News

Congratulations to our national champions and award winners from the 2024 Australian Youth Baseball Championships in the U16 and U18 age bracket.

For game recaps, click here: The Gold Medal Decided: Scenarios, Updates and Results on the final day of the U18 Championships.

Under 16

Congratulations to New South Wales, our 2024 National Champion.

They fired right out of a cannon. New South Wales rattled off a dominant 6-0 record in the first round and were a perfect 2-0 in the second round.

In the first round they scored at least 10 runs each game. No opponent finished within six at the end of the game.

Things tightened up in the second round. They trailed Queensland by one in the penultimate inning before coming back to win 7-4.

A gritty 5-1 over Western Australia which featured two rain delays, a tarp pull, and some nervy moments was a fantastic final game.

They hit .400 as a team with a .529 on-base-percentage and outscored opponents 97-28. 12 different players had 4+ hits. No pitcher allowed more than four runs.

New South led the tournament in fielding percentage. A team which consisted of the eventual tournament MVP Fletcher Willard, Golden Arm Kobe Cusbert and Golden Bat Tahlan Cavill was so much more than that.

Congratulations to New South Wales.

AWARD WINNERS

Golden Glove – Quinn Fatai (Western Australia)

Golden Arm – Kobe Cusbert (New South Wales): 10.0IP, 3H, 8S0, 0ER

Golden Bat – Tahlan Cavill (New South Wales): 9-for-13, 2 doubles, 5RBI, 4BB

MVP – Fletcher Willard (New South Wales): 8-for-14, 2BB, 3 XBH, 5.0IP with 1ER

Under 18

Congratulations to Victoria, our 2024 U18 National Champion.

Victoria won in dramatic fashion. They were the only team to win all their second round games, to finish with a 3-0 record in that stage. They no-hit New South Wales 5-2, and then beat South Australia in extra-innings 1-0 in a dramatic game on the backfield.

In the first round, they finished 5-1. They are the only team in the U18 age group to beat every opponent.

The wildest came on the final day. Needing to beat Western Australia to win tournament gold, the Victorians stormed back from four runs down to win.

A plucky, resilient, and strong defensive team who never wavered.

AWARD WINNERS

Defensive Player – Josh Nati (New South Wales)

Golden Arm – Ryder Wilson (Victoria): 3GP, 14.1IP, 12SO, 0ER, 1BB

Golden Bat – Flynn McKee (SA): Tournament leader with 13 hits and 8RBI.

MVP – Jack Ratcliffe (Victoria): A back-to-back MVP. Ratcliffe went 7-for-20 with 7 RBI at the plate. He pitched five scoreless innings with two hits and 7 strikeouts.

by Eric Balnar

A final day for the ages. Rain-affected days meant the final two games of the second round would determine the national champion. Here’s how it unfolded.

We crown a U16 and U18 national champion on January 16 on the final day of the 2024 Australian Youth Championships.

However, more rain and unplayable field conditions have made things tricky. Updates are below.

After assessment of Diamond 1, it has been determined that we will be unable to schedule more than two games on the final day of the AYCS on Tuesday 16 January.

Therefore, the decision has been made to call off the final U16 games of the second round. These games are Victoria vs New South Wales and Western Australia vs Queensland.

Under championship rules & regulations, if a round is unable to be completed, records from the previous completed round determines the national champions.

In this instance, the records revert to the end of Round 1, where all U16 games were completed.

The 2024 National Champions of the Under 16 age-group are New South Wales.

We are now making every reasonable effort for the best interests of all parties to complete the second round of the Under 18s.

The new schedule is

U18 Second Round – 4:30PM – SA v NSW
U18 Second Round – 7:00PM – VIC vs WA

Watch on Baseball+. For download links and casting instructions, visit www.baseball.com.au/baseballplus

UPDATE (12:30PM):

UPDATE (10:20AM): Our assessment is that there is still no definitive start time for Diamond 1.

Diamond 2 and Diamond 3 are unplayable and no games will be played on them. The next Diamond 1 assessment will be at 12:00pm.

Unfortunately, the 16U game between WA and QLD will not be played.

UPDATE (8:30AM): Day 7 of the Australian Youth Baseball Championships is under delay after more rainfall last night. The fields are currently unplayable but the tarp is off. We will re-assess the field at 10AM and advise after that.

We will let you know as soon as we know.

Original story below.

—–

Unfortunately, rain & weather washed out play on Day 6, following a thrilling Day 5.

Therefore, the Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Games will not be played due to the weather conditions.

The national champion will be the team that finishes top of their second-round group.

The schedule of play will be as follows:

10:00AM – Under 16 – Diamond 1 – New South Wales (2-0) vs Victoria (2-0)

12:30PM – Under 18 – Diamond 1 – Victoria (2-0) vs Western Australia (1-1)

3:00PM – Under 18 – Diamond 1 – South Australia (1-1) vs New South Wales (0-2)

CALLED OFF DUE TO RAIN (Originally scheduled 5:30PM) – Under 16 – Diamond 1 – Western Australia (0-2) vs Queensland (0-2)

These games will be played as seven-inning games with no new innings after 2:05.

This schedule is subject to change, based on field conditions.

We will assess Diamonds 2 and 3 in the morning. If they become playable, we will work on scheduling other games.

You can watch the games on Baseball+ tomorrow, when a national champion will be crowned.

CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW TO DOWNLOAD ON YOUR DEVICE

Or, watch on your desktop at plus.baseball.com.au.

Group Standings – Second Round

Seven teams played each other once in Round 1. The Top 4 qualified for the Second Round, also known as the “Medal Round”.

Under 16
1. NSW (2-0)
2. VIC (2-0)
T3. WA (0-2)
T3. QLD (0-2)

NSW def QLD 7-4
VIC def WA 4-3 (extras)
VIC def QLD 3-2
NSW def WA 5-1

Under 18
1. VIC (2-0)
2. SA (1-1)
3. WA (1-1)
4. NSW (0-2)

VIC def NSW 5-2
SA def WA 3-1
VIC def SA 1-0 (extras)
WA def NSW 5-4

OTHER NEWS

Rainy weather washes out Day 6 of the Australian Youth Championships 

Drama on Day 5: Recapping a truly special Medal Round at U16 + U18 Championships

There will be no baseball played on Day 6 of the Australian Youth Championships.

All fields are currently unplayable. We are working on a schedule for tomorrow.

When we have an update regarding tomorrow we will post it immediately.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We will update the headline story on baseball.com.au, Facebook, Instagram and Team App the moment we have an update. If there is no update posted, it means there is no update.

NEW UPDATE / GOLD MEDAL INFO: New Schedule for Final Day of Australian Youth Championships Announced

Originally Scheduled Day 6 Games

This will go down as one of the more memorable days in Australian junior baseball history.

The first day of the Medal Rounds were epic. Every one of the 10 games were close, in a day that lasted nearly 13 because of rain delays.

They were all meaningful. Playoff baseball, baby.

We saw a no-hitter, multiple complete game shutouts, many comebacks, a 15-year-old hit a home run, some epic defensive plays, extra innings thrillers, and teams who booked a spot in Tuesday’s Gold Medal game.

DAY 6 UPDATES AND WEATHER: Click here.

GOLD MEDAL INFO: New Schedule for Final Day of Australian Youth Championships Announced

Best of all? It was played hard. It was played well. It was ripping with emotion.

Read on to follow the day as it unfolded. I encourage you to visit our Instagram page (baseball.com.au) to see some unbelievable photos, moments and stories of the day.

If you are here for the quick scores, standings, schedule and scenarios, scroll to the bottom.

WHAT IS THE MEDAL ROUND?

After four days where each of the teams played each other once, the Top 4 qualified for the ‘Medal Round.’

Records re-set and each team will play each other once from January 14-15.

From there, the Top 2 teams qualify for the Gold Medal Game on Tuesday.

Under 16 Medal Round Teams: NSW, QLD, VIC, WA
Under 18 Medal Round Teams: NSW, VIC, SA, WA

The other three play in a consolation round.

PDF TOURNAMENT Schedule: Click Here.

RESULTS, AS THEY UNFOLDED – January 14

UNDER 16 MEDAL ROUND –  Victoria 4 def Western Australia 3 (8 innings)

It was a Mitch Langworthy special as Victoria sensationally stormed back from three runs down to defeat Western Australia in extras.

Western Australia seemed in control after scoring three early runs. Leanard Golding hit a solo shot for WA and Victoria were left stunned.

In the bottom of the fourth the game started to turn. Langworthy collected the first of three hits on the day, when he cranked a double to the wall to score the first run for Victoria.

In the bottom of the sixth Langworthy blasted a triple to the wall to cut the lead to 3-2. He scored on a sacrifice fly from Sam Walk on the next at bat. Tie ballgame.

Off to extras we go…

Liam Puncher induced a 1-2-3 inning of Western Australia in the top of the eighth.

Langworthy struck again – with a bunt single in extras to bring the winning run to third who was later scored on a bases-loaded walk.

Prisov, Golding and Samukawa had the RBIs for Western Australia.

Records: Victoria (1-0), Western Australia (0-1)

UNDER 16 MEDAL ROUND –  New South Wales 7 def Queensland 4

Don’t let the score deceive you. This game was wild, tense and close.

New South Wales took an early lead in the bottom of the third thanks to doubles from Liam Worne and Frank Clarke.

“Comeback Queensland”, who have four come-from-behind victories this tournament, scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead thanks to great team hitting.

It was a short-lived lead. With two runners on, Fletcher Willard crunched a 2-RBI triple to send New South Wales in front once again. They piled on three more runs.

Queensland scored in the top of the last and even had the tying run at the plate. Queensland outhit New South Wales 6-5.

RECORDS: New South Wales (1-0), Queensland (0-1)

UNDER 16 CONSOLATION ROUND – New South Wales Country 3 TIE South Australia 3

In the first game of the consolation round, NSWC and SA played to a 3-3 tie.

Jake Moras’ RBI single in the third inning put South Australia in a promising 3-0 positing.

The Country boys stormed back. Draven Fatu led the charge by going 3-for-3, stealing three bases and scoring two runs.

A Ben Frost RBI tied the game late for NSWC.

Hamish Phelps and Bailey Richards tossed five innings of scoreless relief work for NSWC.

RECORDS – South Australia 0-0-1, New South Wales Country 0-0-1

UNDER 18 MEDAL ROUND – South Australia 3 def West Australia 1

Flynn McKee comes up clutch with huge three hit performance for South Australia as they hold West Australia to just one hit.

Back-to-back walks at the top of the second by George Calverly and Jai Hewitt allowed West Australia to strike first with a Riley Hall sacrifice fly.

South Australia was able to tie the game at the bottom of the fourth off an RBI single from Aiden Lucas to capitalise on a leadoff double by Flynn McKee.

South Australia then took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth helped by a clutch two-out single by McKee.

McKee is now the tournament’s hit leader with eleven.

Thomas Steven pitched 3.0 no-hit innings in relief, allowing just a walk while striking out three.

RECORDS – South Australia (1-0), West Australia (0-1)

UNDER 18 MEDAL ROUND – Victoria 5 def New South Wales 2

A combined no-hitter for Victoria as they take the game from a late-game surge.

New South Wales were the first to get on the board with an RBI groundout from Lucas Stancic in the bottom of the first.

A fielding error by NSW with two outs in the top of the fourth allowed Victoria to capitalise on back-to-back, two-out walks to tie the game.

RBI singles by Will Kent in the top of the sixth and Matthew Johnston in the top of the seventh highlighted a two-inning, four-run surge by Victoria.

Will Kent also made the play of the game in the bottom of the seventh with an impeccable catch and throw to first off a hard-hit ball to keep the no-hitter alive.

Tane Graham pitched 3.0 innings in relief for Victoria, striking out four. Jack Ratcliffe completed the no-hitter with a 1.0-inning, two strikeout performance.

RECORDS – Victoria (1-0), New South Wales (0-1)

UNDER 18 CONSOLATION ROUND – New South Wales Country 4 def Queensland 1

A pitcher’s duel between Zac Leggett (QLD) and Max Hagger (NSWC) and Riley Puckett (NSWC) in the first three innings, with no hits and just three walks between both teams.

But it was NSWC to break through in the top of the fourth. An RBI triple by Oliver Flokstra followed by a sacrifice fly by Jonah Beath put NSWC up 2-0.

NSWC tallied another two runs in the following inning to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

While a Max Durrington double was able to put Queensland on the board in the bottom of the seventh, NSWC was able to end the game at the next at-bat.

RECORDS – New South Wales Country (1-0), Queensland (0-1)

UNDER 16 MEDAL ROUND – Victoria 3 def Queensland 2

Money Mitch Langworthy does it again – with the bat AND on the mound. Victoria had to comeback from multiple runs down to win again!

Queensland scored first off a sacrifice bunt and RBI groundout in the bottom of the third to lead 2-0.

Then Victoria made their move with five singles in the fifth.

The biggest of all was with bases loaded. Down 2-0, Mitch Langworthy knocked a 2-RBI single into the outfield to tie the game. Jordan Ellis followed and drove in the eventual winning run.

Ellis and Jake Bertucci finished the game going 3-for-4 from the plate.

Cooper Busch pitched 6.2 innings for Victoria, striking three while allowing no earned runs.

In the bottom of the seventh, with two runners in scoring position for Queensland and two outs, Mitchell Langworthy induced a flyout to centre field to close the game.

Crotty, Duncalf, and Pearce each recorded a base hit for Queensland.

RECORD – Victoria (2-0), Queensland (0-2)

U16 Medal Round – New South Wales 5 def West Australia 0

Two rain delays was not going to stop Cohen Ryan from pitching a complete game shutout for New South Wales, where he allowed six hits, no walks, and striking out five.

New South Wales got on the board first at the bottom of the third with a two-RBI double from Cash Robinson. Robinson would then single in the bottom of the sixth to bat home another run.

Cavill, Clarke, and Jones also contributed with two hits each.

Blake Thompson led West Australia with two hits in three at bats.

New South Wales will face Victoria for gold on Tuesday.

Ryan’s seven-inning complete-game shutout was impressive. He survived two rain delays.

RECORD – New South Wales (2-0), West Australia (0-2)

U18 Medal Round – Victoria 1 def South Australia 0

Victoria walk it off in extra innings to punch a ticket into the gold medal game.

It was a day for the pitchers.

Ryder Wilson pitched an 8.0-inning shutout for Victoria, striking out four while only allowing four hits and a walk. Amazing.

Alistair Tanner started for South Australia, allowing just two hits and two walks as he struck out three. He also hit a top speed of 94mph.

Will Couzner pitched 3.1 relief innings, allowing only two hits and two walks as he struck out four.

Jayden Kim led Victoria on the offensive end, going 2-for-4 with a double.

Matthew Johnston’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eight scored the game-winning run. He finished the game 1-for-2 with a walk.

Altamura, Lucas, Thomas, and Hodges all recorded a hit for South Australia.

RECORD – Victoria (2-0), South Australia (1-1)

RAIN DELAY – 4:00PM – 7:00PM

U18 Medal Round – Western Australia 5 def New South Wales 4

Another epic. After a near three-hour rain delay, teams finally played ball and did not disappoint.

New South Wales jumped out to an early three run lead after taking advantage of a string of walks in the third inning.

Western Australia immediately responded. They put of a 4-run fourth thanks to clutch hitting from the bottom of the line-up of Xavier Fatia, Riley Ozanne, Ben Crook and Darcy Clements. Jacob Davila knocked in a go ahead run.

The 4-3 lead was faint. New South Wales tied it in the bottom of the fourth.

A Jai Hewitt sacrifice fly put Western Australia up 5-4 in the fifth.

Nervy pitching from Boston Foot and a couple stand out defensive plays closed out a nervy day that was just ripping with raw emotion.

We go to bed tonight with no team clinched, or eliminated, from Tuesday’s Gold Medal Game. Read on…

Records: Western Australia (1-1), New South Wales (1-1).

MEDAL ROUND STANDINGS (5:15PM)

Under 16
1. New South Wales – 2-0
2. Victoria – 2-0
3. Queensland – 0-2
4. Western Australia – 0-2

Scenarios: NSW and VIC will play for Gold on Tuesday. QLD and WA will play for Bronze.

Sunday scores:
– VIC 4 def WA 3
– NSW 7 def QLD 4
– NSWC 3 tie SA 3
– VIC 3 def QLD 2
– NSW 5 def WA 1

Monday Schedule:
– 10:00AM – WA (0-2) vs QLD (0-2) – Diamond 1, watch on Baseball+
– 10:00AM – ACT (0-0) vs NSWC (0-0-1) – Diamond 2, GameChanger (Consolation)
– 12:45PM – VIC (2-0) vs NSW (2-0) – Diamond 1, watch on Baseball+
– 12:45PM – ACT (0-0) vs SA (0-0-1) – Diamond 2, GameChanger (Consolation)

Tuesday Schedule:
10:00AM – Under 16 Bronze Medal Game – WA vs QLD – Watch on Baseball+
4:00PM – Under 16 Gold Medal – NSW vs VIC – Watch on Baseball+

Under 18
1. Victoria 2-0
2. South Australia 1-1
3. Western Australia 1-1
4. New South Wales 0-2

No teams have yet to clinch a spot in the Gold Medal Game.

There are multiple scenarios where a three-way tie could occur at 2-1 or 1-2.

Sunday scores:
– VIC 5 def NSW 2
– SA 3 def WA 1
– NSWC 4 def QLD 1
– VIC 1 def SA 0 (8 innings)
– WA 5 def NSW 4

Monday schedule:
– 3:30PM – WA (1-1) vs VIC (2-0) – Diamond 1 – Watch on Baseball+
– 3:30PM – ACT (0-0) vs NSWC (1-0) – Diamond 2 – GameChanger (Consolation)
– 6:15PM – SA (1-1) vs NSW (0-2) – Diamond 1 – Watch on Baseball+
– 6:15PM – ACT (0-0) vs QLD (0-1)- Diamond 2 – GameChanger (Consolation)

Sunday Schedule:
– Bronze Medal Game: 1:00PM
– Gold Medal Game: 7:00PM

STORIES AND NEWS

Day 4 – Under 18 National Championships – Scores, Medal Round Updates, Key Performers, Schedule 

Day 4 – Under 16 National Championships Recaps, Standings, Performers, Schedule and Scenarios