behind everything. I’ve also been very fortunate to have great coaches at both state and Australian level who’ve helped me develop over the years.”

Australia’s battery at the 2025 Under 18 World Cup will attend college together.

Queensland catcher Cooper Teichmann and New South Wales pitcher Riley Puckett both confirmed their commitment to Galveston College this week.

They both join a growing list of Australians attending the Texas based junior college. Nic Paparella (SA), Ben Karakasis (NSW) and Flynn McKee (SA) are already in the program.

“I mean it’s pretty special,” says Teichmann. “To have a guy who I first met at the U18 World Cup training camp to then have him throw to me at the World Cup for our country to now getting the opportunity to get to the next level together, I think it’s something not many people get to do. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Both Teichmann and Puckett are promising prospects.

Puckett (below) is a crafty right-handed pitcher out of MacArthur Orioles. He has a six pitch mix in his arsenal – a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, knuckle curve, change-up and slider.

It was Puckett’s ability to keep batters off balance that helped him win the Golden Arm at the 2025 U18 Australian Youth Championships en route to helping NSW win a gold medal and earning an invite to the U18 national selection camp.

He says he hopes to take his game to the next level at junior college.

“I’m super excited to work with the coaches at Galveston to continue to develop strength and velocity,” says Puckett. ” My strengths are being able to make batters feel uncomfortable and reading hitters. I am hoping to extract the most out of my body whilst continuing to maintain great control over my pitches. I think the coaches there will help me achieve this.”

Teichmann is a reliable catcher out of the Pine Hills Lightning in Queensland. He threw out multiple runners for Australia at the U18 World Cup.

“My strengths are my arm strength, power with the bat and game IQ when it comes to quick thinking,” says Teichmann, who will study Sports Psychology.

Teichmann grew up close family friends with legendary Australian catcher and Team Australia Manager Dave Nilsson, calling him one of his idols and mentors. Teichmann has grown up around the Brisbane Bandits and was their bullpen catcher the last two seasons.

He says he hopes to become more well rounded at college.

“I want to improve overall game play, fitness and further develop my bat-to-ball skills for my overall toolset as a catcher,” he says.

After the U18 World Cup in September, both players attended the MLB International College Showcase Tour.

Both trips played a key part in their recruitment.

“Riley and Cooper were both on the MLB trip this year and with the relationship that Baseball Australia has formed with the coaching staff at Galveston, they come across to Arizona to see our players every year,” says Andrew Riddell, Baseball Australia’s Player Development Manager. “They loved what they saw from both of them and immediately started the process with their families to get on calls to discuss scholarships.”

The two new recruits both think the trips helped develop themselves as players and people.

Both players are incredibly thankful to their communities for their development.

“I’ve had many coaches and mentors all of whom I am extremely grateful for,” says Puckett. “They’e all helped me out in so many ways – from my early days with the Macarthur Colts, to the more recent years with the Macarthur Orioles, NSW Australian Youth Championship Teams and the national U18 team. Thanks to my mum, dad and sister for all the sacrifices they made to give me this opportunity.”

Teichmann says he’s super thankful for all the opportunities from his community but was quick to highlight his dad Russell as his biggest baseball influence.

MORE COLLEGE STORIES

• Team Australia U18 star pitcher Damien Wilson commits to New Mexico Junior College
• Team Australia U18 infielder commits to JUCO powerhouse Weatherford College
• South Aussie Max Stagg off to Division I program UC Santa Barbara

There aren’t many better junior college baseball programs than what you’ll find at Weatherford College.

Victorian national champion and Team Australia U18 infielder Will Hardy is about to be apart of it.

“I’m honoured,” says a pride filled Hardy, a product of Newport Baseball Club. “Thank you to Coach Kinzy and the Weatherford coaching staff for this opportunity. I look forward to getting on campus and playing for you.”

The Texas-based junior college has turned into a bit of a wagon.

Over the past three seasons, the Weatherford Coyotes boast a record of 146-39 (.789 win percentage). They’ve won the last three conference championships and ripped off win streaks of 20 games.

“They’re a top three to five program in the country in arguably the toughest conference and region,” says Baseball Australia’s Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell.

The program has been instrumental in developing Major Leaguers like Jake Arrieta and Ryan Brasier.

Now, the Coyotes will play a role in Hardy’s development.

The Newport Rams 18-year-old infielder largely parks himself at third base and short stop – a role he has played in the last 12 months with Victoria at the Australian Youth Championships, Team Australia at the 2025 U18 World Cup, on the MLB International Team and currently with the Melbourne Aces in Korea.

Hardy possesses strong speed, high-end defense and excellent bat-to-ball skills.

That was on display in Okinawa at the U18 World Cup in September. Hardy hit .346 with six RBI and two stolen bases in eight games.

“He was one of our best and most influential players,” said U18 national team coach Jason Pospishil after the tournament.

Hardy says he is looking to improve his overall game at college.

“I plan on getting bigger, stronger, faster and taking my game to the next level,” he says. “I’m looking to improve my power but overall my entire game.”

Riddell says Hardy is proof of what hard-work, an understanding of self-reflection and awareness looks like.

“He missed out on selection in 2024 for the Team Australia U17 trip to Fort Myers and went back home and put a plan in place with the help of Damian Shanahan and Kelii Zablan at Baseball Victoria to work on his swing, speed, strength, and athleticism and worked hard at it every day,” says Riddell. “We were able to see that progression in-game with his performance in January at AYC and it continued throughout 2025 at our national selection camp, the U18 World Cup & the MLB trip.”

Off the back of the MLB trip, Riddell travelled to Texas to meet with some of the current Australian college players. A conversation with the Weatherford staff about Will, the player, and the person he is occurred.

After a few zoom calls between Weatherford and Hardy, an opportunity popped up.

“The relationship with the Weatherford staff and Baseball Australia continues to be strong after Bjay Cooke had committed and now Will is now another part of that,” says Riddell. “He and his family were ecstatic with the developmental focus of the program and the conversations with the coaching staff and saw it as a no-brainer when the full-ride scholarship was offered.”

Hardy now has an opportunity at the current third ranked program in the country to take his game to the next level and turn the heads of Division 1 recruiting coordinators and professional scouts in the hardest conference and region in junior college baseball.

“We’ve seen it happen now with multiple hitters from the national U18 program the last few years and we can’t wait to see the name he makes for himself at Weatherford and beyond,” says Riddell.

It’s not lost on Hardy who helped him reach this point – it’s his community.

“Every single player and coach who has been part of my journey I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way.”

He starts with his immediate family.

“My parents have been massive in my journey, they have sacrificed so much time over the years for me. My dad has played over 600 games and is still playing. I’ve being going to his games for as long as I can remember,” says Hardy. “I was the bat boy of the first grade team for five years and learnt a lot just sitting there watching. My Dad, Uncle, Nan, Pop and Great Uncle are life members at Williamstown baseball runs in my family.”

He also says the baseball community was supportive in his journey, crediting the Performance Pathways Program at Baseball Victoria led by Damien Shanahan and Kelli Zablan as well as his coaches at Newport.

“The coaching staff worked with me over the past four years and got the best of me. They made me into the player I am today,” he says. “Sean Arnott was my first senior first grade coach at Newport and he gave me confidence at a young age that I could compete at a high level. I’ve also been lucky to play at North Balwyn under Neil Burke for the past two seasons. To play with some of the Melbourne Aces guys to refine the little things about my game has [also helped].”

Congratulations, Will! We will be following with great interest.

MORE COLLEGE STORIES

• Team Australia U18 star pitcher Damien Wilson commits to New Mexico Junior College
• Victorian infielder Travis Finney transfers to Division I program
• South Aussie Max Stagg off to Division I program UC Santa Barbara

Damien Wilson made the most of his opportunities in Australian baseball. It’s led him to a scholarship with New Mexico Junior College, a program with a proven track record of progressing Aussie baseball players.

Wilson, a left-handed pitcher out of Baulkham Hills Baseball Club (below) in New South Wales, has already accomplished a lot at his young age of 17.

He came up clutch on the hill for Team Australia at the Under 18 World Cup, won a U18 National Championship with New South Wales, represented his country at the WWBA Championships in Fort Myers, was one of eleven Australians at the 2025 MLB International Showcase and plays Division I in the hyper-competitive NSW State League vs ABL players as a high schooler.

Now, he is set to join three other Australians – Zach Altamura (INF), Riley Hall (RHP) and Tim Yeomans (C) – at New Mexico Junior College.

Brent Iredale, an Australian prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates, also attended New Mexico Junior College before transferring to Division 1 powerhouse Arkansas.

Wilson says it’s a chance to take a big step forward with his development through college.

“The program’s structure, coaching, and competition level will push me every day to get stronger, more explosive, expand my pitching arsenal and be more consistent on the mound. I’m focused on building velocity, sharpening my command, and learning how to dominate at the college level so I’m ready for the next stage of my career,” says Wilson.

Wilson is coming off a dominating performance of his own at the Under 18 World Cup. In two starts, Wilson tossed 10.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs with no walks, and eight strikeouts.

He helped Australia beat Panama in a must-win game, and he left the game tied 1-1 vs powerhouse Cuba in the placement round.

“My confidence definitely grew after the World Cup,” says Wilson. “By competing against top international talent, it showed me I can perform at that level, and it pushed me to trust my stuff more and focus on consistency every time I step on the mound.”

Wilson says his biggest strength is his competitiveness and work ethic.

“No matter the situation, I always want the ball and I’m going to attack every hitter with confidence. I take pride in being consistent, having good command, and competing with intensity every time I’m on the mound,” says Wilson.

“I also thrive on being part of a team and working towards getting a win as a cohesive unit. I also put a lot of effort into the small details — recovery, training, and preparation — so I’m always ready to perform at my best,” he adds.

Wilson throws a four-seam fastball, two-seam, change-up and curveball.

Baseball Australia’s player development manager Andrew Riddell says he can see the potential Wilson has, commending his performance at the Under 18 World Cup and MLB trip in October.

“It was a full circle for him to cap off an amazing junior career that includes a U16 Golden Arm and a U18 National Championship,” says Riddell. “His progression as a competitor and the ability to get hitters out continues to excel and it will be fun watching him do the same thing the next few years in college.”

Wilson had numerous offers on the table.

Riddell says he was impressed with the amount of thought went into the decision.

“The whole Wilson family were awesome through the process of deciding which program was going to be the best fit for him as we discussed the positive and negatives of each. They all had a great understanding of what he was looking for to take the next steps in his own development and continue his growth on the mound,” says Riddell.

“Damien’s coaches at Baulkham Hills and at Baseball New South Wales deserve a lot of credit with the progression we saw each year at national championships. I know with his drive and work ethic that he will have success at the next level just like he has had in Australia,” adds Riddell.

For Wilson, he says all the overseas events helped push him to become the best player he can be.

“Each one pushed me to compete against some of the best players in the country and the world, helping me learn how to perform under pressure and handle big moments,” he says. “Those experiences taught me the level of preparation, focus, and consistency it takes to succeed at the next level.”

At home, Wilson came up through the New South Wales system via his club at Baulkham Hills.

He says he wouldn’t be here without the entire baseball community. But there’s one man who leads the way.

“David White have been the biggest influence on my baseball journey. He has supported me from day one — pushing through every training, game, and tournament, and to be the best version of myself on and off the diamond,” says Wilson.

“I’ve also been blessed to have great coaches at present and the along the way who’ve believed in me and helped shape the player I am today. Their guidance and belief kept me motivated to keep improving and chasing my goals. My family have been invaluable since the beginning, have been by my side the whole journey. They are my #1 supporters.”

Wilson will be studying Business and Communications.

He departs for the USA in August 2026.