New South Wales outfielder Luke Donaghey commits to Galveston College

20 March 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

New South Wales outfielder Luke Donaghey commits to Galveston College

A third Australian in as many weeks has committed to Galveston College, a junior college in Texas.

Luke Donaghey, an outfielder from New South Wales, joins Flynn McKee (SA) and Ben Karaksis (NSW) as a trio of Australians who will start their baseball and academic journeys in August, 2025.

South Australia’s Nic Paparella is also attending Galveston this season as a freshman.
Donaghey is a product of Manly Baseball Club. He played juniors for Manly Seasiders and now plays first grade for the Manly Eagles.

He’s a speedy outfielder with a strong arm, range, sneaky power and contact to all parts of the field.

“My strengths would definitely be my speed and power for my size both offensive and defensively and also a great work ethic on and off the field with a positive mindset,” says Donaghey.

He says he hopes to further develop some of those qualities while at school.

“I see a massive opportunity for development at Galveston as it is a high level of competition playing the best junior college players in the state,” he says. “I’ll constantly have the urge to fight for my starting spot and be motivated by my teammates and coaches which I am apart of a greater community.”

Donaghey was part of the Australian U18 Squad that competed in a Perfect Game tournament in September, 2024. He was one of ten Australians named to the MLB World Select Team for a Showcase.

It was at these events he was noticed by Galveston coaching staff.

“These really helped me realise some of the other talent in the world and what I am up against and helped me to realise I am a long way off the end goal,” he says.

He developed his talent while playing in the New South Wales system with Manly. He represented is state both at the U16 and U18 level.

Donaghey is quick to call out members of his community which helped him progress.

“I was influenced by my older brother and one of my best friends Zac Morris,” he says. “I was a little hesitant at first and they encouraged me to play. I currently play beside Zac for the Manly Eagles 1st Grade State team and we will both be departing ways to different colleges to persue our dreams.”

“Of course, Travis Bazzana doing the unthinkable really motivates myself as an Australian baseball player. I am constantly motivated by my father willing to make him and my family proud by trying to pursue the dream of making a career out of it and one day retire them.”

Now, he’ll seek further improvements away from home.

“I am hoping to improve as a teammate and as a leader,” he says. “I want to learn to deal with adversity and struggle. I am hoping to also improve my overall game sense and knowledge of the game to help utilise my strengths to a better advantage.”

Congratulations, Luke!

Do you have a college story we should know about? Email Eric Balnar at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

A Newbie's Guide to Women's Baseball: Six Takeaways from a chat with Amy McCann

by Baseball.com.au writer Eliza Wood

Eliza is a student at La Trobe University doing a writing placement with Baseball.com.au. She is an elite football player for Carlton in the VFLW, an avid sports fan, athlete, and learning the wonderful world of women’s baseball.

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As we gear up for what is set to be a thrilling Women’s and Youth Women’s Championship in April (13-19), I sat down with the one and only Amy McCann to talk all things women’s baseball.

Amy is an Australian Emerald veteran, a 6-time WBSC World Cup representative, podcast host, and Australian baseball broadcaster.

As someone whose life has revolved around sport but is relatively new to the world of baseball, I knew I’d come to the right person the minute I started interviewing Amy.

Her passion, love and knowledge for the game shone through in every way possible. I could have sat there for hours listening to her share her wealth of baseball wisdom.

Above: Amy McCann (middle) with the 2024 Australian Women’s Baseball Championships broadcast team of Emeralds – Gen Beacom (left) and Amy Cannington (right). Amy hosts a podcast on women’s baseball called ‘The Inside Pitch’.

I formed my top six takeaways about women’s baseball in Australia after sifting through my energetic conversation with the legendary Amy McCann.

Here we go.

TAKEAWAY ONE: EVOLVING (AND LONG) HISTORY OF THE GAME

Did you know the first recording of women playing baseball in Australia dates back to the early 1900s? 1909 to be exact. This predates the first recording of a women’s AFL match (1915).

The thought in your head right now is 100 percent correct – yes, Australian women have been playing baseball in Australia for over a century.

The game continued to grow in popularity. The All-Australian Women’s Baseball Association was formed in the early 1930s. History was made on the 17 of April 1934, when the first ever All-Australian Women’s Baseball Championship series was played across three days with New South Wales claiming victory.

The series continued annually until 1940; when, however, due to the Great Depression, WWII and debate over whether women should be playing the game, women’s baseball was unfortunately forced into a 50-year hiatus.

When I asked Amy what drew her to start playing baseball, she simply replied, “Watching A League of Their Own,” the 1992 box office film, and well, she wasn’t the only one.

Around the world, interest in women’s baseball began to boom in the early 1990s, resulting in a resurgence for the women’s game here in Australia.

The turn of the century saw more history. An inaugural Australian Women’s Team traveled to Canada to compete in the first Women’s World Series in 2001.

Above: The Emeralds at the 2004 Baseball World Cup event.

The Australian Team rightfully covered themselves in sporting history for our country, returning home with a bronze medal to their name.

The national women’s team renamed themselves to the Emeralds in 2013 and have tasted a lot of success on the international stage. They won a silver in 2010 and a bronze at the 2014 World Cup.

Their grit and fighting spirit have continually kept them contending amongst the best in the world for so many years.

TAKEAWAY TWO: BASEBALL IS NOT SOFTBALL

“If I had a dollar for every time someone said, don’t you play softball… no, I do know what I play but thank you,” quipped Amy.

It is such a common assumption amongst the general population that women play softball, not baseball, and more-so that the two sports are the same.

Aside from the fact the two games are diamond sports (referring to their diamond shaped fields), the differences are dramatic.

Everything from the size of the field, the size and feel of the ball, the distance between bases, the bats used, the number of innings played, to underarm pitching from a flat mound in softball vs overarm pitching from a raised mound in baseball sets the two worlds apart.

These sports are independently their own; they are distinct for the way they are played, not by the gender that chooses to play them.

TAKEAWAY THREE: A SPORT FOR ONE, A SPORT FOR ALL

Until now, I never realised how accommodating baseball was to its players. A simple concept, but a very beneficial one for the longevity of the sport.

“What’s really great is it [baseball] doesn’t discriminate,” said Amy.

“You could be a really great fielder, a really great hitter, a really great runner, a really great thrower, you can be tall, you can be short, you can be fast, not so fast and the field will find a position for you,” she added.

There are two seasons for baseball – one in Summer and one in Winter.

One of Amy’s favourite seasons of baseball to date was a ‘Winter Ball’ League last year.

Amy and her partner, Sam Hamilton, coached a team of women aged between 32-60 at Monty Baseball Club (Below).

Only one of the players on the team had ever played baseball before and thirteen of the 14 players were mums. She also enlisted the help of current Emeralds Gen Beacom and Allie Bebbere to assist with coaching duties.

“It was amazing” she beamed, a smile on her face.

No matter who you are, how old you are, if you live and breathe sport, or if you’re purely wanting to try something new. Step up to the plate and give baseball a go!

TAKEAWAY FOUR: WOMEN AND MEN PLAY THE SAME GAME

This may sound obvious but the more you delve into it, the more you realise how unique this is to baseball.

Commonly, men’s and women’s games of the same sport have slightly adjusted rules. Nothing overly major, but still a difference, such as ball size, size of the playing field, numbers on the field, etc.

However, in baseball, the men’s and women’s are interchangeable.

Let’s paint a picture.

Take Shohei Ohtani, the best baseball player in the world, and compare him to girls playing in junior competitions. You wouldn’t think they were playing the same field, running the same bases, throwing the same ball, pitching the same distance, would you?

My mind was utterly blown when Amy pointed this out to me, I couldn’t fathom it. I had never heard of a sport where this was the case. The only true difference is that men use wooden bats and women do not, however, if you are a woman playing with the men, you must use a wooden bat.

Women and men commonly play together in baseball community leagues nationwide. If you want to break it down into simple terms, it looks something like this:

• Tee-ball to U/18s can be mixed gender;
• Senior women’s baseball is women and girls aged 13 and up;
• Senior “men’s” is mixed gender and anyone over the age of 14 can play;

I will note, the ages of 13/14 can be state and league dependant.

“It’s much harder and it’s very humbling [playing with the men], but it makes you better… the fact the girls have that opportunity is great,” says Amy.

TAKEAWAY FIVE: A STRONGER TOGETHER COMMUNITY

Above: Girls from Brisbane celebrate after playing in the world’s first Little League Girls National Championship in Lismore, 2024. Read the story here. Photo: Erin Honsa.

What became so clear to me throughout my interview with Amy, was baseball is so much bigger than just a sport to the women who play it.

The community they have built, is the heart and soul of it all.

“What I love most about it, is just the power of all of us that play together. We just have this amazing community… we bring the sport up ourselves,” shared Amy.

When you pursue baseball, you aren’t just joining a team. You are welcomed with open arms into a fun, caring, network of people, where the same energy radiates through everyone.

A united front, who just want to play the game they love and to share that with as many people as possible.

“We don’t step on the field to try and prove you wrong, we just want to step on the field,” she affirmed.

With participation numbers on the up and up at the grassroots level, the gaps that were once there throughout age brackets are starting to fill, favouring the future of this sport that means so much, to so many.

Above: The Belles, a trailblazing Little League Girls Team, trains with the Victorian senior women’s state team.

TAKEAWAY SIX: 2025 NATIONALS IS COMING IN HOT

My final takeaway is that this year’s women’s and youth women’s championships are an absolute, must-see event!

With the best talent in the country all descending upon Melbourne Ball Park, it’ll be no holds barred as we see Emeralds vs Emeralds and the clashing of state rivalries.

Electrifying young talent will be aplenty as they begin to pave their way, and rising stars will shine brighter than ever before.

Names like Caitlin Eyenon (WA), Claire O’Sullivan (NSW), Molly Paddison (QLD), Allie Bebbere (VIC) and Jess Maslin (SA) are sure to have spectators on the edge of their seat as they take to the field and set it alight.

You’ve got women playing baseball for a week, with both the youth and women’s finals taking place on the final day – it doesn’t get much better than that.

You can find out more information about the two events at www.baseball.com.au/women.

WHERE TO NEXT

Baseball is truly a sport of layers.

It has so much to offer, there is so much to learn and numerous ways to get involved.

If you want to explore the world of baseball further, start by looking into the state associations, finding local clubs near you, watch games on TV and Baseball+, tune in to the women’s championship series (April 13-19), or better yet, get your feet on the ground and come on down, and immerse yourself in what it’s all about!

Additionally, you can listen to the intellectual powerhouse herself Amy McCann, on her very own podcast Women’s Baseball – The Inside Pitch.

I’ll leave you with this quote from Amy McCann.

“You run, you throw, you field… and the hard [of the sport], is what makes it great.”

14 March 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

College Baseball

Here's how Australians are doing in the college baseball world | Mid-March College Update

There are over 100 Australians playing college baseball in the United States.

I foraged the internet to find out how they’re all doing. Here is a list of key performers at various levels.

Did I miss someone with a big performance? It happens! There’s a lot to keep track of. Email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au and I can add it to the update(s).

Want more baseball news? Here’s an Australian audio news bulletin:

13 March 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Team Australia

Team Australia announces players on Under 16 Junior squad

Team Australia has finalised their selections for the 2025 Under 16 National Junior Squad.

The 36 players from across the country will head to the United States in early July to play at the U16 WWBA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia in front of college coaches and MLB scouts.

They will play in the tournament as two separate teams of 18, which will be announced closer to tournament time.

They were selected off the backs of their performance at the 2025 Australian Youth Championships in January.

12 March 2025 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

College Baseball

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.

12 March 2025 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad College Baseball

New South Wales utility Cal Fingleson Commits to Tyler Junior College

New South Wales utility man Cal Fingleson has committed to Tyler Junior College, a school in Texas.

He’ll head over to the USA in June to player ‘Summer Ball’ before starting classes in August.

“It just felt right,” says Fingleson. “When I visited schools [in the USA]…Tyler seemed like the best place for me to grow into the player and person I want to become and help me move on to the next level.”

“From the coaches to the players to the facilities there was a sense of professionalism mixed with a fun environment that made it feel like the perfect place to call home.”

Fingleson started his baseball journey at the Ku-Ring-Gai Steelers before moving to Pittwater, North Sydney Bears and finally the Cronulla Giants.

His father, Gavin, won an Olympic Silver Medal while playing for Team Australia at the 2004 Olympics.

“My dad and grandpa have influenced my career massively,” says Cal. “Hearing stories of my dad’s career and his achievements, and still being able to watch him play, has motivated and inspired me to pursue a career in this sport. I’m lucky to have someone like him in my life. My grandfather has influenced me in so many ways as well from being my number one supporter through success and failures and driving to the end of the earth to watch me play, never missing a game or practice.”

Fingleson played for New South Wales at the 2022 Australian Youth Championships. Unfortunately, in his final year of eligibility, he missed the 2024 U18 Australian Youth Championships due to injury.

He had a chance to play in front of scouts and college coaches at the 2024 Perfect Game Tournament, representing Team Australia in Florida.

“Missing out on those AYCs was very difficult for me but those failures and injuries allowed me to sharpen my mentality and work even harder for the Perfect Game tournament,” says Fingleson. “This prepared me both physically and mentally and allowed me to prove that I can compete at the same level as the top teams in the states.”

Fingleson is a player who leaves it all out on the field.

“I’m a player that’ll work until my legs fall off. I believe I am able to grind out long and tough at bats whilst being a tough out at the plate,” he says. “In the field I am able to field any ball hit to or near me with extensive range and I play with an unmatched intensity and grit.”

He plays strong defense, can hit for average and plays for speed.

He says he’s hoping to increase his arm strength and power hitting while away at college.

“I see myself developing both in the weight room and on the field every single day,” says Fingleston. “My goal is to become a better play when I walk off the field or weight room than the player who walked in and with that mentality there is no ceiling for anyone. 1% better everyday.”

Congratulations, Cal!

Do you have a college story we should know about? Email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

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.

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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.

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