News

Sydney’s Hills have just finished their run in Livermore, California while representing Australia at the 2025 Intermediate League World Series.

They are one of 12 teams (six international, six American) who will compete in the tournament.

It’s the second straight year this group of Hills players will represent their country after competing in the Little League World Series in 2024.

This is where you follow their journey. Here you will find:
– Game Recaps & Highlights;
– Schedule;
– How they qualified;
– Roster (at bottom);

Here is what you need to know:

Three weeks after the tournament was scheduled to finish, the Junior and Intermediate League Championships reached a conclusion in Melbourne with two national champions crowned on Friday 20 June, 2025.

After the originally scheduled finals were washed out due to heavy rain in Lismore & Gold Coast, Baseball Australia flew in the remaining teams in each division to Melbourne to finish the tournament.

Today, we played two semi-finals & a Gold Medal match in Junior League, plus a Preliminary Final and Gold Medal Game in Intermediate League.

Congratulations to Hills (Intermediate League) and Brisbane North (Junior League) on winning your respective national crown.

This is the day’s recap story filled with stats, game reports and information. Keep scrolling for your divisions recap if you don’t see it initially.

The winners of the tournament now advance United States and represent Australia at the their respective World Series event.

Make sure you visit the respective Tournament Hub for archived scores, stories and information.

JUNIOR LEAGUE HUB: www.baseball.com.au/juniorleague

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE HUB: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

RECAPS & SCORES

---

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE – @ Essendon

Preliminary Final – Melbourne Athletics 4 def Central Firebirds 3

Gold Medal Game – Hills 12 def Melbourne Athletics 2

JUNIOR LEAGUE – @ La Trobe

Semi Final 1 – Brisbane North 5 def Cronulla Black 2

Semi Final 2 – Melbourne Athletics 11 def Melbourne Mets 1

Gold Medal Game – Brisbane North 11 def Melbourne Athletics 2

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE RECAPS

---

PRELIM FINAL: MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 4 def CENTRAL FIREBIRDS 3 – Eva Lane hits homer, collects three hits and scores winning run as Athletics advance to Gold Medal Game 

On the Chris Lane Field in Melbourne, Eva Lane shone bright for the Athletics. Lane went 3-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and two runs in the Athletics win.

She launched a two-out go-ahead homer in the bottom of the third to put the Athletics up 3-2 at the time.

The Firebirds levelled the score at three in the fifth inning.

But Lane (bel0w) kickstarted the Athletics’ rally in the bottom of the sixth. She singled to left field to get on base, before Leo Moulton delivered a game-winning RBI base-hit to put the Athletics up 4-3.

Moulton had two hits on the day.

The Athletics outhit the Firebirds 12-1 but left nine runners on base. Summer Hiscock had the only hit for the Firebirds.

Phil Toye threw 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit and two unearned runs in his start. He walked four and struck out six. Hao Huang threw 3.1 innings on no hit ball, allowing one walk and one run with three strikeouts in relief.

The Central Firebirds struck first in the third inning by capitalising off Athletics’ walks and errors.

The Athletics turn around quickly and play Hills in 30 minutes for the national title.

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits (12): Eva Lane (3), Leo Moulton (2), Jack Downs, Jackson Berg, Charlie Fegan, Haydn Dogonay, Hao Huang, Phil Toye, Josh Moulds

HR: Lane

RBI: Lane (2), Moulton, Berg

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS

Hits (1): Summer Hiscock
RBI: Hiscock, Taj Humble, Jack Johnston

GOLD MEDAL: HILLS 12 def ATHLETICS 2 – Hills pile it on to claim second straight World Series berth 

Tell you what – this is a special group of players from New South Wales’ Hills.

Nearly the same squad who won the 2024 Little League Championships has just won the 2025 Intermediate League title.

They’ll represent Australia at the 2025 Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California from July 27-August 3.

Sayre Howick racked up twelve strikeouts & Hugh Graham hit a key homer in the mercy rule victory in Melbourne on Friday.

Melbourne held a 2-0 lead after the first two innings, but Hills ripped off four runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Ten different players combined for 12 hits.

Pitching was a big story of this game. Sayre Howick (below) threw 5.0 innings, allowing five hits & two runs. He struck out 12.

But things didn’t look easy early. Charlie Fegan hit an early homer for the Athletics and had Melbourne up 2-0 after two.

Hills found their spark through the bat of Hugh Graham in the third.

He levelled the game at two apiece with a monster two-run bomb. Sayre Howick compounded the inning by adding a fourth run off an RBI single just a few batters later 4-2.

Hills pulled away with a two-out rally in the fifth.

Graham, Anton Jacovides, Harry Hobbs and Justin Jang ripped off four straight singles – all with a pair of outs on the board – to push the scoreline to 8-2. Jang had the most damaging swing with his two-RBI single.

Spencer Dobb and Ethan Cross opened the sixth inning with RBI singles. Emma Gainsford put the nail in the coffin with a two-out, two-RBI single to increase the lead to 12-2 and put the scoreline in run rule territory.

Justin Jang pitched a shutout sixth inning to seal victory.

Hugh Graham finished with a 2-for-3 stat line with a homer and three RBI. Emma Gainsford and Justin Jang also drove in a pair.

Congratulations to Hills! The players on the winning team are: Anton Jacovides, Fletcher Dobb, Spencer Dobb, Hudson Dobb, Justin Jang, Sayre Howick, Emma Gainsford, Harry Hobbs, Archer Connelly, Ethan Cross, Hugh Graham, Talen Lachmund-Davis. Coaches: Adam Dobb (Manager), Dylan Wright, Scott Wright, Jarrad Salmon, Fiona Cross (EO)

HILLS

Hits (12): Anton Jacovides, Harry Hobbs, Justin Jang, Sayre Howick, Talen Lachmund-Davis, Spender Dobb, Ethan Cross (2), Fletcher Dobb, Emma Gainsford, Hugh Graham (2)

HR: Hugh Graham

RBI: Graham (3), Gainsford (2), Cross, S. Dobb, Jang (2), Hobbs

ATHLETICS

Hits (5): Charlie Fegan, Leo Moulton (2), Haydn Dogonay, Nixon Dikranis

HR: Fegan

RBI: Fegan, Josh Moulds

JUNIOR LEAGUE RECAPS

---

SEMI-FINAL #1: BRISBANE NORTH 5 def CRONULLA 2 – Chase Crew tosses complete game as opportunistic Brisbane North s squeeze by Cronulla to advance to Gold Medal game

Brisbane North may have only had three hits but they made the most of their opportunities during there semi-final win on Friday morning.

The Vikings worked eleven walks and systematically rolled over the scoreboard in their win. Brisbane North tallied a single run in each of the first four innings and one in the seventh for good measure.

Chase Crew (below) was solid on the mound. He tossed a complete game: 7.0 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks and 8 strikeouts.

Ten different players reached base. Kenneth O’Brien led Brisbane North with three walks. Logan Lokeni, Edward Jones, and Tyler Wilson had RBI.

Zac Jacenko had a triple for Cronulla while Liam McGuckin-Anderson and Ben Napier had RBI.

Brisbane North will advance to the Gold Medal Game to play the winner of the Melbourne Mets and Melbourne Athletics. The game will be played half-an-hour after the second semi-final concludes.

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits (3): Logan Lokeni, Tyler Wilson, Barry Hunter
RBI: Lokeni, Edward Jones, Wilson

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits (4): Aiden Southcombe, Zac Jacenko, Liam McGuckin-Anderson, Samuel Regan
RBI: McGuckin-Anderson, Ben Napier

SEMI-FINAL #2: MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 11 def MELBOURNE METS 1 – Jacob Tayler and Maximillian Lord combine for six hits as Athletics storm to Gold Medal Game

A pair of prolific performances has helped secure a place in the Gold Medal Game for the Melbourne Athletics.

Jacob Tayler went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a triple & Maximillian Lord (below) went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs.

The Athletics pulled away from their Melbourne counterparts with a six run fourth inning to push out the score to 8-0.

Tayler (below) had two RBIs in the inning, but he was added by a bases loaded walk from Finn Welte, and a two-RBI triple by Harper Pitts.

Oliver Allen was terrific on the mound. The 2023 U12 World Cup pitcher tossed 5.0 innings with nine strikeouts, allowing just four hits, one run, three walks.

Patience paid off for the Athletics, who worked ten walks in the game.

Flynn Scargill led the Mets with two hits. Cruize Chase started on the mound for the Mets.

It’s a quick turnaround for the Athletics, who now face Brisbane North in the Gold Medal game for a spot in the Junior League World Series.

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits (8): Jacob Tayler (3), Maximillian Lord (2), Harper Pitts, Kella De Sylva
RBI: Tayler (4), Pitts (2), Peter Baade, Lord

MELBOURNE METS

Hits (4): Flynn Scargill, Cale Morris, Hayden H
RBI: Morris

GOLD MEDAL GAME: BRISBANE NORTH 11 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 2 – Brisbane North out muscle Melbourne Athletics to claim Australian Junior League Championship

Brisbane North out-hit, out-pitched and out-scored them in a dominating Gold Medal Game display.

Brisbane North collected 14 hits to Melbourne’s four and had a big pitching performance from Tyler Wilson in the win.

They’ll now represent Australia at the 2025 Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan.

Coby Holt led Brisbane with a three hit performance. Tyler Wilson, Barry Hunter and Chase Crew also picked up a pair of hits.

Tyler Wilson (below) threw 5.0 innings, allowing just one run, three hits, four walks and had eight strikeouts.

It looked early as if Melbourne Athletics would chuck a lopsided number on the ledger. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the second inning.

Enter Tyler Wilson.

The right-handed Brisbane North pitcher struck out the side and walked just one batter. He escaped the inning with just one run on the board and the bases full of Athletics.

It seemed to spark the offence.

Brisbane North scored three runs immediately following in the third inning. Coby Holt tied the game with an RBI single to right-field. Two batters later, Patrick Fogg hit a ground ball and reached on an error by the pitcher which caused two more runs to score on the play.

3-1.

Aaron Bell drove in a pair with a two-RBI single to left in the fifth. Barry Hunter and Kenneth O’Brien picked up RBI singles in the fifth.

7-1.

Meanwhile, Wilson was cruising. His final stat line read 5.0 innings, with three hits, one run, four walks and eight strikeouts.

The Athletics pegged one back in the sixth but Brisbane North sailed away to a Golden sunset in the top of the seventh. They plated four runs thanks to a bases clearing triple from Logan Lokeni and a line drive RBI from Logan Larkin.

Patrick Fogg recorded the final three outs.

Brisbane North will represent Australia at the 2025 Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan from August 3-10.

The players are: Chase Crew, Joey Perkins, Tyler Wilson, Barry Hunter, Archer Peterson, Logan Lokeni, Patrick Fogg, Kenneth O’Brien, Coby Holt, Aaron Bell, Logan Larkin, Eddie Jones. Coaches:

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits (14): Patrick Fogg, Logan Lokeni, Chase Crew (2), Logan Larkin, Barry Hunter (2), Kenneth O’Brien, Tyler Wilson (2), Aaron Bell, Coby Holt (3)

RBI: Lokeni (2), Bell (2), Larkin, Hunter, O’Brien, Holt

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits (5): Edison Bush, Peter Baade, Oliver Allen, Joel Roberts
RBI: Harper Pitts, Reiley Marshall

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE – SCHEDULE & HOW THEY GOT HERE

---

Games played at Chris Lane Field at Essendon Baseball Club

9:30AM: Preliminary Final – Central Firebirds vs Melbourne Athletics

11:45AM: Gold Medal Game: Hills vs Winner of Preliminary Final

—-

Central Firebirds: The Western Australians posted a 2-1 record in in Pool B to finish second, losing only to Cronulla. In the first final, the Firebirds fell 10-4 to a strong Hills outfit. In a must win game in the Elimination Final, the Firebirds came out hot by defeating Cronulla 10-5. Their 54 runs scored is second in the tournament. Haruki Yamamoto leads the team with nine hits in five games while Taj Humble fronts the Firebirds with six RBI.

Melbourne Athletics: The Athletics went through Group A in second place, losing only to Hills by one run in their opening game. In the first final, the Athletics rode great pitching from Charlie Fegan and Philip Toye, who combined to allow just two hits to a dangerous Cronulla offense in a narrow 3-1 win. The Athletics were overpowered 19-3 in a rain interrupted Qualifying Final.

Hills: This group of players are looking to do something special – repeat as champions. This collective represented Australia at the Little League World Series in 2024 and have been rolling that momentum over in the next age group up. They went through the group stage undefeated and then beat the Firebirds in the first final and the Athletics in the Qualifying Final. Hills had to do it the hard way early. They narrowly defeated the Athletics in their first game (5-4) before mounting an eight run comeback vs the Eastern Phantoms in a 12-11 win. They’ve outscored opponents 60-22. Justin Jang leads the team in hits (9) and RBI (8).

JUNIOR LEAGUE – SCHEDULE & HOW THEY GOT HERE

---

Games Played at La Trobe University Baseball Club

9:30AM: Semi Final 1 – Cronulla Black vs Brisbane North

11:45AM: Semi Final 2 – Melbourne Mets vs Melbourne Athletics

2:00PM: Gold Medal Game – Winners of Semi Finals

—

Cronulla Black: Cronulla were 3-0 in Pool A, finishing top. Their last game vs Canberra was called off due to rain and was unable to be played but had no implications on group placings. The Cronulla charter won the 2024 Junior League Championship. They’ve outscored opponents 33-6 in their three games with 11-4 being their narrowest margin of victory. Every player on the team has a hit. Hugh Kelly turned in a remarkable 5.0 innings allowing just one base runner in an early Pool Play victory.

Brisbane North: Finished Pool B with a 3-1 standing, although the record has an * next to it. That’s because in their fourth game – a battle of the undefeated teams with Melbourne Mets – the game was called off in a second extra inning with the Mets leading 22-12. In fact it was one of the wildest games of the tournament – you should read about it here. They’ve scored a tournament high 46 runs in four games, led by Archer Peterson who has 7 hits, 10 RBI and a homer. Patrick Fogg has not allowed a run in 8.0 innings pitched so far this tournament.

Melbourne Mets: Finished top of Pool A with a 4-0 record while scoring 43 runs including a 22 run effort in their final pool play game. Their 17 runs allowed is second lowest in the tournament. The Mets have won in different ways – like a 4-2 pitcher’s duel over Southern Hills Warriors, a 10-0 shutout win and a 22-12 shootout victory. Cruize Chase leads the team with six hits, a homer and four RBI.

Melbourne Athletics: This collection of players finished runners-up in Intermediate League in 2024. They went 3-1 in Pool Play, losing only to Cronulla. They had to defeat Adelaide on the final day just to get in. They did so with a 10-3 win in a game that featured an eight run inning and solid pitching from Peter Baade. Every player has reached base multiple times.

UPDATE: The schedule and venue is below.

A national Junior League and Intermediate League champion will be crowned in Melbourne on Friday 20 June.

Baseball Australia will resume two national junior tournaments which both saw the final day washed out due to heavy rains in Gold Coast and Lismore.

The winners of each respective tournament will represent the Australian Region at their respective World Series event in the United States in July.

Here’s what you need to know about each tournament and where things stand:

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

– Two games remain and will be played: the Preliminary Final and the Gold Medal Game.

– Games will be held at Essendon Baseball Club on Chris Lane Field.

– Preliminary Final at 9:30AM: Melbourne Athletics vs Central Firebirds. The winner advances to the Gold Medal game to face Hills.

– Gold Medal Game at 11:45AM: Hills vs Winner of Preliminary Final.

– Winner advances to the Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California at the end of July.

– Tournament Hub and Archived Scores: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

– Games will be streamed via GameChanger

JUNIOR LEAGUE

– Three necessary games (two semi finals and a Gold Medal match) remain between four teams: Cronulla Black, Melbourne Athletics, Melbourne Mets and Brisbane North

– Games will be held at La Trobe Baseball Club

– Little League International, Baseball Australia and Brisbane North have agreed to make a suspended game between Brisbane North & Melbourne Mets a final result. As it stands, Melbourne Mets lead Brisbane North 22-12 in the top of the ninth inning. The winner of this game goes through to the semi-finals as the #1 seed in Pool A.

– Having this become a result is important because it means a team does not need to play three games in a day. Therefore, Melbourne Mets are declared victors and finish the group first at 4-0. Brisbane North finish as second at 3-1.

– There will be two semi-finals – Melbourne Mets (A1) vs Melbourne Athletics (B2) & Cronulla Black (B1) vs Brisbane North (A2). The winners advance to the Gold Medal Game

– Semi Final 1: Cronulla Black vs Brisbane North @ 9:30AM. Semi Final 2: Melbourne Athletics vs Melbourne Mets @ 11:45AM. Gold Medal Game at 2:00PM

– The final pool standings can be found at the Tournament Hub at www.baseball.com.au/juniorleague

SCHEDULE

---

---

Coverage of the 2025 Little League Championships from Blacktown begins June 8. Follow along at www.baseball.com.au/littleleague

Baseball Australia has a zero-tolerance policy for online abuse directed at the organisation, its members, or affiliated individuals. Such behaviour is unacceptable and will be addressed with appropriate action.

All fields in Lismore & Surfers Paradise have been deemed unplayable for Sunday 1 June after more rain fall overnight.

The final day of the 2025 Intermediate League and Junior League Championships has been called off.

What we know so far:

– Event officials have been inspecting the grounds since 6:00AM and have been trying to work on solutions;

– However, the fields have been ruled unsafe and will not be ready to complete any games today;

– Gold Coast was hit with 48mm of rain over the last 48 hours. Lismore has endured another 18mm of rain on Friday with more forecast today;

– We are working with Little League International on options, what this means going forward and how to crown a national champion;

– We will provide you with information as it comes to hand;

– Baseball Australia will conduct a full internal review of the tournament structure;

We appreciate patience as we work through a difficult situation.

We are gutted for the kids, coaches, families, and supporters who spend so much time preparing for an event and just want to play baseball games at a national championship. We thank you all for being the biggest cheerleaders and support for your kids and community.

There will be more updates to come over the coming days when we have more clarity.

—

We would like to thank Far North Coast Baseball for your ongoing support in hosting national and state championships at your great facility. It’s one of the best in the country.

Their love of baseball shows in all the hard work they do and is even more evident by being the only association or club to put in to host these two events.

We would also like to thank the great people at Surfers Paradise Baseball Club for stepping up and hosting game on short notice so we could navigate some early weather, and Mudgeeraba for being on standby.

photo credit: Erin Honsa from 2024

TOURNAMENT HUBS

---

Head the tournament hub for archived scores, recaps and highlights

JUNIOR LEAGUE: www.baseball.com.au/juniorleague

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

UPDATE: Sunday 1 June has been cancelled due to rain and unsafe field conditions. 

Heavy rain has disrupted the schedule for the final day of the Junior and Intermediate League Championships.

Here is what you need to know:

– After a second day of showers, Surfers Paradise Baseball Club has been ruled out and deemed unplayable for Sunday 1 June.

– At present, the only playable field is Diamond 4 at Lismore. We are working on Diamond 2.

– Therefore, the only current scheduled games are the Intermediate League Preliminary Final, the Intermediate League Gold Medal Game, the conclusion of the Junior League Pool A (Mets vs Brisbane North) and the Junior League Gold Medal Game.

– The Junior League Gold Medal Game will be contested between the winner of Pool B (Cronulla Black) and the winner of Pool A (Melbourne Mets or Brisbane North).

– There will be no semi-finals. Little League International have approved an adjusted format to the tournament due to inclement weather. Cronulla have clinched first place in Pool B.

– Please note, the below schedule has a serious proviso on it and is subject to change. Should Diamond 2 at Lismore become playable, games will move to this field earlier in the day.

– If Diamond 2 becomes available, it would not be until later in the morning, but all Finals could be completed by the early afternoon. Teams have been asked if they wish to play consolation games in this event.

– Point of Clarity: Diamond 2 is not an option for Junior League due to current field conditions. If it becomes available, Intermediate League games would be moved there. Junior League Games can only be played on Diamond 4 at this current time

The schedule for Sunday 1 June:

---

– 9:00AM – Intermediate League Preliminary Final (PF): Central Firebirds vs Melbourne Athletics

– 11:15AM – Intermediate League Gold Medal Game: Hills vs winner of PF

– 20 minutes after – Junior League Pool A Resumed Game: Melbourne Mets (3-0) vs Brisbane North (3-0)

– 20 minutes after – Junior League Gold Medal Game: Winner of Pool A vs Cronulla Black

---

All games will have a radio broadcast live & free on Baseball+ with ABL commentators Andrew Reynolds and CJ Barnes so we can bring you the sounds of the game, as well as a fixed single camera on GameChanger.

Thank you to the crew at Far North Coast Baseball for their work on a challenging day, battling the elements and a fantastic effort to get games in today. It’s amazing that despite these heavy rains we still played baseball.

Thank you to our community – players, coaches, families and all – for your patience and understanding as we battle the weather.

JUNIOR LEAGUE HUB: www.baseball.com.au/juniorleague 

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE HUB: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

DAY 4 FINALS RECAP, INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE: www.baseball.com.au/news/2025ilday4/

 

 

 

Recaps by Eric Balnar. Photos from Dan Cohen. Have something interesting to share? Email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

Significant rainfall in Gold Coast and scattered showers in Lismore played a significant role in today’s play.

In the morning, at the fresh hour of 7:15AM, we learned that Surfers Paradise Baseball Club would be closed for the day, that all consolation games for Saturday would be cancelled, and Finals would move to Lismore.

There was certainly a lot happening for everyone in a tournament where the winner advances to represent Australia at the Intermediate League World Series.

In this story you will find a summary of results and the recaps of the two games we played with some great photos from Dan Cohen.

SATURDAY RESULTS / SCHEDULE

---

Follow the games live on GameChanger. Click here or search ‘Australian Junior League National Championships 2025’.

Finals – Lismore, Diamond 4 

– Qualifying Final: Hills 19 def Melbourne Athletics 3
– Elimination Final: Central Firebirds 10 def Cronulla 5
– Preliminary Final: Postponed until Sunday

Winner of Qualifying Final advances to Gold Medal Game, loser to Preliminary Final. Winner of Elimination Final advances to Preliminary Final

Consolation Games

– Saturday Cancellation Games cancelled due to rain

SUNDAY 1 JUNE SCHEDULE

---

Update 7:30PM – A schedule has been determined for the final day of play.

Finals – Lismore 

– 9:00AM – Preliminary Final: Melbourne Athletics vs Central Firebirds

– 11:15AM – Gold Medal Game: Hills vs Winner of Preliminary Final

Listen to a radio call on Baseball+ / Follow on GameChanger

Consolation Games

– TBD, depending on Diamond 2 availability.

Tournament Hub and Archived Scores: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

RECAPS

---

QUALIFYING FINAL: HILLS 19 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 3: Hills pour on the runs in the pouring rain to advance to Intermediate League Gold Medal Game

It was raining runs for Hills in the Intermediate League Qualifying Final. They’re off to Sundays’ Gold Medal game for a chance to represent Australia at the World Series.

The game started 90 minutes later than schedule due to heavy overnight rain. Teams endured a two hour rain-delay mid-game.

But rain couldn’t…erm…rain…on the Hills’ hitting parade.

The offensive numbers are quite astounding.

Hills combined for 30 base runners in six innings. All twelve players reached base. Eleven players reached base two times or more. Ten players had hits.

We listed the players performance below.

Sayre Howick led the team with a 4-for-4 performance.

Emma Gainsford (below) hit a home run.

Justin Jang and Anton Jacovides each had three-hit games. Hudson Dobb and Talen Lachmund-Davis (below) cashed in three runs each.

Total. Team. Effort.

Hills scored four in the first inning. The Gainsford home run pushed the lead out to 8-0 in the fourth.

The Athletics did fight back.

A solo homer by Nixon Dikranis and a two-RBI single from Haydn Dogonay put three on the board for the Athletics in the fifth, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

Justin Jang helped cash in another run in the fifth, leaving us at 9-3 as the tarps are pulled.

After the rain delay, the bats went crazy for Hills. They scored three in the fifth and eight in the sixth to runaway to victory.

Sayre Howick  (below) also threw 2.1 innings, allowing one hit, no walks & no runs with one strikeout.

Anton Jacovides threw 1.0 innings, giving up two hits and three runs. Hudson Dobb and Lachmund-Davis closed the game out.

The Athletics tournament is not over. They will now play in the Preliminary Final against the winner of Central Firebirds & Cronulla. The winner of the Preliminary Final will meet Hills in the Gold Medal Game.

Hills Stats

Hits: Anton Jacovides (3), Harry Hobbs, Justin Jang (3), Sayre Howick (4), Hudson Dobb (2), Spencer Dobb, Fletcher Dobb, Ethan Cross, Talen Lachmund-Davis (2), Emma Gainsford (2)

HR: Emma Gainsford

RBI: H. Dobb (3), Lachmund-Davis Howick (2), Jang (2), Jacovides, Hobbs, Gainsford, F. Dobb

Athletics Stats

Hits (5): Jackson Berg, Haydn Dogonay, Leo Moulton, Alex Knell, Nixon Dikranis
RBI: Dikranis, Dogonay (2)

ELIMINATION FINAL: Big third inning propels Central Firebirds to Preliminary Final

An eight run third inning proved to be the difference for the Central Firebirds.

The Western Australian outfit built up a 9-0 lead after three and withstood a furious Cronulla comeback attempt.

The Firebirds advance to play the Melbourne Athletics on Sunday in the Preliminary Final at a time to be determined. The winner of that game moves on to play Hills for Gold and a place in the Intermediate League World Series.

Taj Humble (below) played a key role in today’s Firebirds victory.  He threw 6.1 innings with three strikeouts, allowing six hits, four earned runs, two walks.

He also went 2-for-3 with the bat, driving in three runs including a bases clearing double in the second.

Phoenix Morgan (below) was important, too. His three-run homer was the cherry in the eight-spot planted in the famous third.

Summer Hiscock went 2-for-2 with two RBI. She had an RBI in the third, too.

Cronulla started their chargeback in the fourth inning when Franklin Pyke catupulted a three-run homer over the fence.

Hudson Shorey added another homer for Cronulla in the fifth to cut the deficit to 9-4.

It’s as close as Cronulla would come.

Teams traded late runs.

Unfortunately, Cronulla’s tournament comes to a close. It was a great run for the group, who went through Pool Play undefeated.

Stay tuned for schedule updates.

STATS

Central Firebirds

Hits (9): Haruki Yamamoto, Taj Humble (2), Summer Hiscock (2), Sebastian Buckley, Phoenix Morgan, Jaxon Gloriod, Oliver Tackenberg

HR: Phoenix Morgan

RBI: Humble (3), Morgan (3), Hiscock (2), Jackson Howarth (1)

Cronulla

Hits (6): Leo Vigil, Franklin Pyke, Hudson Shorey (2), Zack Fordyce, Fenic Cutajar
HR: Pyke, Shorey
RBI: Pyke (3), Shorey (1)

 

Recaps by Eric Balnar. Photos from Dan Cohen / Scott Powick. Have something interesting to share? Email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

The first finals are done and the elimination bracket is set at Intermediate League.

Find out how the day progressed below.

Tournament Hub and Archived Scores: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

Things you will find in this story:
– Scores
– Standings
– Recaps
– Highlights
– Stats
– YouTube Highlights can be found here. 

You can watch replays of games from Surfers Paradise on Baseball+.

For GameChanger, click here or search ‘Australian Junior League National Championships 2025’.

The winner of the tournament advances to the Senior League World Series.

Scroll down for consolation standings.

Recaps by Eric Balnar. Photos from Dan Cohen / Scott Powick. Have something interesting to share? Email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

The second day of 2025 Australian Intermediate League Championships is here. After the games this afternoon, the finals schedule will be locked in.

Tournament Hub: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

Things you will find in this story:
– Scores
– Standings
– Recaps
– Highlights
– Stats
– CARVE Performers of the Day
– YouTube Highlights can be found here. 

You can watch replays of games from Surfers Paradise on Baseball+.

For GameChanger, click here or search ‘Australian Junior League National Championships 2025’.

The winner of the tournament advances to the Senior League World Series.

Recaps by Eric Balnar. Photos from Brendon Beacom / Scott Powick. Have something interesting to share? Email me at eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

The first day of the Australian Intermediate League Championships is complete!

Tournament Hub: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

Things you will find in this story:
– Scores
– Standings
– Recaps
– Highlights
– Stats
– CARVE Performers of the Day
– YouTube Highlights can be found here. 

You can watch replays of games from Surfers Paradise on Baseball+.

For complete information visit our Tournament Hub at www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague. For GameChanger, click here or search ‘Australian Junior League National Championships 2025’.

The winner of the tournament advances to the Senior League World Series.

There has been a further schedule amendment to both the Junior League and Intermediate League Championships, with some games returning to Lismore.

After a stretch of few days of sunshine and wind, two fields are expected to be playable in time for the National Championships.

Diamond 2 and Diamond 4 will have competition games.

However, Diamond 1 and Diamond 3 at Lismore remain closed for the duration of the tournament.

Therefore, half the games will be played in Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise. The other half will be played in Lismore, making travel time less for those involved.

All Baseball+ Broadcast Games will be on the Gold Coast at Surfers, including the finals.

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE UPDATE: ALL GAMES HAVE BEEN MOVED FORWARD 30 MINUTES – Click here to view full schedule

Baseball Australia’s tournament manager Michael Ibbotson says this eases some of the pressure of driving to Gold Coast each day.

“It’s exciting news to receive when we were anticipating the likelihood that no games would be played in Lismore during the event,” says Ibbotson. “Some recent sun and wind have given the facility a chance to show how resilient it is.”

Notably, Lismore received about three times its monthly average of rain in the first two weeks of May, making fields waterlogged and unplayable.

“Although we are still not running with the original plan, the positive is another chance is getting a chance to showcase its facility during a National Championship,” adds Ibbotson. “Although games will now be moved off Mudgeeraba, more weather is always a chance, and if needed we sincerely appreciate that club will assist”

We thank everybody for their support and understanding as we navigate weather challenges as we make sure the kids can all “PLAY BALL” next week.

---

TOURNAMENT HUBS

---

All information for each tournament will be housed in the respective Tournament Hubs, found on the home page and menu of Baseball.com.au.

They will include links to recaps, highlights, scoring, broadcast and format.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE: www.baseball.com.au/intermediateleague

JUNIOR LEAGUE: www.baseball.com.au/juniorleague