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One of New South Wales’ brightest young right-handers is headed to one of the most respected junior college programs in the United States.

Lachlan Robinson, a national champion who plays his club baseball for the Blacktown Workers, has committed to Weatherford College in Texas — the same powerhouse program that Victorian infielder Will Hardy committed to last month.

Robinson will study General Studies/Education.

Weatherford has built a strong reputation within the junior college ranks as a program that consistently develops pitchers, sends players on to elite NCAA Division I schools, and produces professional talent.

For Robinson, it represents the next step in a journey that has rapidly accelerated over the last twelve months.

Robinson features a deep pitch mix — a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, slider and curveball — and was a key member of New South Wales’ gold-medal winning team at the 2025 U18 National Championships.

He also attended Australia’s U18 National Team Camp in August.

“The 2025 U18s AYC was my first taste of national baseball outside of juniors,” he says. “It was the moment I realised I had a chance at playing baseball overseas. Playing against some of the best talent in Australia boosted my confidence as a pitcher knowing I can compete.”

He says the U18 World Cup selection camp further sharpened his focus.

“The camp helped me set a clear goal and made me a better, more focused and goal-oriented pitcher. Even after getting cut, I was able to get back to work and compete day in and day out.”

He says one of his biggest assets on the mound is the way he carries himself and his raw potential he is trying to unlock.

“My biggest strengths are having a big presence on the mound, my rawness to pitching, and my velocity,” Robinson says.

Baseball Australia player development manager Andrew Riddell says Lachlan is another example of a strong arm in the U18 age group with a high ceiling.

“Obviously with his height, frame and where his velocity is already at there’s a lot to like,” he says.  “But it is really exciting to see him commit to a great program with a structured player development approach and continue his hard work to becoming a well-rounded pitcher.”

Riddell says Robinson deserves full credit for his hard work.

“He didn’t make a state team until second-year U18s where he really put himself on the map. Even after missing out on the World Cup team at U18 selection camp, he remained positive with how much growth and development he still had to come to reach the higher levels he wants to play in,” says Riddell.

“He is evidence to all young players that development and maturity happens at different ages and regardless of what club or level you start at. Working hard and continuing to push yourself leads to positive outcomes,” he adds.

At Weatherford, his focus is clear.

“I want to be able to improve my pitchability in all counts and land all of my pitches for strikes, keeping hitters guessing,” says Robinson. “I want to improve my command and velocity.”

Riddell says Weatherford was Lachlan’s choice among many options.

“Lachlan worked his way through zoom calls with some of the best junior colleges in the country that we reached out too and settled on Weatherford to keep developing him to a level where Division 1 and professional baseball is a reality,” says Riddell. “I can’t wait to see him and Will Hardy together for the next few years!’

Robinson credits his baseball influences with helping him reach this stage. Chief among them is his uncle, former Sydney Blue Sox player James Yates.

“My uncle was a big influence on my career and journey,” Robinson says. “He played on some of the biggest levels in Australia with the Blue Sox and travelled to the U.S. multiple times. He sparked my love for the game early when I watched him play. It made me dream of playing baseball at the highest level. Since then he has helped me develop physically and mentally.”

He says his parents were just as important.

“They always pushed me to keep going even when facing tough decisions and challenges. That ultimately made me the player I am today,” he says.

Robinson started playing baseball as a junior with McKillop Baseball Club with time spent at Greater Western Sydney.

Robinson will depart for the United States in August 2026, where he will join Hardy at Weatherford and begin the next chapter of his development in one of America’s most competitive junior college conferences.

MORE COLLEGE STORIES

• Canberra pitcher Nate Quigg commits to McLennan
• Hard throwing Queenslander Luka Moore locks in college commitment
• Team Australia U18 pitcher-catcher combo Riley Puckett and Cooper Teichmann commit to Galveston College
• From Blacktown to Texas: Ethan Bickel commits to North Central Texas College
• Team Australia U18 star pitcher Damien Wilson commits to New Mexico Junior College
• Team Australia U18 infielder commits to JUCO powerhouse Weatherford College

One of Canberra’s most promising young arms is heading to one of the strongest junior college programs in America.

Right-handed 18-year-old pitcher Nate Quigg, who plays his club baseball for the Ryde Hawks in the NSW State League, has committed to McLennan Community College.

The Waco, Texas based school is a perennial JUCO powerhouse with a recent national championship in 2021 and six JUCO World Series appearances since 2015. They’ve produced dozens of professional players.

Quigg, who features a three-pitch mix of fastball, curveball and splitter, has quickly risen through Australia’s pathway. He represented the ACT at the Australian Youth Championships, pitched for Australia at the 2025 U18 World Cup, and made his ABL debut with the Cavalry in January 2025.

He says he sees McLennan as the ideal place to accelerate his development.

“I see my development really taking off at McLennan. Being around high-level coaches and players every day will help me keep improving on the mound and learning more about the game,” he says. “I’m also looking forward to getting stronger in the gym, building more consistency, and competing against top talent, which I know will push me to another level.”

Quigg will study Sports Science. He is scheduled to depart to the United States in August 2026.

McLennan has long been a strong landing spot for Australians in the past.

George Callil spent two seasons there in 2017–18 before moving on to a standout NCAA Division I career at the University of South Carolina.

Quigg says one of his biggest assets is his ability to stay motivated and find ways to improve.

“One of my biggest strengths is my ability to push myself and stay motivated. I’ve had to do a lot on my own without much outside help, especially since we haven’t had a high-performance program here for the last couple of years,” says Quigg. “I’ve taken a lot of responsibility for my own development, finding ways to get better, sticking to my training, and staying consistent even without the same resources other players might have. It’s made me more self-driven and disciplined.”

Quigg notably spent time working with Canberra baseball legend and Team Australia catcher Robbie Perkins to prepare for the U18 World Cup.

He ended up tossing 3.0 innings across two appearances at the World Cup, allowing just one run.

Baseball Australia Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell says Nate has done a tremendous job in Canberra to keep developing his body and arm.

“He deserves a lot of credit for his hard work,” says Riddell. “He found a way to become a Team Australia U18 pitcher and now commit to a perennial junior college powerhouse. We saw him in January at AYC and even the strides he had made by selection camp in August were evident.”

Riddell says Quigg is a self-aware player, and he understands his strengths and weaknesses.

“From knowing the coaching staff at McClennan for a number of years now, they will be able to help him refine his command, continue to develop his secondary pitches and put some weight on him in the gym,” he says.

Riddell says Quigg was in a position with a number of top programs showing interest. After a bunch of zoom calls, McLennan seemed like the right fit.

“McClennan has always come and watched our players at Perfect Game events in the U.S and Nate’s commitment strengthens the relationship between them and Baseball Australia even further for the future,” says Riddell. “I think this next step in his career reflects his drive and ambition but also the support system around him in Canberra – notably his family, coaches since he was little, mentors at local Canberra clubs that have shaped him and other Canberra-based players that continue to work hard for each other and develop within the game with their goals not too far away.’

Now, Quigg says it’s time to set sale and sharpen his foundation while in the U.S.

“I’m hoping to keep improving my overall game — building strength, increasing velocity, and improving my command on the mound,” he says. “Getting on a proper throwing and strength program will help me develop more consistency and take that next step. I also want to learn as much as I can from the coaches and players around me so I can continue to grow as both a pitcher and a teammate.”

Quigg says his family has been the biggest influence along his journey.

He says he wouldn’t be there without them.

“It’s definitely been my mum and dad. They’ve supported me through everything — the early mornings, the long trips, always believing in me and pushing me to keep getting better. I’ve also been inspired by Australian players who’ve made it to college or pro ball, seeing what’s possible if you put in the work.”

MORE COLLEGE STORIES

• Hard throwing Queenslander Luka Moore locks in college commitment
• Team Australia U18 pitcher-catcher combo Riley Puckett and Cooper Teichmann commit to Galveston College
• From Blacktown to Texas: Ethan Bickel commits to North Central Texas College
• Team Australia U18 star pitcher Damien Wilson commits to New Mexico Junior College
• Team Australia U18 infielder commits to JUCO powerhouse Weatherford College

One of Australia’s hardest-throwing pitching prospects has committed to college.

Queenslander Luka Moore, a Redcliffe Padres pitcher who can throw up to 92 miles-per-hour, has committed to Midland Community College — a JUCO in Texas.

It’s one of the top junior colleges in the baseball landscape, ranked No. 10 to start the 2025 season.

Moore says his strength is his velocity and mound presence.

“I’m tall. I’m 6’4, 100kg and I get a lot of reach,” says Moore. “I have a good pitch mix that produces a lot of swings and misses.”

Moore has a five-pitch mix: four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, Vulcan change-up, slider and curveball.

He says he hopes to become a more complete pitcher at Midland.

“While I’m away, I hope my velocity will jump but more importantly my strike-to-ball ratio will improve,” says Moore. “I also hope that as I progress, my mentality and attitude improve also. It’s a different game in the States and if I want to succeed then I will need to be at the top of my game physically and mentally. Being around a bunch of new faces and having a whole different lifestyle means that I can improve as a teammate and person.”

Moore follows in the footsteps of fellow Aussie Luke Hayhow, who transferred to Midland this year after redshirting his freshman year at San Diego State University.

Moore will study STEM and Engineering.

Baseball Australia Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell says he is happy that Luka was able to commit to a top ten program with a history of moving players on to Division I universities and professional baseball.

“He had a number of full scholarship offers from some really good schools that we were able to work through and narrow down his focus to the best fit for him,” says Riddell. “After discussion with the coaching staff – and also Luke Hayhow – Luka and his parents decided that Midland will best prepare him for the rest of his career.”

Moore missed out on national team selection this year despite attending camp. Riddell says he was very impressed with how he bounced back and earned himself opportunities in baseball.

“Luka remained positive and went straight back to training to keep improving his command and secondary pitches,” he says. “That’s a big credit to his work ethic and determination to be successful. He knows what he needs to improve on and it’s going to be fun watching him keep developing at college.”

Moore says his experience at the Australian Youth Championships helped prepare him for this opportunity.

He also attended the U18 National Team Camp with 34 other top Australians.

“Facing the best of the best in Australia meant I had to be on my A-game and get comfortable with the fact that everyone in a line-up can hit,” says Moore. “It’s a different feel from club ball. I also felt it at national team camp because I was narrowed down to the best 30–35 players in Australia, which meant I had to be even better and more efficient in what I do.”

Moore says he would like to thank everyone in the Redcliffe community, his mum, dad, Chris Maguire, Barry Kairl, Ted Roebuck and Phil Overlack.

MORE COLLEGE STORIES

• Team Australia U18 pitcher-catcher combo Riley Puckett and Cooper Teichmann commit to Galveston College
• From Blacktown to Texas: Ethan Bickel commits to North Central Texas College
• Team Australia U18 star pitcher Damien Wilson commits to New Mexico Junior College
• Team Australia U18 infielder commits to JUCO powerhouse Weatherford College

He’s a national champion, a state league winner, and a U18 World Cup representative.

Now, Ethan Bickel is a college commit.

The Blacktown Workers pitcher from New South Wales has confirmed his commitment to North Central Texas College, capping off what has been an impressive 2025 campaign across club, state and international levels.

Bickel was a key contributor to New South Wales’ U18 National Championship in January and a member of Blacktown’s premiership-winning State League side.

His success carried onto the international stage, where he threw 8.0 shutout innings across three appearances at the recent U18 World Cup, including 3.1 scoreless frames against the powerhouse USA lineup.

Bickel was one of 11 Australians selected to attend an MLB College Showcase Tour immediate following the U18 World Cup.

“I think the Australian Youth Championship tournaments we have every year have really helped me develop and learn the standard of baseball and talent around our country,” Bickel said. “That’s helped me find things to work on and get better. Playing in events like the World Cup has shown me that I can compete at that level.”

A right-hander with a four-pitch mix — fastball, sinker, slider and change-up — Bickel is known for his ability to throw strikes with any pitch in any count. He says his next goal is to add velocity as he transitions to college baseball.

“That’s a big goal of mine to move onto the next level,” he said. “I’m always refining my pitches in a way that will help me compete at the next level.”

Baseball Australia Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell says Bickel has been on the radar for the last few years.

“It’s been great getting to know him and his family better throughout the years,” says Riddell. “He was part of the Team Australia U16 camp in Canberra in 2023 which really put his name on the map with how many strikes he threw with multiple pitches and his poise on the mound.”

Riddell says Bickel’s work ethic and determination stood out.

“He made improvements to jump to the U18 bracket at the AYC as a first-year player and was selected in the U17 squad to head to Fort Myers for the WWBA Underclass World Championship. He continued to refine and develop his secondary pitches.”

“At the World Cup, we saw what he was able to do with eight scoreless innings in really pivotal and high-leverage situations. I’m really looking forward to continue watching his development in college. Big congratulations to him, his family & all the coaches throughout Sydney that have helped him become the person and pitcher he is today.”

Bickel will study Sports Business Management at North Central Texas College.

He credits his family, community and coaches for shaping his journey so far.

“I’ve had some amazing coaches throughout my journey,” he said. “My dad taught me the basics and really got me into baseball. The coaching staff at Blacktown Workers changed the way I approach the game and helped me understand the fundamentals behind everything. I’ve also been very fortunate to have great coaches at both state and Australian level who’ve helped me develop over the years.”