TEAM AUSTRALIA OPENS 2022 CAMPAIGN AGAINST SAMURAI JAPAN

28 July 2022 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

TEAM AUSTRALIA OPENS 2022 CAMPAIGN AGAINST SAMURAI JAPAN

Team Australia is set to take on World Champions Japan in a two-game series at the Sapporo Dome on the 9th and 10th of November 2022.

It has been a long three-year absence of international baseball for our Men’s Team Australia side to which our representatives will be looking to pick up where they left off from the Premier 12s.

It will be the first senior international game for Team Japan since the Olympics where they claimed gold against the best in the world.

The two-game series will take place before the Australian Baseball League (ABL) season with ABL players set to join their teams for the commencement of the Opening Round.

These games will be a preview of how Team Australia will line up for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, which is set to launch on March 8th 2023.

Team Australian Manager David Nilsson is thrilled to be back in the green and gold and ready to lead the team into a new season of international baseball.

“It is always and honour and very challenging to play against Team Japan and this will be a great opportunity to bring new players into the team and start our preparation for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).”

Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams is thrilled to be able to bring international baseball to the fans at home and abroad.

“ Our relationship with the NPB and Samurai Japan is strong, and we’ve worked closely for quite a while to secure this series. It will be amazing to be in Sapporo in November competing against the number 1 team in the world.”

“ This series, followed by ABL season 22/23 and then the WBC in March 2023, promises to be an actioned packed period of time for baseball fans.”

The full team roster, details on how to watch and other information about the series in Japan will be released in the lead-up to the series.

20 July 2022 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

ABL

Max Stagg to feature at Perfect Game National Showcase

Max Stagg accepts invite to Perfect Game National Showcase at Tropicana Field (Home of the Tampa Bay Rays) in St Petersburg, Florida from July 20-24.

South Australian (West Torrens) outfielder Max Stagg, a member of the U18 National Junior Squad, will get a chance to showcase himself and play games in a big-league stadium this week.

Through our ever-evolving relationship with Perfect Game, Baseball Australia was given an invite for one of our players to take part in their biggest showcase of the year.

Perfect Game National Showcase brings together the best Year 12 students across the US in one place to see them perform and play against each other. Max will get an opportunity to participate in a showcase which consists of running a timed 60 yard sprint, defensive work/throwing to bases from right-field & batting practice. He will then play in multiple games against the best players in the US in front of college coaches and professional scouts.

Max has his showcase day on July 22 and then will play games July 23^rd and July 24^th.

National Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell will also be there with Max as we continue to build and develop our relationship with Perfect Game. More social posts to come during the event.

Some info about PG National Showcase below off the website below.

Perfect Game National Showcase

PG helps players achieve their dreams of playing baseball at the collegiate level, and for some, the professional level. These events are highlighted by the Perfect Game National Showcase and the WWBA World Championship tournament. These are considered to be the most prestigious events in all of amateur baseball, as they contain the highest level of talent across the country. To ensure this high level of talent, Perfect Game has elected to make this an invite-only experience. With such a high concentration of talent, these two events alone, attract hundreds of college coaches and professional scouts.

This event is also utilized to make selections for the Perfect Game All-American Classic, which is a match up of the top high school seniors in the country. Other showcase events and tournaments are factored in when making selections, but a strong performance at the National Showcase will help players lock in a roster spot.

Expectations and Past Results

Attending a Perfect Game events comes with a variety of benefits. Along with in person exposure to coaches and scouts, Perfect Game also provides scouting reports, player ratings, video footage, and national/state rankings if applicable. All of the information is stored in an online player profile, which can be accessed by hundreds of college coaches and scouts. In a traditional showcase, the player’s exposure ends once the event is over. However with Perfect Game, the player’s exposure continues to build after the event finalizes.

The Perfect Game National Showcase is recognized as the premier baseball showcase in the country, and for good reason. Since its inception in 2001, 4,683 attendees have made college commitments, 2,539 were selected in the MLB draft, and 416 have played in the MLB. Some of the MLB players include Nolan Arenado, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, and many other well known players. On the Perfect Game website, you can actually view these players’ profiles which contain their performance data and even video footage from the events. It’s pretty interesting to watch the current superstars of the MLB as high school players.

19 July 2022 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community

Shayne Watson to join Baseball Australia

Through an initiative instigated by the Australian Institute of Sport, Baseball Queensland partnered with Baseball Australia have been able to create a new role that will see BQ High Performance Program coach Shayne Watson transitioning his employment to Baseball Australia.

Under the AIS Gen32 program, a structure that has been set up to support talented coaches develop with an eye on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, Watson’s position will see him maintaining his lead role for high performance within Queensland Baseball, while also fulfilling coaching positions within the Team Australia programs at a junior and senior level.

In addition, the funding made available by the AIS will see targeted investment into Watson’s development as a coach over the next two years.

Baseball Australia General Manager – Performance Pathways & Player Development Michael Crooks was grateful for the partnership that has come to life.

“Over the last two years, our strategic relationship with the Australian Institute of Sport has gone from strength to strength, in particular around the long term development of our players and coaches. The investment into Shayne with the view of developing him over a long period of time shows tremendous foresight, and we are very grateful for the support we have received.”

“From day 1, the conversations that BA has had with BQ surrounding this opportunity for Shayne have demonstrated strategic synergies that both organisations have for the development of our players and coaches not just in Queensland, but across the country. We thank BQ for their financial and operational support of this initiative, and we look forward to this joint venture setting an example for what we can achieve across the country when like minded organisations come together.”

Further information on the Gen32 program can be found here: #Gen32Coach launched in Melbourne | #theAIS – YouTube

Watson commenced his new role on July 1^st 2022.

13 July 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Final Day Recap

Queensland carried their winning streak into finals, Western Australia secured the bronze medal, and New South Wales and Victoria battled it out for gold on the final day of #AYC2022.

09 July 2022 By

- Team Australia Community

Grounds signs with MLB organisation

Queenslander Jackson Grounds has become the latest Aussie to sign a professional contract with an MLB organisation.

The 17-year-old right-handed pitcher inked a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates this morning.

08 July 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Day 5 Recap

On Day 5 of #AYC2022, host state Queensland secured their first win and the top four played off in semi finals, competing for a spot in the Gold Medal Game.

07 July 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Day 4 Recap

Day 3 of #AYC2022 saw teams jockeying for position to ensure placement in the winners bracket. Early tournament favourites NSW took an unexpected loss, while South Australia and Victoria strengthened their positions and WA locked up a position.

06 July 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Day 3 Recap

After bad weather led to cancelled games on Day 2 of #AYC2022, the teams were ready to get underway and continue on into the night on Day 3 in Redcliffe.

06 July 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Day 1 Recap

It was an exciting and impressive first day of the U16 #AYC2022 tournament in Redcliffe on Monday, with dominant performances from New South Wales and Western Australia.

05 July 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Day 2 Games Cancelled

Day 2 of the U16 #AYC2022 tournament will not go ahead as planned. All scheduled games on Tuesday the 5^th of July have been cancelled due to bad weather.

There will be further updates throughout the day via social media and the event hub at baseball.com.au.

30 June 2022 By

Community

#AYC2022 Team Previews

Teams have been locked in for the 2022 Australian U-16 Youth Championship in Redcliffe, QLD.

We’re working with Australian Pitching Development to bring you the latest insights ahead of the tournament, including a team preview with every Head Coach.

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