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This is the running story of Australia at the 2024 Senior League World Series.

Australia are represented by Perth’s Eastern Phantoms, who won the qualifying event at the Australian Senior League Championships in May. They are in Easley South Carolina ready to take on the best teams in the world at the U17 age-group.

story by Eric Balnar / Photos by Dylan from Field of View

The Eastern Phantoms are off to the United States this week to prepare for the 2024 Senior League World Series.

The Western Australian outfit, comprised of players in the U17 age group, won the 2024 Australian Senior League national titles in May. With the national Gold Medal, comes the right to represent their country vs the world’s best at this age group in a double-elimination tournament in Easley, South Carolina.

The Phantoms – made up of players from UWA Magpies, Morley Eagles and Perth Baseball Club – play their first game on Sunday 28 July at 4:00PM local – that’s 6:00AM AEST (4:00AM in Perth) on Monday 29 July in Australia.

You can watch the game on the ESPN App with a Foxtel subscription. Or, follow this handy guide.

The box scores and live scoring can be found via GameChanger.

Their first game is against the winner of the Latin-American region and Asia-Pacific region.  Their second game all depends on the result of this one.

Recaps will be posted here.


It’s a double elimination tournament, meaning you have to lose two games to be knocked out of medal contention. It will be played out in front of huge TV audiences. You’ll be able to watch the games on ESPN+.

Many of these players represented their country – and the Eastern Phantoms – at the 2022 Junior League (U15) World Series. They’re ready for a second taste of international baseball.

Despite starting on July 28, the Phantoms chose to arrive in the USA nine days early. They head straight to Atlanta to play a series of games vs a local travel ball team in preparation for the event. The Phantoms will play the Atlanta Angles at the East Cobb Perfect Game Complex.

“Our last game was Friday 17 May in less than balmy conditions at the wonderful Geelong Baseball Complex,” says Phantoms head Coach Dan Calverley. “Our next scheduled game is Sunday 28 August in 33-degree, 90% humidity conditions in South Carolina. That’s 72 days between games. It was imperative we get a chance to acclimatise to the conditions.”

Calverley notes a double-elimination format is tough.

“Lose two games and you’re done, some players may not have even seen the field by that stage,” he says. “Having extra games means the lads can get some live at-bats in the heat and be ready to go.”

It’s time to meet the Phantoms.

State: Western Australia
Clubs: East Metro Perth – UWA Magpies, Morley Eagles, Perth Baseball Club
Australian Senior League Championship Record: 6-0 (outscored opponents 83-1)

How they qualified

The Phantoms claimed gold at the Western Australian state championships to qualify for the national tournament. It is the sixth straight state title this Phantoms’ age group has won.

Their fine form carried over vs the rest of Australia. The Eastern Phantoms stormed their way through the group stages, amassing a 4-0 record while outscoring opponents 62-6.

Eastern Phantoms pipped Cronulla Blue 9-3 in the semi-final – the closest any opponent came to them.

A total team performance saw a 12-1 run-rule victory over state rivals Wanneroo Giants in the Gold Medal match.

You can check out the highlights below, or visit the 2024 Senior League Hub for extensive recaps. 

“This group has pretty much been together since Little League,” says head coach Calverley. “They bought into the process that we had in place and have really decided as a collective that they want to be the best they can. There are different skill levels, as with any team, but the drive to be the best they can be, for the good of the team is what makes this group special.”

Calverley says this group gels well together, noting they love to compete “against the opposition, themselves and with each other.”

“That’s what makes this group hard to beat,” he says. “From here, many of them will branch into other areas. Some will continue with the high performance side of baseball, some college, hopefully a pro or two. Some will just go back to clubland, all of which are awesome.”

“But they have achieved something special as a group over three years. I think over time they will look back with a sense of accomplishment and hopefully a few life lessons that might stand them in good stead for whatever they choose to pursue.”

Awesome.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Eastern Phantoms, their players, how they qualified, and why they decided to head to the USA early.

Meet the Phantoms

Cooper Murphy (Perth Baseball Club), IF / OF – This isn’t Cooper’s first World Series trip. He represented his country at the 2022 Junior League titles. Cooper went 2-for-4 with a pair of walks at nationals.

Tex Prisov (Morley Eagles), C / P – Tex capped off a big 2024 with a Senior League win. He played for WA at the 2024 U16 National Championships. At the Senior League nationals, he pitched 4.0 scoreless innings while tallying two hits with the bat.

Tyson Edwards (UWA Magpies), Utility – The World Series nod is the latest in a series of representative selections for Tyson. He played for the Phantoms at the Intermediate League, Junior League and now Senior League. He played for Western Australia at the U16 National Championships, too. Edwards had three hits and three RBI at Senior League nationals.

Toby Franklin (Morley Eagles), Pitcher – Toby pitched 3.0 innings of scoreless baseball at the national tournament. He represented Australia at the 2022 Junior League World Series, so this is his second trip to the USA. Toby plays in the reserves and in A-Grade in the WA State League.

Ryan Warner (UWA Magpies), IF – Ryan had a phenomenal national championship, going 10-for-15 with a number of highlight reel defensive plays. He led the tournament with 13 RBI. Warner won a Junior League National Championship in 2022 and went to the Junior League World Series. Ryan was named to the U16 Australian National Squad.

George Calverley (Morley Eagles), Util – All he does is win. Locally in WA, George has been part of six straight premierships. He made his senior state league debut this season. George was part of the Junior League World Series team in 2022. He showed his power at the recent nationals, slugging a massive grand slam.

Brady Manning (Morley Eagles), P / Util – Brady makes his second trip to the USA after playing on the 2022 Junior League squad. He played for WA’s U18 team at the Australian Youth Championships earlier this year. Brady broke into the A-Grade squad at Morley this season. At the Senior League Nationals, Brady went 4-for-7 with four walks at the plate. He also pitched 7.2 innings, allowing just two runs with seven strikeouts.

Ben Nesbit (Perth Baseball Club), INF – Nesbit has a pretty solid baseball resume already. He was the 2022 U16 Nationals Gold Glove winner, attended the 2023 U16 Australian Camp. He was also named to the 2024 U18 National Squad heading to Florida later this year. He also went away to the 2022 Junior League World Series. Nesbit led the Phantoms in batting, going 13-for-20 with 8 RBI, a triple, and great defense at third base.

Dylan Palethorpe (Morley Eagles), P – No Phantoms player pitched more than Dylan at the Senior League Nationals. He tossed 8.0 innings, including a start in the Gold Medal game, allowing one run off eight hits with 11 strikeouts. Palethorpe has pitched a perfect game in his WA junior career, and been part of six straight state charter titles with the Phantoms.

Aaron Hugo (Perth Baseball Club), P / UTIL – Hugo’s resume includes a Junior League World Series appearance, a 2024 U18 WA State Squad selection, and multiple overseas trips. Hugo collected a pair of hits in May’s national event.

Adam Taylor (Morley Eagles) – P – Taylor is another one of those 2022 Junior League Phantoms who went to the USA. He’s been part of the Phantoms program since the 2021 Intermediate League Championships. Taylor did not concede an earned run in 7.0 innings pitched at Senior League Nationals, while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Taylor was named to the U16 Australian National Squad.

Tom Williams (Morley Eagles) – OF – Tom provided some of the Phantoms’ most clutch moments at Senior League Nationals. He had a pivotal triple in the Gold Medal Game and a grand slam in the semi-final. He was 7-for-14 in the tournament with a homer and six RBI. This is Williams’ first trip overseas.

Cameron Bahr (Morley Eagles) – C – A three-time member of the WA U16 state team, Bahr won his first national title with the Phantoms this year. In the May tournament he had three hits with five RBI and six runs while managing a strong pitching staff. Cameron was named to the U16 Australian National Squad.

Zai Gordon (Morley Eagles) – P – Gordon has been part of the Phantoms charter program since 2021 and played for Western Australia at the 2024 U16 National Championships. Gordon collected a hit and also tossed an inning of scoreless baseball in the national championships.

Eita Samukawa (UWA Magpies) – INF – Eita had a huge Gold Medal game, collecting three hits and driving in five. He’s represented WA at the U16 level from 2022-2024 and travelled with the Phantoms to the Junior League World Series in 2022. He went 8-for-17 in the tournament with 10 RBI. Eita was named to the U16 Australian National Squad.

Luke Del Borello (Perth Baseball Club) – P – Unfortunately, Luke fractured his elbow in the 2024 State League Championships. But he is a big part of the Phantoms community and much loved by teammates. We hope his recovery is going well!

recaps by Eric Balnar, photos by Field of View Photography

The Eastern Phantoms have won the 2024 Senior League Championships and will represent Australia at the World Series in America!

Here’s how the day unfolded.