Day 2 Recap & Results | Catch up on the World's First National Little League Girls Championships

09 May 2024 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Day 2 Recap & Results | Catch up on the World's First National Little League Girls Championships

photos by Studio Honsa, recap by Eric Balnar

A crazy comeback, a walk-off, a tie, lead changes and some singing in the rain highlighted Day 2 at the Australian Little League Girls Championships.

Scroll down for recaps. Results, standings and schedule below.

RECAPS

Victoria Belles 11 def Adelaide Seahorses 10

The Victoria Belles won an epic game on Thursday morning, scoring four runs in the top of the last inning to pip the Adelaide Seahorses 11-10 to pick up their first win of the tournament in walk-off fashion.

They fell behind to a rambunctious Seahorses team 6-0 early and slowly pegged their way back in a see-saw game.

The Belles scored all three of their final inning runs with two outs in the bottom of the last. 12-year-old Emily Mills, who just started playing baseball nine months ago delivered the walk-off winning hit on a ground ball up the middle.

“I realised when the last few runners came in that we were tied. Then Tay got a walk and I realised ‘Wow, it’s up to me to get a hit,” says Mills. “I was both nervous and excited.”

It’s the first walk-off hit of Emily’s young career.

“The comeback was really fun because we are all here to support each other and make sure we are all okay and have the best time ever,” says Mills, a product of Lower Research Plenty Baseball Club in Victoria.

Head coach Leah Trebilcock praised her team’s great spirit and comeback effort, and with great reason.

While Audrey Cheung was noticeable with two hits, 3RBI and a walk, ten different Belles reached base in a winning effort.

For the Seahorses, Charlotte Whinnett had two hits along with Bella Quallman.

Victoria are 1-1 in the tournament, the Seahorses are 1-2.

NSW Blue 15 def Brisbane Rebels 2

NSW Blue improved to 2-0 on the tournament with a commanding win.

Emma Gainsford (above) and Hannah O’Keefe each had multi-hit games. Overall, the team combined for 10 hits and seven walks with every player reaching base.

Isla Metuisela starred on the mound, striking out five batters in 2.2 innings allowing no runs. Emma Gainsford (below) had five strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched. Gainsford also had an RBI.

Brisbane Rebels 15 tie NSW White 15

How do you even describe this game? It had more emotional up & downs than an early season episode of Lost.

Brisbane scored five to start the game. New South Wales responded with four. 5-4 after 1.

Brisbane added one in the second. New South Wales scored five. 9-6 NSW through 2.

Brisbane popped off for six in the third. 12-9 Brisbane. New South Wales responded with four. 13-12 NSW.

Brisbane scored three in the fourth and final inning to push their lead to 15-13. New South Wales scored two in the bottom of the last to leave the game drawn at 15-15.

Wow. Five lead changes in a great battle.

Ryleigh Graf-Pretorious, Isla Mullavey, Ilya Saade, Alfana Roscrow and Amy Summer Ellio each had two runs for Brisbane Rebels.

Georgia Gately had three RBI for NSW White, backing up a strong day on Wednesday. Isabella Kosanic and Lily Wostenholme each drove in a pair.

NSW White improve to 0-2-1 and Brisbane move to 1-1-1.

NSW Blue 16 def West Coast Rays 5

New South Wales Blue improved to 3-0 after racing out to a 10-0 lead after two innings. They added six more in the top of the fourth to round out scoring.

In the bottom of the fourth, West Coast kept trucking on and scored five runs with great spirit.

Aubree Mills had a pair of hits and an RBI for West Coast Rays.

Hannah O’Keefe had her second multi-hit game of the day, collecting two base knocks for NSW Blue. Caitlyn Gainsford had six strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched to open the game.

08 May 2024 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League Women's Baseball

Day 1 Recaps & Results | Herstory is made as world's first national Little League Girls championship begins

There will only ever be “one” Day 1 in the global history of national Little Girls Championships.

Today was that day.

For the first time in herstory, there is a Little League tournament on a national level just for girls.

Here are the recaps and results from Day 1. Scroll down for standings, recaps and a couple great photos from Studio Honsa.

Watch the action tomorrow on Baseball+ live, free and around the world.

Tomorrow, the Australian Women’s Showcase starts. It features the best Australian talent and nine international World Cup stars.

Media

From radio interviews, television and digital, there was no shortage of interest in the event.

Story from NBN News: Click here.

Story in Lismore City News: Click here.

Story from NewsCorp (National): Click here.

ABC News Update (time stamp 2.11): Click here.

Ticara Geldenhuis interviewed on ABC News in the morning.

Feature from South Australia on the Adelaide Seahorses: Listen here.

Stay tuned to ABC North Coast Thursday morning for a feature on the Showcase and Little League Girls.

RESULTS

Thank you to Regional NSW and Lismore Council for making this event possible.

RECAPS

photos by Studio Honsa

NSW Blue 15 def Victoria Belles 6

In the first official game of national Little League Girls tournament history, NSW Blue piled it on in a high spirited contest.

NSW scored fifteen runs off 10 hits and secured an early 9-1 lead. Victoria Belles came on late, scoring five runs in their last two innings but fell just short.

Yvette Wyld, Caitlyn Gainsford and Emma G each had two hits and two RBI for NSW.

Emily Perks was impressive on the mound for the Belles, striking out four and allowing 0ER in 1.1 innings.

Adelaide Seahorses 13 def NSW White 5

The Seahorses mounted a ten run fifth inning to complete a mini-comeback.

Kylah Ding started strong for Adelaide, tossing 2.0 innings with five strikeouts in her start. The offence backed her up, giving the Seahorses an early 3-0 advantage.

But NSW White tallied five runs in the bottom of the fourth to move into a 5-3 lead heading into the fifth.

That’s when the Seahorses piled it on with ten in the fifth.

The Seahorses totalled eleven hits in the game and twelve players reached base. Their pitchers walked just three batters.

Georgia Gately led the charge for NSW White with two hits and an RBI.

Kylah Ding and Sasha Boundy had two hits apiece for Adelaide.

Brisbane Rebels 14 def Adelaide Seahorses 12

The Rebels pulled away early and held on late in an exciting, high-scoring win.

A patient approach at the plate led to an early 12-4 lead after two innings. Nine players from Brisbane’s roster scored a run in a total team effort where everyone contributed.

Sophia Bregonje had two hits and four RBI. Sienna Cameron struck out three batters and allowed zero earned runs on the mound for Brisbane.

The Seahorses scored eight runs in the final two innings before the game was called for time. Charlotte Wigomore led the offence with a hit and two-RBI.

West Coast Rays 10 def NSW White 9

A see-saw game for the ages.

Trailing 6-1 in the fourth inning, West Coast scored six to take the lead.

NSW White responded right away by scoring three in the top of the fifth. West Coast scored a quick couple to tie it in the bottom of the last, before Aambar Mawani cashed in the game’s winning run.

Skyla Coyle and Kali Hanrahan had two hits each for NSW White, white Georgia Gately struck out eight.

Madani had 2RBI to lead West Coast Rays.

07 May 2024 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Little League Women's Baseball

Little League Girls Information Hub: Results, Broadcast, Schedule and Information

It’s the world’s first Little League Girls National Championships, and it’s happening in Australia.

Here you will find schedule, running results, broadcast, Game Changer scoring links and information.

From May 8-12 in Lismore in the beautiful Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, six Little League (U13) girls teams from across Australia will compete for the title of national champion.

For the initial announcement and basic information, click here.

Games will run from 9:00AM to approximately 2:00PM each day before the professional showcase games begin featuring the best Australian players and nine World Cup players from around the world.

The Gold Medal Game will be played Sunday at 12:00PM.

Games are free to attend.

Schedule

Download here, or run to results tab.

Broadcast

Watch Diamond 3 Coverage on Baseball+ live & free around the world.

Watch Diamond 4 Coverage on a single feed through Game Changer. Click this link or search Little League Girls Division in Lismore.

RESULTS / DAILY RECAPS

DAY 5 – SCHEDULE – RECAP HERE

9:00AM – Gold Medal Game – NSW Blue 15 def Victoria Belles 1 – Recap
11:45AM – Bronze Medal Game – West Coast Rays 10 def Brisbane Rebels 7 – Recap
11:45AM – Consolation Game – Adelaide Seahorses 18 def NSW White 4

Day 1 – RECAP HERE

NSW Blue 15 def Victoria Belles 6
Adelaide Seahorses 13 def NSW White 5
West Coast Rays 10 def NSW White 9
Brisbane Rebels 14 def Adelaide Seahorses 12

Day 2 – RECAP HERE

NSW Blue 15 def Brisbane Rebels 2
Victoria Belles 11 def Adelaide Seahorses 10
NSW Blue 16 def West Coast Rays 5
NSW White 15 tie Brisbane Rebels 15

Day 3- RECAP HERE

West Coast Rays 12 def Adelaide Seahorses 2
Victoria Belles 7 def Brisbane Rebels 1
Victoria Belles 16 def West Coast Rays 9
NSW Blue 15 def NSW White 5

Day 4 – RECAP HERE

9:00AM – Victoria Belles 13 def NSW White 8
11:45AM – West Coast Rays vs Brisbane Rebels
11:45AM – NSW Blue 13 def Adelaide Seahorses 6

Current Standings

MORE INFO / TEAMS

Click here for initial release and information.

Victoria Belles: The Little League Girls squad who helped push this momentum forward. In 2023, Victoria entered an all girls team for the first time in Australian history at the national Little League Division 2 championships. Tryouts were held with representatives from various clubs across the state.

West Coast Rays: In a similar fashion to the Rays, this group of girls from Perth are made up of players from across the state and metro Perth. The West is in a resurgence in junior girls baseball, finishing with a bronze medal at the recent U16 championships and hosting the Barclay Cup in late 2023.

NSW Blue + White: With a surge of popularity and a large number of players expressing interest to play in the Little League Girls tournament, NSW decided to enter two teams and divide them up in even numbers.

Adelaide Seahorses: South Australia has experienced growth in girls baseball and now the results are showing. In just their second ever year of having a U16 Youth Women’s State Team, South Australia won gold this April past. Their Seahorses team / name has a silver medal at the Barclay Cup. Now we see the next generation come through.

Brisbane Rebels: Queensland held a three-team qualifying tournament to determine their representative and a collection of metro Brisbane players took home the chocolates. They selected a Rebels name and now head to Lismore.

01 May 2024 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Women's Baseball

2024 Women's Showcase Hub: Schedule, Results, Rosters, Stories & Information

Head to theabl.com.au for all Australian Women’s Showcase information.

The Showcase will feature Australia’s best players competing on the Brisbane Bandits, Adelaide Giants and Victoria Aces.

HUB, SCHEDULE, RORSTERS INFO: Click here.

Watch on Baseball+ at www.theabl.com.au/baseballplus.

29 April 2024 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad Aussies Sign Pro

Here's how Australians in professional baseball fared in April 2024

We’re one month into the minor league season.

Want to know how all our Australian players are doing in their professional North American leagues? You’ve come to the right spot.

26 April 2024 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

College Baseball

South Australian Kai Reid announces commitment to Clarendon College

Glenelg Baseball Club’s Kai Reid has become the latest Australian to commit to college, and he credits his South Aussie community in part for helping him reach his baseball goals.

Reid, an outfielder and utility specialist, has announced that he will attend Clarendon College in August 2024.

It’s the same school which fellow South Australian Liam Scott recently graduated from, and the same program Giants’ head coach Chris Adamson went through.

“The college process is a lengthy one. I had interest from various colleges including a Junior College in Michigan. But Clarendon was a clear choice with good gym facilities along with the quality of competition and housing on campus – all the criteria was checked,” he says.

“Coach Russell played an instrumental part in my decision to go to Clarendon with him always making himself available to answer questions.”

Reid, who is coming off a season playing Division 1 for Glenelg, says the South Australian Baseball community greatly helped him reach this point in his baseball career.

One person he checked in with was the aforementioned Liam Scott.

“Liam Scott has been a great help on providing a good perspective of what it’s like over there and as a player who has also played in the South Australian Baseball League,” he says. “He has given an idea of what to expect – just having him to bounce ideas off is great.”

He says another local South Australian player for helping him pursue his dream – another college athlete in Max Stagg.

“I don’t think the next opportunities would have occurred if it wasn’t for Max Stagg,” says Reid. “He took me under his wing for the four months leading into his departure for college. That also coincided with the SA state school boy’s tournament so we would hit and work out at the gym together every opportunity we got. Max’s dedication, focus and determination has rubbed off on me.”

Reid has gained a reputation in the South Australian community as a high work-ethic individual.

One coach said he is “always looking for ways to work hard to improve.”

Reid also says the coaches at Glenelg were hugely influential in his development.

“I have been lucky enough to have a lot of great coaches who have all had their different strengths. Luke Thompson would have thrown me thousands of rounds of BP over the years. My current head coach Tony Muzzini and junior coach Andrew Gluyas helped shape me into the baseballer I am today. My first senior year was a challenging one but luckily Andrew Qualmann must have seen something in me and encouraged me to come back the following year and thank goodness I did.”

Reid played all his juniors at Glenelg and started his senior career at age 14.

It’s a game he’ll never forget.

“My first seniors game was a memorable one – I was going for a catch in the outfield and collided head on with the centrefielder. I got a concussion and spent the rest of the afternoon in the emergency room. Football was always my number 1 sport until I broke my leg in my U18 qualifying year. This was when I started to really focus on my baseball. I got an opportunity in the SABL season to play some Division 1 and really enjoyed it.”

Reid will head off to Texas in mid-August in advance of the 2024-25 academic year.

For more college stories, visit here.

23 April 2024 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Little League Community Women's Baseball

Schedule released for world's first Little League Girls Division National Championships

The schedule is here for an internationally groundbreaking event.

The 2024 Australian Little League Girls Division Championships in Lismore has dropped.

The event, which runs from May 8-12 in Lismore, is the first of its kind. No other baseball country has hosted a national championships for a girls only division of the Little League Championships.

Little League is one of the most famous participation platforms in international baseball. Little League is for 12U players.

DOWNLOAD NOW: 2024 Australian Little League Girls Schedule

The Adelaide Seahorses, West Coast Rays, Victoria Belles, New South Wales Blue, New South Wales White & Brisbane Rebels will each send a roster to compete for the title of Little League Girl National Champion.

Each team will play each other once over the first four days of the tournament – a total of five group stage games each. The top two teams will advance straight to the Gold Medal Game on Sunday 12 May at noon.

The event will run alongside the 2024 Australia Women’s Showcase. It is proudly supported by Regional NSW.

Games on Diamond 3 will be broadcast live on Baseball+, with six-time World Cup representative and silver medalist Amy McCann calling all the action.

WOMEN’S SHOWCASE HUB, SCHEDULE, RORSTERS INFO: Click here.

The event will run alongside the 2024 Australian Women’s Showcase – an event that brings the best female baseball players in the country together, along with a mix of international talent.

Emeralds two-way player Claire O’Sullivan says she hopes an event like this can further launch girls baseball in Australia. She says there’s a lot to love about this event.

“I love that Lismore gets to host the first Little League Girls Nationals. I love that everyone gets to see that there’s a baseball world outside of main cities and everyone gets to experience a great community and world class facility in the country.”

“I hope it also helps people living in the country towns realise that there are pathways available to enable them to play the highest level of baseball they can. I’d love to see the numbers continue to grow in and around the areas because of this tournament, if it helps just one girl say to their parents “I’d like to try baseball” then that would be a pretty cool thing. I was built from the NSW Country baseball system, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the NSW country pathways and training program that previous coaches have put so much time into developing.”

Claire, we couldn’t have said it better if we tried.

All non-broadcast games will be scored on GameChanger with a single camera live-feed for families to tune in.

There will be daily reports, photos and recaps to share with the broader community.

“I hope this is the start of women’s baseball in Australia building from the ground up and creating even more opportunities for girls and women in this country to play the sport they love,” she adds.

23 April 2024 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

College Baseball

Victorian two-way player Ryan Williams commits to college baseball program

Ryan Williams, a two-way baseball player from Victoria, has committed to Coffeyville College to continue his baseball and academic career.

“After discussions with more than a dozen other junior colleges, I decided on Coffeyville because of their baseball program, coaching staff, and facilities. They have solid results which I believe I can contribute to,” says Williams.

He will be the first Australian to attend Coffeyville, a Junior College, when he lands in Kansas in August 2024.

Williams is a unique college placement. He is a two-way player from Sandringham Baseball Club.

National Player Development manager Andrew Riddell says this developed some great conversations with prospective schools.

“Ryan is a talented player who was at our U18 National Camp last year and can impact the game both as a left-handed pitcher and hitter,” he says. “As a college recruit, being able to be versatile adds another dimension to a potential roster spot.”

Riddell says Williams had some great conversations with coaches at various schools about pitching and hitting and Coffeyville were very receptive to the idea.

“He has power in his bat and also a very deceiving forkball on the mound so we are looking forward to following his college journey and wish him the best both hitting and pitching,” he says.

Williams says he hopes to develop both sides of his game at college.

“I hope to continue to improve and fine tune aspects of my swing while facing quality pitching,” he says. “As for my own pitching, I hope to gain more consistency with my control and improve my velocity.”

Williams has a four-pitch arsenal at the moment. In addition to a usual fastball, slider and change-up, he can also throw a forkball.

He was using it more often in the summer season with Sandringham.

“Sandringham was my first and only summer club where I’ve been fortunate enough to have had amazing coaches and been presented with great opportunities. A special call out to Rick Wills – my first coach who I was lucky to have for most of my junior years.”

Williams also worked with Performance Pathway and National Team coaches in Damian Shanahan and Kelli Zablan. He says he was also buoyed by members of the Victorian community like Luke Abels, who helped him recover from an injury.

He worked through the Baseball Australia systems – competing in U16 and U18 state teams and also Senior League charter competitions. In August 2023 he attended the U18 National Camp after impressing at the 2023 AYC earlier in the year.

“That was an unbelievable experience. I was able to compete against the best U18 players in Australia and get feedback on my game. It gave me a taste of what it might be like to compete in the USA.”

22 April 2024 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

ABL

Australia to open Premier12 vs World #1 Japan in Nagoya as groups / schedule for major tournament are revealed

Australia’s group in the 2024 Premier12 has been revealed.

Australia will play in Group B with Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Cuba and Dominican Republic.

The Group will primarily be hosted in Taiwan from November 14-18, but there’s a twist.

Australia will open Group B action with a game in Nagoya, Japan vs the World #1 Japanese side. The two teams will fly to Taipei after the game.

Group A will be played in Mexico. The Group A teams are USA, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

After round-robin play, the top two finishers of each group will compete in the Super Round. The first and second-place teams of the Super Round will compete in the Premier12 Championship game, while the third and fourth-place finishers will play for a bronze medal.

You can view the full schedule here.

The Tokyo Dome will host the Super Round (21-23 November).

The medal games are scheduled for 24 November.

You can read the full release from WBSC here.

22 April 2024 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad Aussies Sign Pro

17-year-old Brisbane pitcher Juan "Manny" Ramirez signs professional contract with Toronto Blue Jays

photos from Brisbane Bandits social media

Brisbane pitcher Juan “Manny” Ramirez has turned pro.

The 17-year-old inked an MLB-affiliate deal with the Toronto Blue Jays late last week, becoming the 33rd active Australian with a professional baseball contract.

Ramirez was named to the 2023 Queensland U18 state team who claimed a national championship.

He’s also worked closely with former Team Australia pitcher and current Brisbane Bandits General Manager Ryan Searle.

More to come.

17 April 2024 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community

Baseball Australia unveils new Education App

Coaches in Australian baseball now have one place to call home when it comes to accreditation, coaches, skill development, practice plans and exercises.

Baseball Australia encourages all coaches to download the Baseball Australia Education App, available through Apple & Google Stores, as well as online.

DOWNLOAD NOW: For free via the Apple Store or on the Google Play Store

News