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This story is written by Eric Balnar, with photos from Scott Powick. We are filing daily stories from Australia’s ten-day training camp in Fuchu, Japan as they prepare to play in the Premier12. For more stories, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12. You can watch the tournament in Australia on WBSC streaming platform Gametime.Sport. 

Local Japanese TV broadcasters and writers for the Premier12 have been asking me one particular question a lot over the past week.

Who will be Australia’s starting pitcher when they take the field vs World #1 Japan in Nagoya at one of the biggest international baseball tournaments?

There are fourteen pitchers listed on Team Australia’s roster. Any one of them could be. It makes Australia difficult team to prepare for.

Pitchers will tell you first hand there is no pre-defined roles, although an update to this story – we know who will open the game vs Japan (more on that at the bottom).

One thing is for sure – whoever’s name is called, they’ll be ready.

“This is not a pro ball season. This is a tournament,” says Jim Bennett, Australia’s pitching coach.  “If you ask any of [our pitchers] what their roles are, they’ll say: ‘To Be Ready’.”

“That’s a tough role but they don’t look at it that way. They look at it as that’s the way we are going to win so that’s what we’re going to do. Just be ready.”

Above: Jim Bennett at Nagoya Dome training. Photo: Scott Powick.

I put that mentality to the test.

Hey, right-handed pitcher Josh Guyer, do you know your role for the Premier12?

“I guess the short answer is no, but the long answer is yes. Absolutely we do know,” he says. “In a tournament like this it’s all hands on deck. Someone will get a tap on the shoulder and start the game. That could mean two outs. That could mean seven innings. But, everybody is ready from pitch one. Our job is to go out there and win each pitch. That will lead success for us.

Thoughts, lefty pro-ball pitcher Blake Townsend?

“The biggest thing for these tournaments is to be ready. Everybody is going to be relied upon. Be available. One out, three innings, just be ready,” he says.

How about 27-year-old former MLB pitcher Lewis Thorpe, making his senior Team Australia debut after starting an entire season of top-tier Mexican League Baseball in 2024.

“Go out there. Compete. Get outs,” says Thorpe. “It doesn’t matter when. Whatever they want me to do, whenever they want me to do, give me the ball and I’ll do it.”

A veteran pitcher like Jon Kennedy (below), who has pitched in two World Baseball Classics and a Premier12 must have his role carved out, right?

“We don’t have [typical] roles. My job as a pitcher here is to be ready. We’re available first pitch to last pitch. Whenever we’re called upon we’ll be out there to do our best,” he says.

MORE: Go behind the scenes of Team Australia at our Premier12 Hub – Stories, Roster, Broadcast Details and more. 

Sam Holland has served a number of roles in the Green & Gold. At the World Baseball Classic, he came into the game as a reliever. Australia had a one run lead in the eighth inning vs Korea. The bases were loaded.

He delivered an epic strikeout to get Australia out of a jam as a reliever in what became an iconic moment of the game.

At the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championship, Sam Holland started a game, working four innings.

“I have no preference. I love them all,” says Holland. “Just have to be ready at all times. From the first pitch of the first inning it’s an all hands on deck mentality to get the job down.”

I think you get it.

Guyer is another glowing example of versatility. At the WBC he was entrusted with the final three outs of Australia’s biggest game. He got the job done.

Three days later, he pitched in a middle inning.

“It’s one of those things where we are not defined by your standard typical roles – starter, middle relief, set-up, closer, long relief, whatever – the biggest inning of the game could be third inning. Or maybe it’s the seventh or ninth or first,” he says. “We don’t know. Dave Nilsson and Jim Bennett do a good job of reading the situation and figuring out what guy is ready for each inning.”

“Everybody is ready to fight for whatever out they can get.”

FUCHU PREPARATION

Team Australia is now in Nagoya, completing their second on-field training at the famous Ventalin Dome.

Their first task is against World #1 Japan who quite literally owns the trophy of every major international tournament at every level.

To help them prepare, Australia assembled in Fuchu City for a 10-day training camp.

Everybody pitched across their five games vs Industrial League Japanese teams. They also worked out, running defensive plays and pitching bullpens.

Bennett says he was just hoping to see everybody build up to their best.

“The first thing I’m looking to make sure is if everybody is in the position to be at their best, whatever that means to the individual, because everybody brings something to the table,” says Bennett.

Bennett says the preparation is individualised. Some pitchers are coming off pro-ball seasons, others are building back up after last pitching in the Hanhwa Series in February, 2024.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” says Bennett. “The Fuchu camp showed me that people put in the work.”

The secret to it all though, according to Bennett, is communication.

This extends beyond the pitchers but also to the catcher who are tasked with managing the staff, personality and moments.

Dave Nilsson, Australia’s head coach & most prolific catcher, says this is one of the reasons the Fuchu is so important.

“It’s all in the preparation. At Fuchu a big focal point for the catchers is spending that one-on-one time. At the hotel, at the field, in bullpen, when you’re catching each other. When you get in the game, hopefully it’s a smooth transition. That’s a big thing in Fuchu.

He says simplifying things is key.

“You just have to trust that you prepared the right why. It can be hard catching a lot of guys, but you just have to trust you have the ability or you have all sorts of demons in your head. You have to move past it and just be in the moment,” he says.

A DAUNTING ENVIRONMENT

What’s tough to prepare for, however, is the environment Australia is about to enter. Just look at the atmosphere below.

Being in the moment, staying present, is a key to success.

There will be 25 million Japanese diehard baseball fans watching on TV. The Ventalin Dome seats 40,000 people. It will be at capacity.

When Japan is up to bat, Australian pitchers will be greeted with loud ‘fight songs’ for each of the players.

It’s a different animal for any human tasked with getting a big out.

“Yeah, you can feel [the noise],” says Kennedy. “It can overwhelm you to the point you can’t hear your own internal dialogue. Make sure you’re aware that can happen because if it catches you off guard you’re in trouble.”

Kennedy says it’s about building an awareness to what is coming so it doesn’t catch you off guard. That’s what he says he is trying to share with the younger players.

“It’s about keeping them in the moment and handling big situations when they arise,” says Kennedy. “I struggled with that when I was young and leant on senior guys when I was coming up. The game can speed up on you, you move away from your game plan and strengths and can let the other team dictate the pace.”

Blake Townsend (below) is a 23-year-old pitcher entering his second major senior tournament with Team Australia.

He says there are huge takeaways from the last World Baseball Classic (WBC).

“I definitely want to come in the dome in a different approach. At the WBC, I wasn’t really in the moment. I don’t know if you could call it overwhelmed, but I think I’ve learned more about myself, which pitches I can throw, and what I can do to put a guy away. That’s been super beneficial,” says Townsend.

For Sam Holland, it’s all about embracing your surroundings.

“The adrenaline is going and you enjoy the moment,” says Holland. “Bases loaded with two outs in the eighth inning and you get that out? It’s a big momentum swing and an awesome feeling.”

EMBRACING THE TEAM

There’s a genuine belief among the Aussie pitching staff that the power of the collective can navigate them through a tournament.

“It’s no secret we [used] a lot of pitchers in at the World Baseball Classic,” says Bennett. “But we had success because guys were ready, they worked hard to be ready, and they were ready.”

There’s also the pride of playing for Team Australia.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the daily lifestyle of the minor leagues,” says Townsend, who pitched for both the Mariners and the Pirates in the minor leagues.

“Here [with Team Australia] you just have to win every day. You play more for yourself in the minor leagues. Here we just need a win. We don’t care who is out there at the time. Every guy is the best guy in every opportunity,” he says.

—

Team Australia plays Samurai Japan at 9:00PM AEDT (7:00PM in Nagoya). Fans in Australia can watch via the WBSC streaming service Gametime.Sport.

For more stories, articles and news about Australia at the Premier12, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

GAME 1 STARTER – LEWIS THORPE

We wrote about Lewis Thorpe earlier in the week.

He is one of 38 Australians to ever play Major League Baseball. But, this is the first time he’s pitched for a senior men’s Australian team.

Thorpe took a short break from baseball to clear his head and recover his body. He’s returned refresh, hungry and motivated.

“It means everything to me,” says Thorpe. “This is what it’s all about. I want to put this team in a good position to win this ballgame”

I encourage you to read the story ‘Friendship, Fatherhood and Finding Joy | The story of Australian starting pitcher Lewis Thorpe’

 

 

This story is written by Eric Balnar, with photos from Scott Powick. We are filing daily stories from Australia’s ten-day training camp in Fuchu, Japan as they prepare to play in the Premier12. For more stories, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12. You can watch the tournament in Australia on WBSC streaming platform Gametime.Sport. 

Mitch Neunborn kisses a pendant attached to his necklace every time he takes the mound.

It belonged to his mum, Lynda Neunborn. It serves as a reminder of why he plays the game.

She passed away in May 2023 after a year-long battle with cancer. Mitch was just 25.

When it happened, Mitch was overseas.

After years of grinding in an unforgiving baseball world, through two major surgeries and working multiple jobs at once, Mitch finally had his baseball dream come true. He had just signed his first professional baseball contract in April 2023.

“A lifelong dream,” he calls it.

Mitch delayed the start of his professional career to stay with his mum while she was in hospice before heading to America at the beginning of May.

“That was the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. I still struggle with it today,” he says.

“But she was the drive and the motivation behind it. She told me to go. She knows my ups and downs. She knows my surgeries and Tommy Johns and the adversity I have been through. To her, it was a no-brainer.”

“She made me chase the dream, just like she always has,” he adds. “She knows my story.”

It’s redefined his ‘why’ he plays the game.

“It’s me trying to keep her proud and trying to keep the legacy of what she’s sacrificed to play the game I love. She was a massive factor in me travelling and to be able to play on this team. She was very supportive. It’s given me an extra push to never give up and keep going with the sport,” he says.

That legacy will be preserved when Mitch pitches for his country as soon as Wednesday night vs Japan at the Premier12 in front of 40,000+ people. 

So in honour of Mitch and his Mum. This is a story of his baseball journey, injury, adversity, and a mother who wouldn’t let her son give up on his dream.

“A story of resilience personified,” one coach called it.

PROMISING AUSSIE TWO-WAY PROSPECT, OVERCOMING INJURY

Neunborn was always a highly-talented junior baseball player. He started at Melville Braves and stayed there for his entire Western Australian club ball career.

He not only would command the middle infield, but he had a handy bat and could pitch with prowess from the mound.

Growing up in the Perth system, Neunborn starred for junior and WA state teams.

“I played a lot of sports and my parents were great,” he says. “I was from a split household, but no matter who it was, mum or dad, they would make sure I was able to get to the [sports] I wanted to do.”

He was recognised early by Australian selectors. At just 19-years-old, he was selected to play for Australia at the U23 World Cup. He pitched and hit, and Australia won silver – their best ever showing at that particular event.

With the power of his parents and community, Mitch took his dream overseas. 

He committed to Northern Iowa Community College – a junior college – in the United States.

In his injury plagued career which lasted just one season, he posted a 3.18 ERA while slashing .331/.435/.665 at the plate. He led the team in homers.

“I was able to do a lot of trips to the states and even go to college,” says Neunborn. “It’s all through them, through mum and dad. I was obviously not able to pay for all that. They sacrificed all their time & money to reach their goal.”

Despite his college success, Neunborn never had a chance to fully explore professional chances in front of scouts. Injuries had a lot to do with it.

His list of injuries seems unbelievable itself.

In 2016, he tore his UCL (elbow) two months into his freshman year.

In 2017, he had his first Tommy John Surgery. It’s an injury which takes about a year to recover from.

Nine months later he had an MRI and the graft failed.

“There was a less than one percent chance of something like that happening,” says Neunborn. “Somehow my body basically ate the graft.”

He had a second Tommy John surgery in 2018.

When he was healthy, he debuted for the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League in the last half of the 2019-20 season.

He signed with Adelaide Giants the following season.

“When he came to us we had glowing recommendations of him as a player and a person,” says Team Australia hitting coach Chris Adamson, who manages Neunborn both with the Adelaide Giants and in the Phillies’ minor leagues.

“The whole story of Mitch is just resilience personified,” he adds.

In a COVID-shortened 2020-21 ABL campaign, Neunborn became the ace of the Giants’ staff, winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award.

“I think it’s the ‘when’ these injuries that make it amazing,” says Adamson. “All these injuries happened before he signed in pro ball. Most people in his situation have already started. He had to show resilience. It would have been easy just to say no, and go play amateur. He could have just said pro ball is not for me. It would have been understandable. To push through all that before he got a crack? It’s wild.”

Then, the world shut down and the next obstacle reared its head.

There was no Australian Baseball League and professional competition for Mitch to play in between February 2021 and November 2022.

AN UNBELIEVABLE YEAR FULL OF HIGHS AND LOWS

Not many people can say they’ve experienced the sort of whirlwind year Neunborn had between June 2022 and June 2023.

In a twelve month stretch, the Aussie arm went from working two ‘regular’ jobs to winning a Claxton Shield, signing his first professional baseball contract, and making his senior team tournament debut at the World Baseball Classic.

Let’s start in June, 2022. He worked two jobs – as plumber’s assistant and in disability support.

“But I was always a baseball player,” laughs Mitch. “In all my spare time I was at the field, working, training, still believing. That never went away.”

It was also around the time he found out his Mum was sick. Things moved fast.

While his mother was struggling with a health battle, Mitch’s career took off.

To make things tricky, Neunborn was playing interstate in Adelaide for the Giants.

He dazzled that ABL season. He delivered a 2.25 ERA in 28.0 innings with a strikeout per nine innings ratio of 11.9.

“The biggest thing for me was outing to outing the self belief we saw grow over time. You could see he just started to know he belonged,” he says. “To see that was really special to witness.”

Neunborn was the Giants’ high-leverage guy, often used in the biggest of situations in 2022-23. He played his part in helping the Giants break a 43-year championship drought for South Australia in the ABL.

Neunborn only allowed six hits after December 1. He faced 68 batters.

That’s the kind of stuff that gets you signed.

In club land, Neunborn played second base and was the West Torrens Eagles go-to pitcher as they won two straight titles.

A dream of almost any Australian baseballer is to play for your country. Mitch parlayed his strong ABL season into the call of his life – to pitch for your country at the game’s biggest international tournament.

Neunborn pitched key innings in Australia’s win over Korea and the quarterfinal clincher vs Czechia.

Team Australia pitching coach Jim Bennett says he loved what he saw.

“When I see that change-up, I go wow this is a big league change up, that’s a plus-plus pitch” says Bennett. “Then you see his fastball at the WBC, he just has such a good mix. He has an ability to locate his pitch.”

But Bennett says what drew him to Neunborn was his attitude.

“He’s a competitor. He will do whatever it takes for the green & gold,” he says.

For Neunborn, it meant everything.

“It was complete justification for everything I was doing. Both for me, but also for the people who have supported me,” he says.

While his dad and step-mom were able to travel to Tokyo, his mum watched from a hospital bed in Perth.

“It was justification for the sacrifices my parents had,” he says.

It’s hard to miss Mitch’s dad, Peter. He is boisterous, positive and wears a trademark fighting kangaroo outfit.

Mitch says he feels the love and support from his dad wherever he goes, too.

“The similarities between Mitch and his family, with setbacks, injuries and disappointments, just to see his ability to find that inner resiliency and keep chasing that dream is pretty wild,” he says. “Not a lot of people can say the same.”

FOR MUM

Since signing with the Phillies, Mitch has seen success in the USA.

In his first year of professional minor league baseball, Neunborn had a 3.38 ERA in 42.2 innings for the Jersey Shore Blue Claws (High-A).

His stuff was promising enough to be assigned to the Arizona Fall League, an October competition reserved for only the best prospects in baseball.

After a slow start in the 2024 season, Neunborn found his form. His 2.39 ERA in High-A was one of the best in the league. He ended the season in Double-A, a competition reserved for promising young players tipped to one day make the Majors. He’s quite literally knocking on the door of a Major League dream.

He’ll pitch for the Adelaide Giants in the ABL when the Premier12 comes to an end.

Mitch says no matter what uniform he is wearing, he can feel his mum wherever he goes. Although, it’s hard to look into the stands and notice an absence.

“I know exactly where she would [usually] sit at my games. I know exactly where she would sit if she was here,” he says. “It’s always on your mind. I’m always looking at those spots knowing she’s not there but that she’s still watching.”

Mitch’s dad will make the trip over to Japan and Taiwan to cheer Mitch on. He says that support means the world to him.

 But still, he misses mum.

He says he feels grateful for all his parents helped him become.

“Without them I would never have been a professional athlete. Those building blocks I never had an understanding to grasp what was important. When you lose someone like that, it’s super hard to compartmentalise everything. She was the building blocks of everything I have done.”

When you see Mitch pitching for Australia vs some of the best players in the world this year, know his mum with him.

Whether it’s with the Adelaide Giants, the Reading Fightin’ Phils, or for his country, his mum is on the mound too.

“They, my parents, made life easy when it wasn’t. I’m grateful for that.”

They’re some of Australia’s most popular sports stars. It’s just that most of Australia doesn’t know about them.

When Australia plays their Premier12 opener vs Japan in Nagoya on Wednesday, local TV stations are expecting the Japanese TV audience to exceed 25 million. The national TV audience of the 2024 AFL Grand Final was 4.09 million.

Over five times the number of people will watch the likes of Whitefield, Bazzana and Glendinning wear the green & gold than Daniher, Neale and Cameron on the Brisbane Lions.

If you took the NRL Grand Final audience (3.42 million) and doubled it, you’d still be 10 million shy.

Baseball isn’t just big in Japan. It is a lifestyle.

Every day in Fuchu, players are greeted by national media members, daily stories, viral videos and fans hunting for autographs. Keen fans wait outside the baseball field or hotel every day to grab a signature from their favourite players.

In the last week, Team Australia’s X account has surpassed 6 million impressions, 98% of the audience coming from Japan.

They are captivated by the team’s genuine and heartfelt attitude towards the game.

Just take a look at this tweet about Australian pitcher Steve Kent. He was walking back to the hotel from the field, saw some local kids playing in the street, and decided to join.

The result? A tweet that is about to exceed 3 million views.

“This group of kids stops and waves to us everyday on our walk back to the hotel after practice,” Kent tweeted after video. “Seeing the smiles on their faces from just taking two minutes to play with wiffle ball with them was a great reminder of how even small gestures can have a huge impact on people.”

When the team arrives in Nagoya on Monday, they will be greeted by a long list of media requests, and attend scrums with 50+ reporters in the room.

It’s hard to keep track of all the media attention so I am going to try to put it in one place.

Scroll down and have some fun reading. I’ll update as we go. This first update comes at 12:00PM AEDT, Sydney time on Sunday 10 November.

BASEBALL AUSTRALIA MEDIA

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First, some shameless self promotion. I (Eric Balnar) am in Fuchu writing daily about Team Australia to try to keep fans at home up-to-date and to engage with the Japanese public. Joining me is longtime Team Australia photographer extraordinaire Scott Powick and exceptional videographer Trent Schwarz.

I encourage you to follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook. There are daily photos, written stories and videos.

You can read all the stories in our Premier12 Hub, as well as grab our schedule: www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

Heartfelt videos like this are being shared. Get your tissues ready.

Galleries from Scott’s lens are regularly posted.

You can see the beautiful imagery below.

Some stories from my end include:

November 12 – “Be Ready” | Behind the role & mentality of every Team Australia pitcher at the Premier12

November 11 – “For Mum” | The story of the remarkably brilliant Mitch Neunborn

November 11 – Travis Bazzana eager to make his senior Team Australia debut (Japan Times)

November 10 – Check out all the media buzz around Australia at the Premier12

November 8 – From Ace to Opposition: U23 Aussie ace Ky Jackson faces senior squad as member of Japanese pro team 

November 6 – It’s a special Spence brothers family reunion at Team Australia training camp

November 4 – Friendship, Fatherhood, Finding Joy | The story of Australia’s Rookie, MLB pitcher Lewis Thorpe

November 3 – Unique Japanese welcome ceremony blows Australian national team away ahead of team’s first practice game

November 2 –  What does Fuchu City, and Team Australia’s training camp, actually look like?

We’re shooting doco style content that will be released. You want to follow us, forsake.

AUSTRALIAN / ENGLISH MEDIA

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Print: Eight Western Australians make Premier12 Roster

While I do not have links available (will update as we come), we have filed stories for:
– Geelong Advertiser: Spence Brothers Reunite in Tokyo
– MacLeay Argus: Story on Kempsey’s Tim Atherton

Fox Sports: Massive feature on FoxSports.com.au

Newcastle Herald: Batter up: Newcastle slugger to lead Australia’s charge against JapanRixon Wingrove and Team Australia face top-ranked Japan at WBSC Premier12 in Nagoya

WBSC: Australia playing exhibition games against Industrial Team: “We need to face high-quality opponents”

WBSC: Preview: Japan opens WBSC Premier12 2024 against Australia on Wednesday in the Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Japan Times: Fuchu becomes home away from home for Australian national team

Japan Times: Travis Bazzana ready for senior team debut

TV: Travis Bazzana on Fox Sports the Backpage

Radio: Travis Bazzana on the Wide World of Sport (2GB) with Mike Pearsall

Radio: SportFM – Tim Kennelly

Podcast: Will Sherriff joins ‘Tell Him He’s Dreamin’

Radio: Dave Nilsson joins ABC Grandstand Weekend (November 9)

Radio: Regular updates Tuesday / Wednesday with Mike Pearsall on 2GB

Link to come.

Japanese Media

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This is the big section. Many of these are in Japanese language but click the old translate button in your browser to have a sift through. I’ve (loosely) translated the headlines.

Please note this list isn’t complete. One day we had five reporters at the field interviewing players, and some of it is really hard to find with my limited Japanese.

Japan Times: Fuchu becomes home away from home for Australian national team

Pacific League TV: Interviews with Darryl George and Dave Nilsson 

Yahoo / The Answer: Interview with Darryl George and Opposition Manager after game 

Creative2: Story on Robbie Perkins and Shota Imanaga relationship from Canberra Cavalry

Influencer: Famous Japanese YouTuber makes video of him coming to exhibition game to cheer for Australia.

Animation: With 200,000 views, an animation / cartoon about how Team Australia media gained traction in Japan. It’s a laugh.

The Answer: There are good players all over the world, the wonderful exchange between Team Australia and Working Players

The Answer: Graeme Lloyd, Australia and the last time Australia beat Japan at the 2004 Olympics

The Answer: A story about Tim Kennelly meeting another firefighter in Japan! 

Headline News on Yahoo: Profile on #1 pick Bazzana

Headline News on Yahoo: The heartwarming moment with Australian pitcher Team Australia Steve Kent and Children

Headline News on Yahoo: “The Australian national baseball team is moved to tears by the behavior of the Japanese “It’s the best!” Hats off to junior high school students… Hospitality is “wonderful”

Headline News on Yahoo: A story about Australian players love for local Ramen

Headline News on Yahoo: The Australian national baseball team is impressed by Japan’s welcome. I found it in the cityscape of Fuchu City, “Green and gold are lined up…”:

Headline News on Yahoo: Australian team loves 7-11

CoKara: The Wonderful Australian Display 

BaseballKing: Australia is in Japan

We’ve also been on nightly Japanese news.

Major broadcaster TV Asahi spent two days at training and administered eight interviews with players and coaches they can run throughout the week.

J-Comm, another major outlet, also showed up:

#ジモトピ
府中・小金井・国分寺・武蔵野・三鷹
📢11月9日㊏11時更新

⚾ #野球 の国際大会WBSC #プレミア12 出場の #オーストラリア 代表チームが府中市で事前キャンプ👊歓迎セレモニーや公開練習試合が行われました🔥😀 pic.twitter.com/JDLSTb1oSM

— J:COM｜東京エリア (@jcom_tokyo_area) November 9, 2024

UPCOMING MEDIA IN NAGOYA

This is what we’re about to walk in to…

This story is written by Eric Balnar, with photos from Scott Powick. We are filing daily stories from Australia’s ten-day training camp in Fuchu, Japan as they prepare to play in the Premier12. For more stories, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

Update: Lewis has been named the Game 1 starter. Watch live in Australia at 9:00PM AEDT on Gametime.Sport.

Lewis Thorpe has been where few Australians have before – the Major Leagues.

The 28-year-old is one of 38 Aussies to ever reach the top baseball league in the world, but he has never played on a senior men’s national team.

That’s about to change at the upcoming Premier12. He is Australia’s Major League rookie, so to speak.

Thorpe is at Fuchu training with the rest of his Aussie teammates. He is preparing for Australia’s first game vs Japan in front of a sold-out crowd and a Japanese TV audience of 25 million+.

You can just feel how significant this will be for him.

“[This uniform] means the most,” says Thorpe. “Any time you have the opportunity to wear the green & gold you want to do it. That means the most to me and to everyone at home, to compete with your boys for something bigger than you. It’s a different ball game than anything else.”

This story is written by Eric Balnar, with photos from Scott Powick. We are filing daily stories from Australia’s ten-day training camp in Fuchu, Japan as they prepare to play in the Premier12. For more stories, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

The last time we saw Australian right-handed pitcher Ky Jackson was September, 2024. He was carving up opponents while wearing the Green & Gold at the Under 23 World Cup in China.

In fact, you could make the argument Jackson has been Australia’s U23 ‘Ace’ over the last three years. 

In two World Cups, Jackson has posted a 1.69 ERA across six games and 20.2 innings.

But today, he was his own national program’s opponent.

Ky was playing for his professional team in Japan, but against Australia.

“I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous,” said Jackson. “Nerves, but the excitement part of it wins because I obviously know all the boys. It was weird. Because you never get an opportunity to pitch against Team Australia, I’ve always been with them. It was weird. But exciting.”

Above: Jackson pitching for Australia at the U23 World Cup

Australia is playing a series of five exhibition games against five different Industrial Japanese League opponents as part of their 10-day training camp in Fuchu City.

These teams are effectively baseball playing divisions of companies owned by mega-Japanese companies, featuring a groundswell of young Japanese talent and former NPB professionals.

Jackson, a 23-year-old who was born, raised and developed in the New South Wales baseball system, moved to Japan when he was 18-years-old to pursue his baseball dream.

His mother is Japanese, his father in Australia, so he has a passport.

At 18, Ky moved to Japan to attend university, to play baseball, and to earn sports psychology degree.

Now, Jackson finds himself playing for Nippon Express – today’s Industrial League opponent for Team Australia.

He opened the game, tossing 2.0 innings allowing a couple hits and a run.

Above: Ky Jackson on the mound on Friday for Nippon Express. Photo: Scott Powick.

He says he was maybe more nervous to face his friends than he was to play with them at a World Cup.

“It’s waaaay different nerves,” says Jackson. “But yeah, probably more. It’s just because I know all the boys. This was really fun and probably a one-of-a-kind experience. Bragging rights, you know?”

His Aussie mates were ‘heaps keen’ to face a fellow national team brother.

Solomon Maguire, Rixon Wingrove, Coen Wynne, Alex Hall, Will Sheriff, Blake Townsend & Jarryd Dale were all once U23 World Cup teammates with Jackson, either in 2022 or 2024, in addition to their Aussie domestic exploits.

Now that group is on Australia’s Premier12 roster.

Ky’s first at-bat of the game was against Travis Bazzana – a player he played charter baseball at Ryde with growing up.

“I saw [Travis] before the game and I asked him what pitch he wanted. He said give me a fastball. So, I said ‘you got it’ and I gave him a fastball,” laughs Jackson.

Bazzana ambushed the pitch of the game and found himself on base.

“That’s what he does,” says Jackson.

“Yeah, it was kind of a cheap one,” says Bazzana. “But Ky, he’s always been such a great and competitive player growing up. One of the best pitchers in the state kind of thing.”

Outfielder Solomon Maguire says it was a cool moment for him on a personal level. It was another instance in an ever growing list of moments the two have helped each other out. He shares insights as to just how Australian baseball players help each other out.

“Me and Ky are close so whenever we end up back [on the same team], we talk about what we’ve been working on, talk about the path we are on and if we can get pointers from each other. We are in two different baseball countries that play the game completely different,” he says.

Maguire says this game felt special for a number of reasons.

“At the last World Cup, I sat down and asked him how he would pitch to me knowing my weaknesses,” says Maguire. “He broke it down for me and I was like, ‘yeah you would completely get me out.’ But those conversations are healthy because now I can go away and work and figure out how to overcome that. I know for me and a lot of guys it’s a fun experience to test your stuff at this level against a mate.”

Above: Blake Townsend, Solomon Maguire, Ky Jackson, Travis Bazzana and Will Sherriff have all played for Australia together at the U23 or junior levels. Photo: Scott Powick.

Jackson and his Aussie mates all shared a hug and laugh before the game.

“We grew up together, we love each other, yeah it was special,” he says.

Jackson is draft eligible for the NPB next season. He says that’s what he’s working towards right now.

 That, and reaching the senior national team.

“Since I was 12 or 13 I’ve always wanted to play for Australia. I always do and still want to play for Australia. One day hopefully I am good enough to be on one of these senior teams in the future. That’s definitely on my mind. I just have to keep working towards it,” he says.

LENDING A HELPING HAND

Jackson has a big smile on his face when reflecting on the experience.

“Everybody was so pumped,” says Jackson of the Nippon Express. “They were all asking me about all the players and the level. I would say this is a big memory for a lot of them.”

Above: Group Photo – Nippon Express x Team Australia. 

“When we found out we were playing Team Australia it was such a huge honour for everyone. You know, we watch those tournaments in our dorm rooms, with each other, at work. Everyone knows this is Team Australia,” he says.

Jackson says he could tell it meant a lot for those on Nippon Express to play today.

“It’s a surreal thing for my teammates too. Now we’ve played them, now we can go cheer for them knowing we’ve done our part to help get them ready to play [a major tournament],” he says.

Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams says it is another great example of how the Japanese community rallies around Team Australia. 

He says these exhibition games are crucial in preparing the team.

“We give Fuchu City a schedule and say we would like to play five games in these time slots and they go and get it done,” he says. “It’s remarkable because some times games are at funny times. They’re not on weekends. They go out of their way for us.”

Players from SegaSammy, another Industrial League team, working on the field pre-game to help Australia prepare for the Premier12. Photo: Scott Powick.

Williams says the games are an important part of the process.

“Guys need to play. They need to have at-bats, they need to face high quality opponents and that’s the quality of the opposition we are facing. We are very appreciative,” he says.

But for Ky, it was a merging of two worlds.

“Japanese people love the game, respect the game, support the game and respect the opponent,” he says. “Now we are part of the journey.”

“For me it was good. Kind of felt like I was in both my homes.”

In a memorable evening at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, Team Australia’s senior men’s national team was honoured in a gathering that highlighted the powerful role of sports diplomacy in strengthening ties between Australia and Japan.

Hosted by Australian Ambassador to Japan Justin Hayhurst, the event showcased how baseball, one of Japan’s most beloved sports and a growing force in Australia, builds unique connections and offers significant opportunities for collaboration between the two nations.

Team Australia is in Japan preparing to play in the Premier12, one of the most significant international baseball events. They’ve been well received in Japan, gaining over 7 million impressions on X in the first 10 days since arriving, with 97% of the audience coming from Japan.

Australia’s tournament opening game on November 13 is expected to be watched by over 25 million people in Japan. For context, the NRL Grand Final and AFL Grand Final had a combined audience of 7 million in Australia in 2024.

To see all the media coverage Team Australia has attracted in Japan, visit here. 

For businesses in both countries, the event at the Ambassador’s house emphasized the possibilities for leveraging the cultural and economic bridges that baseball creates.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Hayhurst welcomed guests from government, business, and the sporting community, acknowledging the shared values that underpin Australia-Japan relations.

Baseball, with its deep following in both nations, provides a strong platform for cross-border connections. The recent 2023 World Baseball Classic, where Team Australia and Japan went head-to-head, exemplified this connection. With sell-out crowds and millions tuning in across Japan and Australia, the game showcased the sport’s powerful reach and influence.

Australia has been living and working in Fuchu City, a Tokyo suburb, exemplifying the power of cross-country relations for positive outcomes.

There are also five teams from the NPB, Japan’s top level of professional baseball, sending 14 players to compete in the upcoming Australian Baseball League season from November 15 onward. This includes current NPB Champions DeNA Baystars and the biggest professional sports brand in Japan, the Tokyo Giants.

Sports Diplomacy as a Gateway to New Partnerships

Glenn Williams, Baseball Australia’s CEO, spoke to the significance of Team Australia’s growing popularity in Japan.

“Australia’s popularity in Japan has never been higher,” he said.

Williams emphasized how games like the World Baseball Classic and Premier12 create pathways for new relationships.

“The platforms developed through games we play in Japan are prime opportunities for business to host their current or prospective Japanese partners to an engaged and enthusiastic audience,” he added, underscoring how such events drive business conversations, cultural exchanges, and investment possibilities that extend far beyond the field.

The 2023 World Baseball Classic matchup between Australia and Japan drew millions of viewers and sell-out crowds, highlighting the demand for high-stakes international baseball.

Baseball Australia’s longstanding partnerships with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and connections with cities like Fuchu demonstrate how sports diplomacy can drive meaningful engagements.

For Japanese and Australian businesses, the success of such events shows the potential for cross-border collaboration through sponsorships, youth development programs, and fan engagement initiatives, all while fostering brand equity and corporate goodwill.

A Bright Future for Australia-Japan Business Relationships

The night at the embassy served as a reminder of the mutual respect and shared enthusiasm that strengthen the Australia-Japan relationship.

Glenn Williams shared his optimism about the future.

“The relationship between Japan and Australia is stronger than ever, and with more events on the horizon, this is a prime opportunity to partner with Australian baseball,” he said.

Above: Australian head coach Dave Nilsson, who spent time in his career playing in Japan

As baseball continues to bridge Australia and Japan, businesses are presented with unique avenues for growth, including tourism, education, and sports-related investments.

In closing, we extend our gratitude to Ambassador Justin Hayhurst for his hospitality and dedication to supporting Team Australia’s presence in Japan. Under his leadership, the Australian Embassy in Tokyo remains a bridge for fostering economic and cultural ties through sports diplomacy.

The evening was more than a celebration of athletic achievement; it was a reminder of the valuable opportunities for businesses willing to be part of the growing collaboration between Australia and Japan/

Baseball’s popularity creates a platform for long-lasting relationships, uniting government, business, and fans in a shared passion and mutual respect.

For more information and stories about Australia’s Premier12 journey, please visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12

#AustraliaJapan #SportsDiplomacy #BaseballAustralia #WorldBaseballClassic #BusinessOpportunities

 

This story is written by Eric Balnar, with photos from Scott Powick. We are filing daily stories from Australia’s ten-day training camp in Fuchu, Japan as they prepare to play in the Premier12. Here you will find our daily story and a recap of the day’s activities. For more stories, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

Most brothers who live far apart from each other catch up at a family reunion or occasional visits home.

For Josh & Liam Spence, two Aussie baseballers from Geelong, their family reunion comes at one of the biggest baseball tournaments in the world.

Infielder Liam and assistant pitching coach Josh saw each other for the second time in 20-months this week in Tokyo, as the Australian national team prepares for the Premier12.

They’ve only seen each other just once since March 2023, when they both represented Australia at the World Baseball Classic.

“This means everything to me,” says Liam, the youngest of three boys. “[Josh] is the guy I looked up to when I was growing up – him and my other brother Nic. So, this is pretty special.”

Josh is the 29th Australian to ever play Major League Baseball. The 36-year-old lefty pitched two seasons with the San Diego Padres from 2011-2012.

Liam is playing on his second senior men’s team. He played for Australia at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

“It’s a one of a kind of experience and I don’t take it for granted,” says Liam.

Both Spence brothers have crafted a full-time life in baseball. Josh is a pitching coach in the Milwaukee Brewers’ system, spending 2024 with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Liam is a former Chicago Cubs draft pick who now plays for the Adelaide Giants in the ABL and the Sioux Falls Canaries in the American Association.

“It’s always a privilege to represent Australia but there’s something special to be able to do it with my brother,” says Josh.  “We’ve been able to navigate our way through America’s pastime and our paths don’t always connect through the year, so it’s just nice to be able to be in the same dugout right now and enjoy this experience together.”

There’s a tender age gap between Josh and Liam – 10 years to be exact. When Josh was playing college baseball and in the Major Leagues, Liam was growing up in Geelong.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t close. They regularly chatted and supported each other on their respective journeys.

“Skype was the thing back in the day,” laughs Josh. “We would catch up playing video games online. And [my family] would come over to visit and see me play a couple times a year.”

Above: Liam travelling to the USA to watch his brother Josh play in the Major Leagues.

When Liam began his baseball career in the United States, Josh was there the offer guidance.

Liam attended Central Arizona Junior College before transferring to the University of Tennessee. When Liam was at Central Arizona, Josh was a pitching coach at a high school not too far away.

Liam was eventually selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Josh was able to help him navigate that experience, too.

“I was able to experience things that he wanted to get out of baseball. It’s been fun for him to lean on some of my past experiences, help him shorten the learning curve,” says Josh.

Glenn Williams, CEO of Baseball Australia, says it’s cool to see family members reunite in a family environment.

“I can’t imagine how special this must feel to them,” he says. “Especially to do it in an environment that feels like one big family reunion. It’s very reminiscent of the environment we have here. It’s pretty cool.”

Now, with their national team brothers, they’re both experiencing the madness and fanfare of Japanese baseball together.

The city of Fuchu has embraced the Australian team. The players are treated like rockstars at local schools and have been treated to many special performances. Fans have even assembled to create ‘fight songs’ and cheering sections for the national squad.

Don’t believe us? Scroll through our X account or @teamaustraliabaseball on Instagram.

“It’s pretty wild. There are so many people out here. They’re just coming out here, singing, cheering you on and giving you all this love and support even when you are so far from home. It’s pretty unbelievable,” says Liam.

Liam says he and his teammates are appreciative of the Japanese support.

“It was beyond my expectations,” he says. “It feels like every time we come here support just grows.”

TRAINING CAMP UPDATE & Match Report

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Australia hit three homers in a 7-4 win over Kasuzo Magic in an exhibition game in Fuchu today.

Alex Hall, Aaron Whitefield and Darryl George all hit homers, while the team used nine pitchers on the mound. Solomon Maguire had also an RBI.

The pitchers who saw some work were: Mitch Neunborn, Jon Kennedy, Lewis Thorpe, Will Sherriff, Tim Atherton, Coen Wynne, Blake Townsend, Dan McGrath and Josh Guyer.

Australia has three more practice matches to play before their tournament opener November 13 in Nagoya.

There was certainly a buzz around training camp. Four major Japanese outlets, including Yahoo, the Answer, Japan Times and Pacific League TV, all attended training. A swarm of fans came to grab signatures too.

Above: Travis Bazzana slides into base. Fans swarm around Team Australia. Photo: Scott Powick.

Below: Alex Hall hits a homer, Tim Kennelly interviewed by the Japan Times. Photo: Scott Powick.

Around Camp

Here’s what’s been happening the last three days for Team Australia.

On Monday, Australia had a four hour practice and a two-hour clinic for local Fuchu baseball players.

On Tuesday, the team trained in the morning and visited a local school in the afternoon. They were greeted by a gymnasium full of elementary school students, a performance from the band, and a game of catch.

Wednesday featured training, a practice match vs a local company team, and a visit to the Australian Embassy in the evening.

In the game itself, Australia used the opportunity to bring game action to a whole slew of pitchers. The arms that threw were

 

 

 

story by Eric Balnar, photos by Scott Powick. 

The Japanese locals of Fuchu sure know how to make Australia’s national baseball team feel the love.

Make no mistake – this was a big day.

The formula looked like this: Three hours of practice + a welcome ceremony + exhibition game + visit to shrine = a 10+ hour day for Team Australia.

But that’s what Fuchu Camp is all about. Today was particularly special for many reasons.

Australia was greeted with a wonderful Japanese fan support – from song, dance, and a section of fans singing fight songs.

Let’s bring you along our Day 2 journey. Here’s what happened.

For archived stories of the Fuchu Premier12 training camp, please visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

Story by Eric Balnar / Photos by Scott Powick

Welcome to Fuchu – a Tokyo suburb and the home of Team Australia Baseball for the next ten days.

Scratch that. It is our second home.

Australia’s national baseball squad has arrived for a training camp to prepare for one of the biggest baseball tournaments in the world – the Premier12.

Consider it baseball’s equivalent of a Senior Men’s World Cup, where only the top twelve ranked countries are invited to play ball.

First up? A November 13 clash with World #1 Japan and a team loaded with all-stars from their top-level of competition (NPB).

The tournament opener will be played in Nagoya, a city about 300km south west of Tokyo, in front of over 50,000 baseball mad Japanese fans and a TV audience that should eclipse 25 million.

Then, both Australia and Japan will join the rest of their group in Taiwan for the remainder of the group stage portion of the tournament.

Want more Premier12 stories? Head to our Premier12 Hub!

The stakes are high so the preparation is important.

That’s where Fuchu comes in.

Team Australia has ventured to Fuchu to train since 2018 and the city has become an important part of planning for any major tournament.

They’re here now before voyaging to Nagoya.

PAST STORY: How a Japanese Town is helping Team Australia prepare for the WBC

So, what does Fuchu look like? What does the training camp entail? What will the players be doing? What is the city itself like? Where do the players eat?

We hope this article helps bring you here with us to Fuchu, Japan.

The Schedule and Preparation

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“It’s designed to be hard,” says Australia’s national team manager Dave Nilsson (below).

“It’s a physically hard camp. It’s about creating fatigue. It’s about creating stress and then attention to detail under that stress. It’s become a location that all the guys know and they love it, says Nilsson. “But there are no distractions. There’s no outside people they go away to. They go to the hotel, they hang out with each other. They go to the field, they hang out together. It’s baseball and bonding. Everybody is all working together but Fuchu [camp] does not provide an easy day.”

It’s a jam packed schedule for Australia’s Roster of 28.

On November 1, Australian baseball players from baseball leagues all over the world flew in at various points of the day to reunite under the Green & Gold banner.

Above: Catcher Ryan Battaglia with hustle. Photo: Scott Powick

From November 2 – 10, there is at least one practice a day. Australia will play five practice matches against local Japanese company teams on top of their regular training schedule.

On Monday 4 November, they’ll host a baseball clinic for local junior players.

On Tuesday 5 November, they’ll spend the afternoon visiting a school.

Mixed in there is a dinner at the Ambassador’s House, a local ceremony or two, and a lengthy list of media request from Japanese outlets.

All up it’s nine trainings, five games, a school visit, a clinic, and some functions to attend to.

These sorts of activities help the locals feel connected to Australian baseball, according to Shugo Mukoyama, the chairman of the All Fuchu Baseball Club

“By watching the game at Fuchu Field, fans become more familiar and more supportive of Team Australia,” says Mukoyama. “The most famous team for Fuchu kids is now Australia. We feel closest to them.”

On November 11, the team travels to Nagoya ahead of their November 13 clash with Japan.

But until then, Fuchu is home.

The Community

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There are about 260,000 residents of Fuchu.

They pride themselves on being a sports town, home to two top rugby teams, the race course and of course a vibrant baseball community.

Fuchu is lined with restaurants of all styles of foods. From ramen shops, to steakhouses, to curry restaurants, to burgers…there’s something for everyone.

There’s even a Wendy’s outside the team’s hotel.

Streets are lined with Australian colours and flags.

“We hope the team feels welcomed and at home,” says Daisuke Minagawa a manager at of one of the local companies (Aida Chemical Industries), helping to coordinate Team Australia’s Fuchu experience.

The residents are friendly and inviting. Shop employees go out of their way to help translate. It’s not uncommon to have a few friendly hellos from locals on the streets.

A beautiful park is nearby. It’s home to Okunitama-jinja Shrine, one of the oldest in Japan with a history dating back 1900 years.

“Fuchu is a wonderful city, the location is great. We have access to everything. The people are incredible. They embrace us and the team embraces them. It has everything we need,” says Nilsson.

Toshiba has a base in Fuchu, and iconic beverage giant Suntory is here too. Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation NEC employs a large number of people in the area too.

The Stadium – Fuchu City Baseball Field

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Residents come to watch Australia practice in March, 2023 ahead of the WBC. Photo: Scott Powick

“Baseball is really connected to the citizens life here in Fuchu,” says Daisuke Minagawa.

The centre to that life is the Citizens Stadium. The ballpark is owned by the community and has been the home to Fuchu baseball since 1950.

The stadium, which fits about 5,000 people, supports everything from grassroots baseball, to kids, to local clubs, to women’s competition to adults leagues.

“The facilities are great. It has everything we need,” says Nilsson.

The Tokyo Giants women’s team even calls Fuchu home.

“It is a baseball field for all citizens,” says Mukoyama of All Fuchu Baseball Club.

“It is for kids, for adults, for all people. It is an important part of life here.”

The Adult Team is called ‘All-Fuchu.’ They are comprised of high-level players who live and work in the community, including many retired NPB players.

These baseballers work full-time and play on weekends. If you’re in Australia, it’s the equivalent of club ball except it’s played in a stadium of 5,000.

All-Fuchu competes in the Kanto Region League against other communities.

There are two games that can’t be missed: a rivalry with the Tokyo Mets and a clash with Oshikaga.

The women’s team is called the Mares, named after the neighbouring Tokyo Racecourse.

“Women’s baseball is one of the first cities to support women’s baseball,” says Daisuke. “The community really wants to support the community and boost more activities.”

In fact, the stadium was in need of upgraded change rooms as women’s programs were expanding.

The City of Fuchu supported, but the baseball community launched a large crowd funding campaign that raised over $7.6 million yen (76,000AUD)

“The target was five million yen but we raised more in just three months,” says Daisuke.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the facilities. Hand crafted wood locker rooms, fresh showers and work out rooms give an aura of clean history.

Above: Players meet in one of the newly renovated locker rooms.

Where they eat, and what the players do

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Food is an important part of life in Fuchu.

Lion Ramen, right near the train station (above), is a big hit amongst players.

“That’s the spot right there,” says Australian pitcher Sam Holland. “Order the number two.”

Other popular spots include the many Japanese Curry restaurants, local Japanese style Barbecues, the Takoyri Steakhouse, and of course many of the local convenience stores – Family Mart, Lawson and 7/11.

Daisuke even brings in a large basket of gummies unique to Japan for the players to try.

And no – these convenience stores aren’t like we have in Australia. You can purchase a hot, fresh, delicious meal for as low as $4 AUD.

The restaurants get in the spirit too. A bar called ‘Fuchu Fan Zone’ has completely rebranded in Team Australia baseball colours – from the signs out front, to branding inside.

“We have a chance to bond,” says Darryl George, one of Australia’s infielders. “We don’t see each other for large stretches of the year so at the field, at the hotel, at the restaurants, we have a chance to connect and get to know each other. We offer support for each other – you often see guys help each other out with whatever they’re going through in life.”

You can find Australian players walking the streets, trying local food, exercising, visiting baseball stores and relaxing when they aren’t training.

Training Day 1 – Report

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Heavy rains overnight, and a steady downpour in the morning, forced Australia to alter their originally scheduled five hour practice.

The team still worked out at a track and field facility next door to the Fuchu Stadium.

“The guys had to move around,” says Nilsson. “There was some conditioning that needed to be done.”

Players threw and worked out in the field. Nilsson says he and the team embraced the conditions.

“There’s a good chance we have conditions like this in Taiwan,” he says. “This offered an opportunity to work out in tough conditions with similar circumstances.”

The team is scheduled to work on their swings at local batting cages in the evening.

Above: Sam Holland. Below: Alex Hall & Graeme Lloyd

 

 

Sydney will host the Oceania chapter 2025 WBSC U18 World Cup Qualifiers from December 5-8, 2024.

Australia will duke it out in a five-game series with New Zealand.

The winner of the tournament will represent Oceania at the 2025 U18 World Cup in Japan.

UPDATE: There has also been a roster adjustment. Queensland outfielder Liam Kiddle and Queensland catcher Cooper Teichmann have been added to the squad ahead of the qualifying event. The updated roster is below.

You’ll be able to attend the games at Blacktown International Sportspark.

We’ll provide updates when the tournament is on.

Here are the players on the qualification roster: