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Australia wrapped up its 2024 Premier12 campaign with a 5-2 loss to Korea at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei on Monday afternoon.

Three errors in the field, missed opportunities and a massive performance from Korean All-Star slugger Kim Doyeong led to the Korean victory.

Kim was an imposing force in the batter’s box. He went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a critical two-run homer in the sixth to sail Korea ahead.

Not long before the dagger home run, Liam Spence (below) had just pulled the Aussies back within one with his second hit of the afternoon.

Australia had their chances. They had bases loaded with nobody out in the fifth, and runners on the corners with one out in the sixth. Australia scored just one run each of those innings.

Meanwhile, Korea capitalised off Australian miscues.

Only one of their first three runs were earned. Australia made three errors in the first four innings which helped extend Korean innings.

“Defense and limiting free bases has not been where it needs to be the last two nights,” said Australia’s hitting coach Chris Adamson at the post game presser. “It’s going to continue to be a focal point for us and something we need to clean up.”

Australia finishes the Premier12 with a 1-4 record. They will have to await the outcome of tonight’s Japan / Dominican Republic & Cuba / Chinese Taipei games to see where they finish.

If Chinese Taipei & Japan both win, Australia will finish fourth in the group, and seventh overall in the tournament.

“Overall, we’re disappointed. That’s not where we wanted to be or think we should be,” said Adamson. “But there’s a lot of good foundations and young players coming through.”

Liam Spence led Australia in batting, collecting two of Australia’s five hits. Tim Kennelly, Rixon Wingrove & Darryl George had the other base knocks.

Australia used seven pitchers in the loss: Tim Atherton, Steve Kent, Josh Guyer, Warwick Saupold, Sam Holland, Coen Wynne and Todd Van Steensel. They combined to allow 10 hits, three walks and three earned runs.

BOX SCORE: Click here

HOW IT UNFOLDED

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Some sloppy play hurt the Australians.

Three Aussie errors in the first four kept extending batting innings for Korea and helped put runs on the board.

Of Korea’s first three runs, only one was earned. 

Australian pitching had its moments.

Tim Atherton had a huge bases loaded strikeout in the second to keep the game scoreless, bailing out a defensive error.

Darryl George also kept a run off the board off a funny deflection.

Kim Doyeong picked up his first RBI in the third, a single up the middle against Steve Kent.

Korea had their breakthrough in the fourth inning, to no fault of pitcher Josh Guyer.

In wet conditions, Chang-Ki Hong dribbled a ball down the line off a half-hearted swing.

It hugged the foul line between home and first, keeping the inning alive.

Guyer induced a weak ground ball to Shin Minjae. The ball rolled between first base and the pitcher but a slightly arrant throw from Rixon Wingrove allowed Minjae to reach and a run to score.

The next batter Kim Doyeong singled to left. 3-0.

Australia loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs.

But an Ulrich Bojarski strike-out, Jarryd Dale ground out, and Aaron Whitefield left them juiced. 

Travis Bazzana picked up the RBI with a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 3-1.

Australia pressured again in the sixth. They had two on and one out. Liam Spence was able to grab his second hit of the night in his first Premier12 start.

“In a word, ‘no’, I am not surprised with Liam today,” said Adamson. “He is the ultimate professional and he took the opportunity presented with two hands and I think he’s going to be a large part of this team going forward.”

It didn’t take long for Korea to return serve after the Spence RBI.

Kim Dayeong continued his impressive day, launching a two-run homer off Sam Holland to extend the advantage back out to three. It was his fourth RBI and third hit of the day.

Coen Wynne kept Australia in the fight from there. Wynne, in his third appearance of the tournament, tossed 1.1 innings allowing just one hit with one strikeout.

Todd Van Steensel also pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Australia was sat down without a baserunner in the final two innings.

“Overall I think it’s a bit of a changing of the guard,” said Adamson in summary of the tournament. “We have some young talent, and we have some older players, and young pitchers like Coen Wynne continues to go strength to strength, so there’s a lot to build on. There’s exciting talent coming through.”

A huge thank you to our family and friends for coming to support.

recap by Eric Balnar, photos by Scott Powick

You wouldn’t say Team Australia was particularly sharp in their 9-3 Premier12 opening game loss to Japan.

You need to be clean if you have hopes of defeating a world number one team, like reigning Premier12 champions Japan. Especially in their house.

The Japanese line-up took advantage of an Australian team that wasn’t at their best.

Australia’s head coach Dave Nilsson called the day “disappointing.”

Japan piled on early and pulled away late in the Group B clash in Nagoya in front of an enthusiastic and supportive sold out crowd.

Although, Australia did find themselves within a pair of runs in the late stages of the game, thanks to Travis Bazzana’s second hit of the night, and homers to Ulrich Bojarski & Rixon Wingrove.

Japan, though, were persistent and consistent.

All nine batters in Japan’s starting nine reached base. Six of them reached twice. Japan scored in six of their eight offensive innings.

Australia didn’t help themselves.

They made a crucial error, saw wild pitches and were caught out on the base baths.

Japan scored five of their runs in the first four innings, scoring at least once in each frame, to race out to a 5-0 lead.

One of those runs came off a wild pitch, another two of them came off a Robbie Glendinning throwing error.

“I’m disappointed with today,” says Australia’s manager Dave Nilsson. “The moment was maybe a bit too big for the guys early. The first few innings we weren’t really sharp. We let ourselves down with a few errors. When you give a team like that opportunities, it makes it hard.”

For Australia, Travis Bazzana had two hits and a stolen base in his senior team debut.

Rixon Wingrove and Ulrich Bojarski hit home runs in the sixth inning to cut the margin to 5-3. Bojarksi’s was a 452 foot monster shot. Rixon powered his to 436 feet.

At the post-game press conference, Bazzana wasn’t interested in talking much about his two-hit performance.

“It’s a team game,” Bazzana said. “Two hits was good in this environment but it’s disappointing the way we played so it only means so much.”

Bazzana accounted for two of the five hits vs 21-year-old Japanese starter Haruto Inoue.

The Tokyo Giants pitcher, who had a 2.76 ERA in the NPB this season, tossed 5.0 innings with eight strikeouts, five hits, no walks and two runs.

Australia provided a glimmer of home in the sixth. To their credit, they worked themselves right back in the ballgame to give themselves a chance.

Ulrich Bojarski led off the inning with a solo shot off Inoue. Rixon Wingrove put an exclamation mark on it with a two-run homer of his own of their first relief pitcher.

“We did show a bit of fight and did some good things. And we can build on that in Taiwan,” says Nilsson. “[That] was encouraging. Some good swings of the bat. It was a tough night. We will get back after it.”

Japan’s relentless batting was led by Hanshin Tigers superstar Shota Morishita who had three hits and two RBI.

Japan, laced with a team of NPB All-Stars, also benefitted from multi-hit contributions from Kaito Kozono, Ryoya Kuhihara, Shugo Maki and Shoji Sakakura.

Those collection of stars helped blow the game open late.

The crowd was whipped into a frenzy most of the night. They were singing, chanting and cheering their Japanese heroes with vigour.

Japan scored one run in the seventh and pulled away with a crooked eighth inning, scoring three runs.

9-3 is your final score from Nagoya.

Of note, Australia used 12 pitchers in the game: Lewis Thorpe (below), Sam Holland, Blake Townsend, Mitch Neunborn, Jon Kennedy, Todd Van Steensel, Tim Atherton, Coen Wynne, Dan McGrath, Will Sherriff, Josh Guyer and Steve Kent.

“I wanted to make sure our pitching staff was ready for the rest of the tournament. We need to make sure we are set up for the next four games and I can understand who they are a bit better,” Nilsson said.

Australia continues their tournament in Taiwan on Friday night when they’ll face the Dominican Republic. 

They’ll use Thursday as a travel day.

Nilsson isn’t panicking.

“Losing one game doesn’t derail us or take us off course. We know every team will probably have some losses along the way,” says Nilsson. “It’s about being able to bounce back and stay on target and that’s what we’ll do.”

For Bazzana and the players, it’s time to regroup.

“I think we need to learn what we did poorly tonight, but not take it into the next game,” he says. “Play with confidence. Trust the players next to us. But we have to play with confidence and not let this game lower our expectations of winning. Refresh, learn from mistakes, but play with great confidence.”

You can find the schedule at www.baseball.com.au/premier12 

You can view the Box Score here. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – GAME UPDATES AS IT HAPPENED

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– Travis Bazzana led off the game with a full-count single to open his account as a senior men’s team player

– A persistent Japanese batting line-up scored one run in each of the first three innings. By the end of the third, seven Japanese batters had already reached. Kaito Kozono and Ryosuke Tatsumi had RBI. One of those runs was on a wild pitch.

– A throwing error by Robbie Glendinning allowed two more runs to score in the fourth. 5-0 Japan.

– Australia managed just two hits in the first four inning.

– 21-year-old starter Haruto Inoue has tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits & no walks with eight strikeouts. Inoue had a 2.76 ERA in 101.1 innings for Tokyo Giants in his first full NPB season.

– Australian pitching coach Jim Bennett told us before the game that every pitcher’s job was to ‘be ready’. True to his word, he used a lot of pitchers. Through six innings, Australia used seven arms: Lewis Thorpe, Sam Holland, Blake Townsend, Mitch Neunborn, Jon Kennedy, Todd Van Steensel & Tim Atherton

– New life in the sixth! Great fight! Ulrich Bojarski and Rixon Wingrove each hit a homer and Australia is now just down 5-3!

– Japan has started to pull away. They score one in the seventh and seemingly blow it out in the eighth with another three runs.

– Turns out, Australia used twelve of their fourteen pitchers. The only arms who haven’t thrown today are Luke Wilkins and Warwick Saupold.

– We have a final score in Nagoya. On to Taiwan.

BROADCAST / COVERAGE DETAILS

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In Australia, you can watch on either WBSC’s streaming platform Gametime.Sport or through DAZN.

We recommend following @TeamAusBaseball on X for updates. Our Instagram and Facebook Pages will have updates, too.

We will post a post-game recap with highlight links where we can, and send a press-release to our national database.

LINE-UP

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USEFUL LINKS & STORIES

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Let’s gear you up.

We’ve been working with Trent Schwarz to produce some behind the scenes stories and videos.

Here is Episode 1 & 2 of ‘Out of Left Field: The Story of Australia’s Best Kept Sporting Secret’:

And one from Todd Van Steensel. Get your tissues ready.

Other stories

Great news! Fox Sports wrote a huge feature: –  “Like Nothing I’ve ever Seen”: How these Australian baseballers become sporting royalty in Japan

Here is a story on Austrlalia’s pitching strategy: “Be Ready” | Behind the role & mentality of every Team Australia pitcher at the Premier12

And here’s a heartfelt one on Mitch Neunborn: “For Mum” | The story of the remarkably brilliant Mitch Neunborn

Here is a pre-game press-conference transcript: Transcript of Pre-tournament Press Conference featuring Dave Nilsson, Tim Kennelly, Shusei Togo and Ibata

Story on Lewis Thorpe, our starting pitcher: ‘Friendship, Fatherhood & Finding Joy | The story of Australia’s major league rookie Lewis Thorpe’ at baseball.com.au.

In fact, you can find all our stories we’ve written at www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

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. 

We’ve been greeted by a media frenzy ahead of our first Premier12 game vs Japan.

At 9:00PM AEDT on November 13, live from the Nagoya Dome, we’ll play the World #1. There will be a sold out stadium and a Japanese TV audience of over 25 million people.

You can watch the games in Australia on Gametime.Sport or through the app ‘DAZN’.

Here is the transcript from the pre-tournament press-conference featuring Team Australia manager Dave Nilsson, team captain Tim Kennelly, Japan manager Ibata and Japanese pitcher Shosei Togo.

 

Here is the transcript from the Press Conference

 TV Tokyo

How do you feel about the team’s situation and the players’ movements as you approach tomorrow’s first game?

Manager Ibata: I haven’t seen today’s practice yet, but we’ve had a training camp in Miyazaki and Nagoya for about two weeks. I think the players have been able to regain their game sense. The pitchers have also had good adjustments by pitching to the batters. I feel that we’ve made steady progress as we prepare for the actual games.

Manager Nilsson: I think both teams are going to be very excited for tomorrow night. We’ve known for a long time that this game is coming in for both teams, that we’ve been preparing for two weeks. I expect to be a very clean game with a good pitching and solid defense in a very good facility, great place to play. I think you’re going to see a very good game tomorrow night from two very well prepared teams.

TV Tokyo

What is your impression of the opposing team, and which players do you think should be particularly watched out for?

Manager Nilsson: I think it’s always a privilege and an honor to play against Team Japan. And I think one of the strengths of their team is that every player is very well prepared, and they play together very well as a team. So from our point of view, we don’t isolate any player, we don’t prepare for just one player, we prepare for the whole team, and we expect them to perform together as a group, very Good tomorrow.

Manager Ibata: I feel the same way. Baseball is not something you do alone; it’s a team sport, so I think they’re a well-balanced team overall. They have batters who can hit home runs, and I’m sure they also have players who can use their speed effectively. Year by year, Australia has been getting stronger, so I hope we can have a good game tomorrow.

TV Tokyo

Once again, who will be the starting pitcher?

Manager Ibata: I’m planning to go with Haruto Inoue as the starting pitcher tomorrow. He’s 21 years old, the youngest player, but I want him to bring out that youthfulness. I hope he can pitch with the same power and momentum he’s shown in the regular season, just like he would in the postseason.

Manager Nilsson: Starting pitcher for Team Australia tomorrow will be Lewis Thorpe. He played the big leagues before, and spent a lot of this year in Mexico. And I think he’ll match up very well with Japanese hitters.

TV Tokyo

What is your goal for this tournament, and what are your thoughts as you head into the opening game?

Manager Ibata: Our ultimate goal is to win the championship. Above all, I want us to fight in every game with that goal in mind. I know each game will be tough, but I hope we can give our all in every match, focusing on one game at a time.

Manager Nilsson: Our goal is to play good baseball every day, and that means our focus is on tomorrow, winning tomorrow’s game. And then getting through to the Super Round in Tokyo and playing baseball there.

TV Tokyo

(To the players) How is the players’ physical condition after finishing the season?

Togo: My condition is really good. Although I only had a little over a week of rest after the CS (Climax Series), we spent about two weeks in Miyazaki, where we had a lot of discussions and exchanges of opinions with the other players. I’m really excited to get back on the field and play as soon as possible.

Kennelly: Conditions are great and I feel fresh. Team Australia had a training camp in Japan in Fuchu city and came up with a long off season, so there’s no excuses to not feel good, bodies feeling fresh. Speaking to a lot of the other players, everyone says ready to go.

TV Tokyo

How would you like to contribute for the team in this tournament?

Kennedy: We got nine hitters that are going to take the field tomorrow night, so everyone’s role is going to be trying to do whatever they can, each out back to get on base or trying to conduct him back to the driving runs or move runners over. We know we’re up against a very good pitching staff in the Japanese pitchers, we’re going to be really well prepared. So I think we have a good plan, as long as we stick to that plan, our goal is to score as many runs.

Togo: This will be my first time starting, so the most important thing is to meet everyone’s expectations. More than anything, we’re aiming for a consecutive championship, so I want to do my part to contribute to that. I want to show the best of Japan as a united team.

Daily Sports

Regarding tomorrow’s lineup, in the first game against the Czech Republic, Maki played in the heart of the lineup, and in the second game, Morishita was the main batter. How do you plan to set up the lineup for tomorrow’s opening game?

Ibata: It’s not decided yet. I’d like to think about it until around this time tomorrow (press conference took place around 4 PM).

Kyodo News

Travis Bazzana is already well-known in Japan due to the MLB draft. What kind of player is he for the Australian national team?

Nilsson: Travis is a young player, very young and still learning the game of baseball. So I’m hoping he gets to gain a lot of experience from being around the older guys on the team. And I just, I just want to encourage him through this. I’m not expecting anything from Travis right now. He’s very talented and obviously the very number one pick in the Major League draft, so I think that speaks to the talent and how people view him, but on the international stage and tournaments like this, this is new to him, and he’ll be leaning on our players for guys.

Samurai Japan Official Website: I heard that you had a training camp in Fuchu City and had some interactions with the local citizens. What kind of experience was that?

Nilsson: Fuchu city has been very big to us and allowed us to train there, and we’ve really come to enjoy it, and the people of Fuchu have been very kind to us, and our players really enjoy the hospitality. So it worked out very well. It’s a great opportunity for our players to show appreciation and do clinics for local children and visit high schools and to show our appreciation and the Mayor Takano for Fuchu has done a wonderful job of preparing the field, and hopefully we’ll continue to go there in the future.

Chunichi Shimbun

Both managers have a deep connection to Nagoya Dome, having played there during their careers. With the support of the fans, how do you feel about the fact that the tournament begins here in Nagoya?

Nilsson: Mr. Ibata knows a lot more about Nagoya than I do. I didn’t get to play many games here unfortunately. We were on the same team together in 2000 and even though they were very good career in Japan. So I think we both know a lot about the time, and our teams are very excited to be playing here.

Ibata: My professional baseball career started when I was used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement for Dingo (nickname for David Nilsson as a player). A player who had been active in Major League Baseball came to the team, and that allowed me to get my career started. I feel a strong sense of fate in being able to start this Premier12 tournament in this way, from the very first game. I believe that my role as manager now is because Dingo came to Japan, so I’m filled with a deep sense of gratitude. I will give my all tomorrow, just as I always do.

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.

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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’

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Australia has finished their campaign at the WBSC Premier12, presented by Raxus.

It’s an international baseball tournament for the best twelve senior national mens baseball programs in the world.

Watch in Australia on the WBSC official streaming platform, Gametime.Sport, or for free on DAZN.

For media requests, please contact Eric Balnar at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

SCORES & RESULTS

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Wednesday 13 November – Japan 9 def Australia 3
Friday 15 November – Australia 5 def Dominican Republic 0
Saturday 16 November – Cuba 4 def Australia 3
Sunday 17 November – Chinese Taipei 11 def Australia 3
Monday 18 November – Korea 5 def Australia 2

Schedule, scores, stats, standings and results can be found here: www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-premier12/

STANDINGS (remaining games in parenthesis)

1. Japan 4-0
2. Chinese Taipei 3-1
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3. Korea 3-2
4. Cuba 1-3
5. Dominican Republic 1-3
6. Australia 1-4

Scenario: If Japan beats Dominican Republic, and Chinese Taipei beats Cuba, Australia will finish T7 at the Premier12.

STORIES

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by Eric Balnar

Game Recap – Korea takes advantage of Australian miscues as Premier12 concludes

Game Recap – Chinese Taipei power past Australia to punch ticket to Super Round

Game Recap – Deja Vu: Australia falls by same scoreline to Cuba as at the World Baseball Classic 

Game Recap – Australia one-hits Dominican Republic, Perkins drives in four, to improve record to 1-1 at Premier12

Game Recap – “We weren’t really sharp” – Japan defeats Australia 9-3 to open Premier12

November 13 (FOX SPORTS) –  “Like Nothing I’ve ever Seen”: How these Australian baseballers become sporting royalty in Japan

November 13 – Transcript of Pre-tournament Press Conference featuring Dave Nilsson, Tim Kennelly, Shusei Togo and Ibata

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 9 – Fuchu becomes home away from home for Australian national team, wonderful feature by Japan Times

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?

October 10 – Australia reveals roster for Premier12

HOW TO FOLLOW

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Broadcast: In Australia, the Premier12 tournament will be available on Gametime.Sport. and also for free on sports streaming app DAZN.

Social Media: Follow us for regular updates every day. Instagram – @teamaustraliabaseball. Facebook – Team Australia Baseball. X – @teamausbaseball

SCHEDULE

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ROSTER

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PDF Version: Click here.

Team Australia features a roster of:

– Three (3) players with MLB experience;
– The 2024 MLB Draft first-overall selection;
– 25 players with World Baseball Classic or Premier12 experience;
– 13 players with Triple-A experience;
– 26 players with minor league baseball experience;

All have played in the Australian Baseball League.

To learn more about Team Australia’s Premier12 roster, visit this link.

Team Australia is off to Japan and Taiwan for the 2024 Premier12 – an international baseball tournament featuring the top twelve ranked national teams in the world.

Sportslink Travel can help you get to Taiwan to be part of the Australian international baseball experience.

From November 14-19, 2024 you can cheer on Team Australia in their group stage games against Korea, Chinese Taipei, Cuba and Dominican Republic.

The tour includes:

• 4x Team Australia games in Taiwan + Chinese Taipei vs Japan game
• Five nights accomodation at the Courtyard by Marriott Taipei (5 star)
• Coach transfers to games and sightseeing
• Welcome Dinner
• Taipei Day Tour and Night Markets Tour
• Daily Breakfast & WiFi at hotel

Please note, Australia opens the tournament in Nagoya Japan on November 13. You can add flights, stopovers & extensions.

TOUR INFO: Click here for details and costs

For more information and to book, contact SportsLink.

AUSTRALIA’s SCHEDULE:

November 13: Australia vs Japan, in Nagoya
November 15: Australia vs Dominican Republic, Taipei, 3:00PM
November 16: Australia vs Cuba, Taipei, 12:00PM
November 17: Australia vs Chinese Taipei, Taipei, 7:00PM
November 18: Australia vs Korea, 12:00PM

Australia’s group in the 2024 Premier12 has been revealed.

Australia will play in Group B with Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Cuba and Dominican Republic.

The Group will primarily be hosted in Taiwan from November 14-18, but there’s a twist.

Australia will open Group B action with a game in Nagoya, Japan vs the World #1 Japanese side. The two teams will fly to Taipei after the game.

Group A will be played in Mexico. The Group A teams are USA, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

After round-robin play, the top two finishers of each group will compete in the Super Round. The first and second-place teams of the Super Round will compete in the Premier12 Championship game, while the third and fourth-place finishers will play for a bronze medal.

You can view the full schedule here.

The Tokyo Dome will host the Super Round (21-23 November).

The medal games are scheduled for 24 November.

You can read the full release from WBSC here.

Team Australia will be fighting for the title of “World Champion” in November, 2024.

Australia  was confirmed as one of 12 participants this morning at the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) flagship event, “The Premier12”.

This is baseball’s equivalent to a World Championship, featuring the Top 12 baseball ranked men’s teams in the world.

At #11, Australia has secured a spot.