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feature by Connie Rowe from the Australian Women’s Championships

Pristine turf and manicured cut outs, booming commentators and roaring crowds. Just a few ways you know you’ve made it to the big league.

But how do you get to be here?

Outside of hours of training, strength and conditioning, and studying the game there is also an element of understanding the new environment that is an Australian Women’s Championships.

Emma Reid lives for tournament ball.

“It’s the pinnacle of the sport for me, especially at this level,” said Reid. “You get to compete day in day out, pushing through the physical and mental fatigue. It’s where you get to test your skills against the best in the country,

“For me it’s also a chance to learn more about the game.”

Reid knows this all too well.

The mother of three, businesswoman and student admits to the sacrifices she has made on her journey to representing her state.

“There’s something about receiving your jersey that makes it all worth it.”

She was primed and ready to deliver.

Alas, early in the Queensland White campaign, horror struck.

Emma put her body on the line, stretching beyond the limit to get her team a critical out. Suddenly her footing slipped and the worst imaginable thought crossed her mind.

She had damaged her hamstring.

She was gutted, but even in that moment there was something more important.

“I knew as soon as the play was completed that I’d done some damage but at that point in time, I just wanted to make sure the ball was in my glove.”

This type of experience may have floored many athletes. Not Reid.

“Being a Physio myself was both a blessing and a curse at that point,” she said.

As much as she desperately wanted to be out on the field, she knew there were two options:
– push through and risk further damage.
– take up the bench, get treatment straight away and hopefully get back as an option for the end of the week.

“I’ve put the hard work in to get here. I just had to trust that it would work out.”

In her downtime, when she’s not facetiming her kids, finalising pay runs and rosters for work or, smashing out uni assignments, she’s looking for ways to make her team that little bit better every day.

“Don’t underestimate the role that you play from the bench,

“Your voice is the one that keeps the energy and players up,

“Your attention to detail on the charts can make the difference in next innings outs,

“Staying warm could be the difference between coming on for a clutch play, right when the coaches need you the most,

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s painful not being able to be out there but the sooner you can process this and see the bigger puzzle that is your team at play, the bigger asset you will be.”

For all of the above, it’s probably the reason Emma won the Spirit of the Game Award, presented by No More.

The makings of an athlete is more than just your physical skill on the diamond. It’s the ability to process the speed bumps that come along the way. How you deal with adversity along with success, pick those around you up and recognise your role as part of the ecosystem that is your team.

Reid hopes that through her role as a mentor in the Queensland White team, she has the ability to influence up coming athletes, to help them see the game as a whole.

Players like Mea Arlow, a debutant in the Opens competition, has embraced each role she’s been given throughout the competition.

In Queensland White’s hair raising win against South Australia, Arlow was part of the contingent riding the energy from the dugout.

That was until the dying moments of the game.

After an intentional walk put Keeley Boehm on to load up the bases with two out, Arlow was called on by coach Connors.

Yet to get a hit in the tournament, it was a big moment for the teen.

If there was a time to hit, this was it.

Chasing her pitch early, she launched one to right field to drive in two runs to tie up the game.

Arlow is part of the Queensland White team, a pathway designed to give more players exposure to high level baseball in a bid to strengthen the pool of players coming through the ranks.

With the likes of Taliyah Paolo, Mackenzie Rogers, Grace White, Jess Sullivan, Sam Sullivan (Qld), Tiana Lascala, (NSW), Mackenzie Prentice-Evans (Vic) and Charlotte Yates (WA) all having roots in the White team and now making a statement for their respective states. There have been 12 players use this program as a launchpad to date.

Karina Conor’s, head coach of the Queensland White team says that this is exactly what it’s about. Providing a safe place to perform, learn and understand the level needed to compete and succeed at a National Championships.

“The game is faster, pitchers are better, and hitters smoke the ball consistently,

“Seeing that for seven days straight and playing against it can really light the fire for wanting to come back bigger, better and stronger the next year.

“We want to provide players with exposure to the next level. To see them take the opportunity and run with it is exactly what it [the program] is designed for.”

As part of this safe space, the White program has embedded a leadership aspect to their lineup.

“It’s important to have good leaders for team and individual success,” Connors said.

“We’ve always ensured we have a couple mentor players to impart their knowledge and experience, to help the younger ones learn quicker and settle in to the experience of a National Championships.

“Players like Emma Reid show leadership, experience and calmness,” Connors said.

“She’s also a fierce competitor, showing the younger ones how to compete.”

With more players exposed to high level ball than ever before, the women’s league across Australia is becoming a big league of its own.

MORE FEATURE STORIES

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– Feature: A Call to Change The Game – Australia’s all-female tournament umpire crew

– | How we got here: Preliminary Final Day Recap (April 18)

– Feature: A Call to Change The Game – Australia’s all-female tournament umpire crew

– Feature: Live from the best seat in the house – a scorer’s view of the AWC

– Feature: Kira Kuwamoto shines for team VIC after eleventh hour call up

feature by Connie Rowe, visit www.baseball.com.au/women for the Tournament Hub and more stories 

Tournament baseball adds a whole new spin on your typical ball game.

It’s a time to level up, push your boundaries and truly test yourself.

Over the seven day Australian Women’s Baseball Championships, a total of 25 games will be played. With each team playing up to eight each.

Each team that is, except one – the umpires.

Across the week, each umpire will step foot on the diamond 12 times. Each of those games is a chance to grow.

For the first ever all women’s umpiring crew at these championships, they have come to perform on the big stage.

Leanne Gearside is one umpire who has come to do just that.

“For us as umpires at this level, we have been training for these moments,” she says. “We run scenarios, study the rule book, analyse our games and sit through exams.”

All this preparation helps but there’s nothing like learning on the job.

“In a game of baseball like this, we typically run seven innings,” she says. “If there’s one thing you can take away from every innings then that’s seven new things to add to your repertoire each game.”

GOLD MEDAL GAMES: All Saturday on Baseball+

Communication is key when it comes to umpiring. From pregame chats to post game debriefs and the subtle silent sign language on field, it’s the secret to a well oiled machine.

But for this team, it is the first time that many have met each other, let alone worked a game together.

Not that this phases Gearside.

Between the laughter and the change room banter, the mateship that is formed between colleagues in just a short time creates a lasting bond.

Learning from each other comes as second nature, when you’re in such close quarters. Add to that some great mentors and you’re in good hands.

When it comes to women’s umpire mentors, you can’t go past Umpire in Chief and four-time world cup umpire, Fiona Lambrick.

“Having Fiona around, she is a wealth of knowledge but she is also here for each of us, to help make us better and more confident,” Gearside says.

And with more and more women coming through the ranks of umpiring, it is Gearside’s hope that they too can be an inspiration for the next generation of umpires coming through.

“We’re starting a legacy here – a new era for baseball.”

But for Gearside, it doesn’t matter if you’re a male or a female.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, if you are good enough and you work hard enough, the pathways are there for anyone.”

Fiona Lambrick knows full well the path less traveled for female umpires.

Five years ago, when a vision from the Australian Umpire in Chief Brett Robson, proposed to her of one day having an all female crew at nationals, it opened Lambrick’s eyes to a world of possibilities.

Since then, Lambrick has not only been chasing her dreams but is committed to supporting her fellow females to own the role.

“It is a very male dominated field and that can be intimidating,” Lambrick said.

Mentoring is something that Lambrick thrives on. Accepted into the Australian Sports Commission mentor program to drive gender equity and positive sport experiences for women and girls.

It’s about enabling, empowering, and supporting women mentors, with the tools to influence positive change and navigate change management in their clubs or organisation.

“It’s great to see so many ladies not only taking up umpiring but also inspiring others to get involved.”

To those thinking of getting involved and taking up the artform, Gearside and Lambrick have the same message.

A rewarding world awaits for those willing to take it.

“Just give it a go, you never know where it will take you,” Gearside said.

“Know that you will make mistakes, it’s what you do with those mistakes that matters,

“Learn from them, let them grow and shape you. Just don’t make the same one twice!”

If you like asking questions, challenging yourself and being there for others, becoming an umpire may just be your calling.

The Umpires from this tournament are:

Australian Women’s Championship

• Leanne Gearside – NSW
• Alisha Jewry – QLD
• Lilian King – ACT
• Jen Langlands – NSW
• Carla Pinder – QLD
• Janine Thompson – VIC

Australian Youth Women’s Championship

• Irma Cortez – QLD
• Jan Gatti – NSW
• Liliana Ostara – QLD
• Anahera Russell – QLD
• Tess Sard – VIC
• Jenelle Stafilis – VIC

 

MORE FROM CONNIE ROWE AND BASEBALL AUSTRALIA

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• Live from the best seat in the house – a scorer’s view of the AWC | Feature by Connie Rowe
• Live Blog: Women’s Championships – April 18 | Gold Medal Spots on the line on Good Friday
• Meet Emma Reid: The mother of three leading Queensland White despite injury
• AWC Feature: A Quinn-tessential Display of Pitching
• AWC Feature: Lila Hall at home at the plate

Today we figured out our two Gold Medal Game match ups.

As it turns out, four different states will battle for gold.

Read about the incredible day below as it unfolded, with recaps, notes, quotes, highlights and scenarios.

It is a day we’ll talk about for a long time. Highlights include:

– Two different players hit a massive homer;
– A huge Victoria come-back;
– What shall be called ‘the Chloe Atkinson game’
– An inside the park grand slam;
– An elite diving catch;
– A no-hitter;
– Shutout pitching performances.

What a day for women’s baseball! You’ll have to read on…(yeah, it’s a lot but hey it’s a big day!)

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling! It’s probably there (including notes on finals and tiebreaks in each section). Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women for links.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.

FEATURE STORY: A Call to Change The Game – Australia’s all-female tournament umpire crew

GOOD FRIDAY RESULTS

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Women’s Finals 

Qualification Final: Victoria 10 def NSW 8
Elimination Final: Western Australia 12 def Queensland 4
Preliminary Final: New South Wales 9 def Queensland 0

Consolation Game: South Australia 21 def Queensland 3

New South Wales and Victoria will meet in the Gold Medal Game at 2:30PM on Saturday. Watch on Baseball+ (plus.baseball.com.au). All times AEST

Western Australia win bronze. Queensland Maroon finish fourth. South Australia finish fifth. Queensland White sixth.

Youth U16 Finals 

Consolation: New South Wales 7 def Victoria 2

Finals Game 1: Western Australia 10 def Queensland 6
Finals Game 2: South Australia 11 def Western Australia 0
Finals Game 3: South Australia 7 def Queensland 2

Watch on GameChanger

Note: The top two teams of the Finals Round of the U16 Division advance to Saturday’s Gold.

Youth Finals Standings

South Australia 2-0 (2 RA)
Western Australia 1-1 (17 RA)
Queensland 0-2 (17 RA)

South Australia and Western Australia will play for Gold at 9:00AM on Saturday on Baseball+.

Queensland win bronze. 

SATURDAY 19 APRIL SCHEDULE – GOLD MEDAL DAY

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Women’s

9:00AM (Consolation) – Queensland Maroon vs Queensland White, GameChanger
11:45 AM (Consolation) – Western Australia vs South Australia, GameChanger

2:30PM – GOLD MEDAL GAME – Victoria vs New South Wales, watch on Baseball+

Youth Women’s

9:00AM – GOLD MEDAL: South Australia vs Western Australia, watch on Baseball+

11:15AM – Consolation: Queensland vs New South Wales, GameChanger
1:30PM – Consolation: New South Wales vs Victoria, GameChanger

RECAPS

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QUALIFICATION FINAL: BALLPARK PANDEMONIUM – KAMETANI, DALE LEAD “BIG V” TO THE BIG DANCE

by Landon Blackhall

Victoria 10 def New South Wales 8

Victoria are now on the verge of going back-to-back in the Australian Women’s Championship after an absolute thriller at Melbourne Ballpark against New South Wales.

The Vics picked up a 10-8 win in the Qualification Final to advance to the Gold Medal Game, but the score line did not do these teams justice.

Both sides rode out an action-packed emotional rollercoaster from the first pitch to the final out.

Victoria spoiled an out-of-this world effort from Claire O’Sullivan went 4-for-4 with the bat, notching two singles, a double and a triple. She also started on the mound, throwing 5.0 innings for New South Wales.

Paula Doherty was great for Victoria on the mound too, tossing five innings allowing four earned runs and settling after an early three runs.

Here’s how it unfolded:

Victoria’s Kametani got things going in the first inning with a single, but after Kelly flied out to left field, Kametani took advantage of an overthrow to move into scoring position before Kira Kuwamoto drove her in with an RBI triple to make it 1-0.

NSW’s Geldenhuis then cranked a huge hit over centre field for a stand-up triple; Nakashio brought her in with a sac-fly to tie it up before they worked around the lead through consecutive singles from O’Sullivan, McGuire and Lambert.

Heath then grounded out to move the runners to the corners, but after Johnston was walked to load up the bases, Mori worked another walk to extend the margin to two.

Fast forward to the third inning: Victoria managed to even the odds with Kira Jansen and Cannington picking up singles before Dale then stepped up to the plate and delivered with a 2-RBI double to bring back to three apiece.

Not to be outdone, however, O’Sullivan stepped up to the plate in the fourth and smashed a solo shot over the left field fence – the first home run out of the park for the tournament – sending the NSW dugout into a frenzy and to return the lead to NSW, which they held through the fifth before things really took a turn.

The Victorian bats broke the game wide open in the sixth inning:  Dale popped out a single to centre field and combined with Simpson to get runners on the corners after sac-bunt from Eden.

Bentley then drove in an RBI after a dropped catch to tie it up again, but Kametani’s cracker down the right field line, coupled with chaos and confusion of a missed rundown opportunity from the NSW infield, saw the Vics extend their lead by two before a sac-fly from Kelly came out with a sac-fly to make it 7-4, which saw O’Sullivan’s day on the mound come to an end and was replaced by McGuire.

Hits: O’Sullivan (4), Geldenhuis (2), Nakashio, Lambert, Heath
RBI: Nakashio (3), O’Sullivan, McGuire, Lambert, Heath, Mori

Hits: Kuwamoto (3), Dale (3), Kametani (2), Cannington (2), Simpson (2)
RBI: Kametani (2), Kelly, Kuwamoto, Dale, Bentley

ELIMINATION FINAL: CRACKER FROM ATKINSON PUTS THE DUB IN W.A.

Western Australia 12 def Queensland 4

by Landon Blackhall

A phenomenal display at the dish from Chloe Atkinson was the cornerstone of Western Australia’s dominance over Queensland Maroon, with the Sandgropers now set to meet NSW in this afternoon’s preliminary against NSW.

Atkinson racked up batting stats akin to numbers seen in video games, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, including a moonshot out to left field to follow on from Claire O’Sullivan homer earlier in the day.

Paired with Caitlin Eynon’s efforts on the mound, which was highlighted by seven strikeouts and only one walk over three innings pitched, the Sandgropers looked at ease against the Maroons, taking it out 12-4.

Atkinson was admittedly pinching herself after the game, telling Baseball.com.au that she was simply trying to provide for her team and do what she could to get them to the Big Dance.

“I actually didn’t see [the home run]  … I had to ask the second-base umpire if it went over!” she exclaimed.  “But yeah, I’m really ecstatic, really stoked about that.”

Atkinson was also grateful for her team, who have kept each other to task in creating a positive clubhouse vibe and helping her with her mental game.

“Yeah, the teamwork … just surrounding ourselves and getting around each other, having a party in the dugout … definitely a good team!”

Atkinson’s two-out homer at the top of the first opened the scoring for WA, but although Queensland’s Holly Moellers singled on a fly ball out to centre field to bring in C. Stokes in the bottom of the second, Yates and Eynon each grounded in singles before Atkinson brought them around with a one-out 2-RBI double.

Haggart then helped Atkinson back home with a triple before Briah Burke punched in a two-out double of her own to make it 5-1 in favour of WA.

Play then went scoreless through to the bottom of the fifth, where Queensland managed to bring the lead back to two after a Moellers found another double-ribby down the left field line, but WA went to town in the top of the sixth, with Atkinson responding with a double to bring in Yates before the second half of the order came together to pile on another six runs and end the half-inning by tournament rules.

Molly Paddison scoring on a wild pitch was of little consolation in the bottom of the sixth, as Kya Foxwell flied out to Jessica Knight for the final out of the game and thus end Queensland’s run in the 2025 AWC.

Not lost in all of this is the incredible team performance from Western Australia. All nine players had a hit and eight RBI.

Western Australia

Hits: Atkinson (4), Burke (3), Eynon (2), Yates (2), Newman (2), Lines, Knight, Clarke
RBI: Atkinson (5), Yates, Eynon, Haggart, Lines, Burke, Jess Knight, Newman

Queensland

Hits: Moellers (2), Zamora
RBI: Moellers (2)

PRELIMINARY FINAL: Magic from MacKenzie Jackson helps New South Wales book ticket to Gold Medal game

by Landon Blackhall

New South Wales 9 def Western Australia 0

Mollie Jackson was the star of the show in the AWC Preliminary, standing tall on the hill through six innings to lead the Blues to a thumping victory against a valiant WA side.

The NSW hurler punched in seven strikeouts and allowed just one walk and four hits through the entire game to seal the deal for NSW, 9-0.

Claire O’Sullivan also picked up where she left off with the stick in this morning’s game against Victoria, cracking in 2-for-3, two RBIs and a run en route to victory — one of eight different NSW players to work in at least one run.

NSW’s offensive efforts certainly made life easier for Jackson, but the gravity of the situation certainly wasn’t lost on Jackson, who spoke with Baseball.com.au after the match..

“From the start, I knew that I had to do my job … I had to stay up there, throw strikes and stay relaxed the entire time,” Jackson said.

“I was lucky enough to have the girls behind me with the bats, and it was good to see the smiles on their faces, which picks me up as well.”

Play was scoreless through to the second out in the bottom of the third before O’Sullivan broke the deadlock, clobbering a 2-RBI double to bring in Ticara Geldenhuis and Lisa Nakashio.

Sayaka Mori then brought in the third run of the game in the fourth after she effectively tripled on a flyball out to left; successive RBI dubs for Elise Grenfell, Cayla Johnston and O’Sullivan saw the Blues increase their lead to six, and then after Nakashio scored on a wild pitch, O’Sullivan and McGuire were both walked in, ending the inning by rule with nine.

Even with the cool change coming in, WA were unable to catch the red-hot Blues and the game was shut out after the top of the sixth, but the team was given a rousing ovation from their fellow Westerners having ended their tournament run as bronze medallists.

New South Wales will play for Gold on Saturday at 2:30PM on Baseball+

New South Wales

Hits: O’Sullivan (2), McGuire, Mori, Grenfell, Johnston

Western Australia

Hits: Eynon (2), Haggart, Yates

YOUTH WOMEN

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FINALS 1: GOLDING INSIDE-THE-PARK-SLAM HELPS WA WIN FIRST GAME

by Eric Balnar

It’s Jemma Golding’s world, we’re just living it in.

Golding’s inside-the-park grand slam homer helped break a 4-4 tie in the fifth inning to help Western Australia get past Queensland 10-6.

It’s the first of three round-robin medal round games in the Youth Women’s Division. The top two advance to the Gold Medal Game on Saturday morning.

Seven different Western Australians had at least one hit, led by Maddie White and Mylie Watt who had two.

Watt pitched all six innings for Western Australia.

Natalie Murphy, Hannah Elliot and Sienna Fens had two hits each for a Queensland team who had nine different players record base knocks.

Western Australia took an initial 3-0 lead but that was erased in the third when Fens had an RBI double to put Queensland up 4-3.

But Western Australia battled back.

It’s a quick turnaround for Western Australia, who play South Australia in the second game of the round robin.

Western Australia

Hits (9): White (2), Watt (2), Auld, Duckworth, Vlasic, Stuart, Golding
RBI: Golding (4), Auld, Duckworth, Stewart

Queensland

Hits (11): Murphy (2), Elliot (2), Fens (2), Sparks, Knechtli, Newbury, Hancock, Stephens
RBI: Elliot (2), Fens (2), Newbury

FINALS 2: COMBINED SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ONE HITTER PUTS WIN ON THE BOARD

South Australia have a foot in the Gold Medal Game after a tremendous pitching performance from Lillian Sterry, Alice Brown and Indie O’Hazy Tschorn.

Sterry tossed 2.0 innings with four strikeouts, allowing no hits and no walks.

Brown threw 1.2 innings with just one hit, one walk and four strikeouts.

Indie finished with 1.1 innings, allowing no hits and clocking three strikeouts.

South Australia scored three in the first, five in the third and three in the fourth in the win.

Reagan O’Rielly, Brown and Sterry each had two hits in the win.

Dakota Ding racked up three RBI in the win.

CURRENT FINALS ROUND STANDINGS

South Australia 1-0 (0 RA)
Western Australia 1-1 (17 RA)
Queensland 0-1 (10 RA)

One game to go: South Australia vs Queensland. The top two teams advance to tomorrow’s gold.

South Australia

Hits (9): O’Rielly (2), Brown (2), Sterry (2) Goldspink, Pfitzner, Ding
RBI: Ding (3), Brown (2), George, Jennings, Pfitzner, Sterry

Western Australia

Hits (1): Lett

FINALS 3: SOUTH AUSTRALIA ADVANCE TO GOLD MEDAL GAME UNDEFEATED

South Australia 7 def Queensland 2

South Australia will have a chance to defend their gold after winning their second finals round game.

They advance to the Gold Medal Game to play Western Australia at 9:00AM on Saturday morning. Queensland finish the group portion 0-2 and will win bronze.

Hannah Nuske was at the centre of it all for South Australia. She tossed 3.0 innings with no runs, seven strikeouts and just two hits. She allowed one unearned run.

She also went 2-for-2 with three RBI.

Queensland scored an early run in the first but South Australia responded with a six spot, with RBI singles from Nuske and Dakota Ding highlighting the big inning.

South Australia

Hits (4): Nuske (2), Dal-Carrabo, Ding
RBI: Nuske (3), Ding

Western Australia

Hits: Amelia Stephens, Anouk Newbury, Baylee Wheeler

Consolation Game: New South Wales 7 def Victoria 2

Tamyrn Love had ten strikeouts in five innings of no hit work with ten strikeouts in New South Wales third win of the tournament.

Love also had an early RBI to put New South Wales up 4-0 by the end of the third inning.

Victoria scored two unearned runs in the fifth to cut the score to 4-2, but New South Wales responded with three runs of their own.

Tallara Joseph-Riogi had two hits. Mariam Arafaki had two RBI for New South Wales

New South Wales

Hits: Joseph-Riogi, Blyton, Love, Arafaki
RBI: Arafaki, Joseph-Riogi, Blyton, Love

Queensland

RBI: Hannah Wilson-Powell

 

 

Feature story from the Australian Women’s Championships by Connie Rowe

You could argue that having a front row seat to the Australian Women’s Championships gives you the best seat in the house.

For Kaylene Pengelly, there’s one better – the scorer’s box.

Kaylene heads up this year’s team of scorer extraordinaries – a team that sees and knows quite literally everything going on in this year’s action.

Much has been made of the all-female umpire crew at this event, but the scorers also are a proud team exclusively made up of women.

To put it in perspective for those following along at home, the play-by-plays, the live score updates and the full stats breakdowns are all brought to you by Kaylene and her team.

So what is it about scoring that is so addictive?

Well aside from the view, Kaylene says that you get to be in the game and ride the emotions of every pitch.

“I get an adrenaline rush from it,” said Kaylene, especially when it comes to a good game.

“It makes you concentrate on the game so much more and you’re aware of the plays so much more than if you were just on the sidelines watching.”

And it’s not just the game that you see.

“You watch the batter, the ball, the umpires, the coaches, every aspect of the game that contributes to it running smoothly,”

Ask her after the game what happened though, and chances are she won’t be able to tell you.

“I think because you are so in the moment and your concentration is fully switched on, by the time the game finishes it can be a blur.”

This is where the score books come in, painting a picture of the triumphs and tribulations of the game at hand.

More than just colouring between the lines, Kaylene says that scoring can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.

FOLLOW THE ACTION FROM THE AWC: www.baseball.com.au/women

Kaylene started out her pathway through scoring after her brother took up the sport, being around the game so much, she quickly grew to understand and love the game.

When she had her own kids, scoring made her a better parent she said giving a better perspective of the game.

But it wasn’t until her friend dragged her to join an accreditation course that her professional scoring career went to another level.

“When you start out as a scorer, most people pick up the book and paper in the local league in kids games. In a way this is good, you see all sorts of things you wouldn’t expect to see but when I hit this level, in a way it’s almost more relaxed and straight forward!”

Scoring has taken Kaylene across the country and yet of all the tournaments she’s been a part of this Australian Women’s Baseball Championships is the highlight of her year.

This year’s tournament she is joined by a couple of up-and-coming scorers that are discovering the magic of scoring for themselves.

“I love encouraging scorers and seeing them progress in confidence and through the ranks,” said Kaylene.

So what’s the scorers birds eye take on this year’s tournament to date? Well for the team in the box seat there is nothing quite like a women’s baseball tournament. From the energy to the plays to the comradery on and off the diamond it’s unlike anything else.

The anticipation, adrenaline and craftsmanship are not just for those out on the diamond. Baseball truly is a game that lets you write your own adventure.

The Scorers at the 2025 Women’s Championships are;

Jennie Moloney
Mel Hargreaves
Bec Mitchell
Fiona Woolgar
Paula Sutherland
Tanneale Marshall
Emma Medwin
Enza Henty
Anna Narasaki
Linda Lawrence (Assistant Scoring Coordinator)
Kaylen Pengelly (Scoring Coordinator)

MORE FROM CONNIE ROWE

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• AWC Feature: A Quinn-tessential Display of Pitching
• AWC Feature: Lila Hall at home at the plate

NOTE: THIS STORY IS AN ARCHIVE OR SCORES AND SCHEDULES. FOR THE DAY 6 LIVE BLOG, CLICK HERE.

Two of the most coveted titles in Australian baseball is up for grabs in April, 2025. Who will win the 2025 Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships?

From April 13-19, six open women’s teams (16+) and five youth women’s sides (U16) from across the country will compete in Melbourne.

Here is all you need to know about the tournament.

Please go to our Tournament Hub at www.baseball.com.au/women  for our most up-to-date information, results, communications and tournament details. 

First day of finals for the Women? Done.

Finals spots locked in for the Youth? Check.

Day Five of the AWC and AYWC was great!

In this story you will find game recaps, stats, stories and quotes.

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling! It’s probably there (including notes on finals and tiebreaks in each section).

Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women for links.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.

feature story by Eliza Wood, for more coverage visit www.baseball.com.au/women

Kira Kuwamoto wasn’t meant to be playing nationals.

But after an eleventh-hour call-up due to injury to a Victorian on the eve of the tournament, Kira has been at the centre of some of the highest drama moments at the Australian Women’s Championships.

Let’s start with Wednesday afternoon, day four of the tournament and the final day of pool play.

It kicked off with a ballpark banger between QLD Maroon and Victoria – two 3-1 teams fighting for finals positioning.

Six lead changes, 24 runs, and a 12-12 final scoreline guided Victoria to a tiebreak win and second place overall after the group stages.

Kira Kuwamoto’s name was everywhere.

Her versatility shone with both bat and ball, pitching 3.1 innings, while tallying three hits and three RBI.

First, she tied the game in the fourth to cap off a four run Victorian comeback, helping the charge from 5-1 down.

The biggest moment of all came in the fifth.

Down 9-7 with two runners on, Kuwamoto sent the ball flying into the outfield for a triple, scoring two runs.

She later scored in what is called a ‘Little League Home Run.’ She touched them all.

The feeling of excitement from the Victorian dugout radiated throughout the stands and you couldn’t help but be struck by the joy – it was incredible.

A presence that Kuwamoto herself thrives off.

“If it’s very quiet, it makes me nervous… I just feel [the] energy and get [that] energy when I play, so I love it,” she says.

Smiling from ear-to-ear as she crossed home plate, Kuwamoto was swarmed by her teammates, as the score ticked over to read 10-9 in favour of the VICs.

“The way that everyone got around her was absolutely extraordinary,” shares Victorian head coach Samantha Hamilton.

“The first thing she said was ‘what happened? I have no idea.’ That means she was watching the base coach the whole time, wasn’t watching the ball, just trying to get her work done,” she continues.

You couldn’t have scripted this fairytale performance from Kuwamoto, who last Saturday, the day before national’s began, was sitting on the sidelines.

Hamilton was up against the clock to find a replacement for star outfielder Lily Bell-Tanner, who was devastatingly withdrawn due to a finger injury late in the week.

The priority for Hamilton was to bring in someone who could play outfield, could pitch and importantly, could cohesively slot right into Victoria’s lineup.

“The criteria for us as coaching staff was that they needed to be a part of last year’s team, aware of our signals and our signs and the way our team functions,” explained Hamilton.

Enter Kuwamoto, a player who performed well at the 2024 Australian Women’s Championships.

Above: Kuwamoto with Morgan Doty at the 2024 Showcase

“She’s a big impact player, she’s everyone’s favourite as well and it’s those kind of [qualities] that make her fit into the team straight away,” says Hamilton.

It was clear as day the love and care Kuwamoto has for her teammates and them her.

Grateful to be a part of it all, Kuwamoto is playing for more than just her team this week.

She’s playing for her friend.

“I feel sorry for [her], I just want to play good for LBT (Lily Bell-Tanner),” expresses Kuwamoto.

A commitment she has been living up to since day one of the tournament.

Stepping up to the plate in the rivalry game against NSW – the first match of the tournament – Kuwamoto went 2-for-3, with a single, a double, a RBI, a run and a couple of nice defensive plays.

Ultimately helping Victoria come back from three runs down to beat the Blues late.

Kuwamoto is second on Victoria in hits (7) and second in RBI (7).

Couple this with her highlighted effort today and it’s this kind of magic that only sport can deliver.

A true embodiment of humility, joy and team-first spirit, every team needs a player like Kuwamoto.

With pool play wrapping up and WA securing fourth, all eyes now turn to finals.

Victoria sitting 2nd and QLDM 3rd, these two powerhouse teams will face off again.

The winner advancing to the qualifying final and the loser to the elimination game.

With everything on the line, the road to that elusive gold is going to be an exciting one!

MORE STORIES

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• Stat Leaders after Pool Play
• A Quinn-tessential Display of Pitching, by Connie Rowe
• Lila Hall right at home behind the plate, by Connie Rowe

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Catch Finals Coverage on Baseball+ from April 17-19!

Follow the action on Day 1 of the Finals: Thursday 17 April Scores & Recaps

Pool play has come to an end at the 2025 Australian Women’s Championships.

Here are your stat leaders after all teams have played each other once in Pool Play.

Finals are tomorrow.

Follow the tournament at baseball.com.au/women and watch on Baseball+.

HITS

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11 – Chloe Atkinson (WA)
10 – Molly Paddison (QLDM)
10 – Lilly Simpson (VIC)
8 – Georgia Davis (SA)
8 – Maddi McGuire (NSW)
8 – Charlotte Stokes (QLDM)

RBI

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11 – Maddi McGuire (NSW)
9 – Maddi Heath (NSW)
8 – Molly Paddison (QLD)
8 – Kira Jansen (VIC)
7 – Lily Moffatt (QLDW)
7 – Kira Kuwamoto (VIC)
7 – Abbey Kelly (VIC)

STOLEN BASES

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9 – Ticara Geldenhuis (NSW)
8 – Claire O’Sullivan (NSW)
7 – Jasmine Bentley (VIC)
4 – Ruby Orchard (QLDM)
4 – Molly Paddison (QLDM)
4 – Ash Ruzicka (QLDW)
4 – Lily Simpson (VIC)

WALKS

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10 – Narumi Kametani (VIC)
6 – Emma Sullivan (QLDW)
6 – Meaghan Haggart (WA)
6 – Ruby Orchard (QLDM)
6 – Shiori Hoshino (QLDM)
6 – Kya Foxwell (QLDM)

EXTRA BASE HITS

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4 – Chloe Atkinson (WA)
4 – Caitlin Eynon (WA)
3 – Maddi McGuire (NSW)
3 – Ticara Geldenhuis (NSW)
3 – Kira Jansen (VIC)
3 – Kira Kuwamoto (VIC)

STRIKEOUTS (PITCHING)

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8 – Meaghan Haggart (WA)
7 – Shiori Hoshino (QLD)
7 – Caitlin Eynon (WA)
6 – Mattea Karn (NSW)
6 – Narumi Kametani (VIC)
6 – Saeko Suzuki (VIC)
6 – Mackenzie Prentice-Evans (VIC)

ERA

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Min. 4.0 IP

0.00 – Claire O’Sullivan, 4.0IP (NSW)
0.00 – Bree Green, 4.00IP (NSW
1.75 – Charlotte Stokes, 4.0 IP (QLD)
2.62 – Meaghan Haggart, 8.0IP (WA)
2.80 – Jess Sullivan, 5.0 IP (QLD)
3.21 – Narumi Kametani, 4.1 IP (VIC)

WHIP – Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched

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Min 4.0 IP

0.50 – Claire O’Sullivan, 4.0IP (NSW)
0.93 – Narumi Kametani, 4.1IP (VIC)
1.00 – Bree Green, 4.0IP

BATTERS AVERAGE AGAINST 

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Min 4.0

0.071 – Claire O’Sullivan, 4.0IP (NSW)
0.93 – Narumi Kametani, 4.1IP (VIC)
0.150 – Jess Sullivan, 5.0IP (QLD)
0.153 Ava Tyson, 4.0 IP (WA)
0.188 – Bree Green, 4.0IP

STANDINGS

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It’s NO MORE Day at the Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships! And what a day it was….

The finals are set after two absolutely insane games. You can read about them below (and get your finals schedule).

In the Youth Women’s, South Australia locked in their finals spot – the first of that division.

In this story you will find game recaps, stats, stories and quotes as the day progresses.

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling!

Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.

Here are your stat leaders at the end of Pool Play. 

by James Dyer

There are over 30 Australians playing professional baseball, including over 20 in MLB-affiliate ball.

Here’s an update on how some of them are doing, two weeks into the minor league season.

Curtis Mead – Tampa Bay Rays

Curtis has started the season with the Rays after an impressive showing during spring training. With four hits and an RBI, Mead is averaging .200 and has been solid defensively across the infield with four assists and two putouts.

Liam Hendriks – Boston Red Sox

Veteran pitcher Liam Hendriks has started his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Worcester Woo Sox in impressive fashion. Hendriks has pitched two scoreless innings across two games while striking out four of the eight batters faced.

Jack O’Loughlin

A tough start to the season for Jack with the Albuquerque Isotopes, in 13.1 innings across four games he has allowed 15 earned runs, while giving up 17 walks. O’Loughlin will look to bounce back against El Paso this week.

Travis Bazzana

The #9th MLB prospect and #1 Guardians prospect, Travis Bazzana has been lighting up AA ball with the Akron RubberDucks. Currently hitting .344, including a HR, three triples, seven RBI and two steals Bazzana is stuffing the stat sheets. Could we see Travis arrive to the Major League during September call ups?

Mitch Neunborn

Neunborn has started where he left off last season with the AA Reading Fightin Phils. Across three games, Mitch has thrown 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out five of the 16 batters faced.

Kai-Noa Wynyard

Right handed pitcher Kai-Noa Wynyard is off to a solid start with single-A Hickory Crawdads. In three games, Wynyard has two wins to his name pitching 5.1 innings, striking out five batters while allowing just one earned run.

Brandan Bidois

Queensland native Brandan Bidois is currently on the 7-day IL. Brandan is assigned to the High A Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Blake Townsend

After spending time across A and AA ball last year, Townsend has started this season with High A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Townsend has thrown 5.2 innings across three games, allowing one earned run while striking out seven batters.

Solomon Maguire

Maguire has yet to record a hit this season with Single-A Bradenton Marauders. In 11 at-bats Maguire has walked four times, bringing in three runs in the process. Solomon has been sharp in the outfield playing across all positions with a fielding percentage of 1.000.

Adam Bates

19-year-old pitcher Adam Bates has thrown 4.2 innings in two games, allowing five earned runs this season for the Single-A Salem Red Sox. Bates has six recorded strikeouts with six walks.

Happy Tuesday! Here’s your recap from the Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships.

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling! There’s a lot of recaps, player quotes and information for you. Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women

Congratulations to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland who have booked a spot in the finals. South Australia and Western Australia will battle for fourth tomorrow.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.