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Australia’s women’s national baseball team, the Emeralds, are entering the final stages of preparation for the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup in Rockford, Illinois.

The tournament format is unique. Australia will compete in a challenging group featuring a mix of international powerhouses and emerging nations, including No. 2 USA, No. 3 Canada, No. 6 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong, No. 12 Korea and No. 19 China.

The objective is simple: finish in the top three and secure a place at the 2027 Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals, also to be held in Rockford. Three teams from Pool B will join the top three finishers from Australia’s group in next year’s finals.

Baseball Australia announced the Emeralds roster in May. You can revisit that announcement to learn more about the team’s selection philosophy and hear from the coaching staff.

The squad will be captained by 23-year-old Caitlin Eynon.

Before the tournament begins, the Emeralds will travel to the United States for a five-day training camp. The camp will provide an opportunity to train, adjust to the time zone and play a series of exhibition games before competition starts. In the lead-up to departure, athletes will continue their preparation through their respective Performance Pathway Programs.

Let’s learn about each of the players on the team:

POSITION PLAYERS

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Catcher / DH – Chloe Atkinson (WA): The 18-year-old has emphatically entered the Australian baseball scene. Atkinson has won the last two Australian Women’s Championships (AWC) Golden Bat Awards. In 2026, Atkinson went 17-for-30 with nine extra base hits, a homer and 16 RBI. Her batting average ranked fifth, and no player who qualified for the finals drove in more runs (16). She also hit a clutch, game-winning grand slam to send her team to the Gold Medal Game. Atkinson is making her World Cup debut. She is a draft pick of New York in the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL).

Catcher – Jamie Bastian (VIC): A two-time national champion, Bastian makes her Emeralds debut after narrowly missing out on selection in 2026. She’s turned into a high-end contact bat, and has developed her arm strength over the last few years. She’s a great option to control the run game and can play in the outfield if required for additional depth.  Bastian represented Australia at the 2024 Baseball5 World Cup.

Catcher – Maddi Heath (NSW) – Heath is the only catcher on Australia’s roster with World Cup experience, having caught for the Emeralds at the 2023 World Cup. She has won multiple championships at the AWC with New South Wales, including coming up with some clutch moments and diving catches. Heath notably recovered from major hip surgery in 2022, hitting the field just in time for the 2023 World Cup. It was a total reconstruction and a great story.

1B – Gen Beacom (VIC) – Beacom made international headlines at the 2023 tournament as a 16-year-old left-handed pitcher with a fast-ball around 89 miles per hour. This year, she will only play in the field and hit. Beacom has since been playing softball at NCAA Division I program Oregon State. Her bat plays in both codes. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you she has some of the highest exit velocities in the women’s game, while being able to lock down first base. Beacom hit .308 with a pair of doubles at the 2023 World Cup.

2B / RHP – Abbey Kelly (VIC) – One of the most experienced and accomplished players on the Emeralds roster. Kelly is entering her fourth World Cup (2016, 2018, 2023). In 2016, she pitched 5.1 innings, allowing just one run and a couple hits in a famous win over the USA to help Australia advance to the Super Round. In Australia, Kelly has won multiple national championships, an AWC MVP, Golden Glove and Golden Arm. She can play second base, shortstop, come out of the bullpen or start a game. Kelly adds tremendous versatility, experience and skill in multiple spots.

2B / RHP – Bronwyn Gell (VIC) – The most experienced and accomplished player on the Emeralds roster. In fact, no other player has a World Cup medal on Team Australia. Gell has two. She was a young 16-year-old who won a silver in 2010. She won Bronze in 2014. Gell is playing in her first World Cup since 2018, but her sixth overall (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018). Gell brings a career .310 average at WBSC events to the fold. Since we last saw Gell, she became a pitcher. She won the 2026 Victorian State League Pitcher of the Year. Bronwyn brings defensive ability, composure at the plate, leadership and valuable innings on the mound

SS / RHP – Caitlin Eynon (WA) – The 23-year-old was just named captain of the Emeralds. A draft pick in the WPBL, Eynon has done it all. At Australian Women’s Championships, she’s won a Gold Medal, MVP, a Golden Arm and a Golden Glove. She has a fast ball that tops out around 77 mph, making her one of the hardest women throwers in the world. She plays elite defense up the middle and has a dominating bat. Eynon is in her second World Cup campaign and will be an important part of the line-up and likely pitch high-leverage innings. She may even start an important game.

3B / RHP – Leah Cornish (WA) – A 19-year-old returning for a second World Cup. In 2023, Cornish was a catcher. She led Australia with a .600 batting average and an .800 on-base-percentage. Now, Cornish plays third base. She also has a mid-70mph fast ball and will pitch some key innings for Australia. Cornish is a WPBL Draft Pick and played overseas in Canada in 2025. She is a national champion and 2023 AWC Tournament MVP.

INF / RHP – Claire O’Sullivan (NSW) – Simply put: one of the most prominent names in the Australian baseball community. Claire returns to the Emeralds for her second World Cup. She has won Australian national championships, Japanese national titles, a Women’s Championship MVP and a Golden Bat Award. Claire can play first base, third base and will likely be a very important starting pitcher for the Aussies. She’s a dual threat. In 2023 she delivered an epic 5.0 inning shutout start vs Korea to keep us in the hunt. She was also .333 at the plate.

CF / SS / RHP – Lili Cavanagh (VIC) – On paper, Cavanagh is one of the most important players on this roster. She will play up the middle – either in centre field, at shortstop or as a high-leverage pitcher. Cavanagh has hit over .600 at the last two women’s nationals she’s played in, including winning tournament MVP in 2024. This is Cavanagh’s second World Cup, playing more of a depth role in 2023 after a late injury hampered her campaign. Cavanagh recovered from a major knee reconstruction she suffered in 2024 at the Australian Women’s Showcase.

OF – Ticara Geldenhuis (NSW) – Ticara is a highly athletic return player from the 2023 Emeralds squad. She famously hit Australia’s only home run of the 2023 World Cup. Geldenhuis has turned into a leader in her baseball community. She can steal bases, hit for power, and brings World Cup pedigree and multiple national championships to the team.

OF / LHP – Molly Paddison (QLD) – At 18-years-old, Molly Paddison is the youngest player on the roster. Nicknamed “the Business”, Paddison has turned in three excellent AWC campaigns in a row having ranked consistently in the top five of batting metrics at the national championships. She runs well, can play multiple spots in the outfield, and brings in a left-handed option from the bullpen. Paddison is one of nine Australians drafted to the WPBL.

OF – Elodie O’Sullivan (NSW / WA) – O’Sullivan returns to the national team for the first time since 2018. It’s also the first time she and her sister Claire will share the field in national team colours. Elodie missed out on 2023 selection. A foot injury played a factor. Elodie re-invented her game since then, travelling to Japan to play professionally and work on her craft. There’s a great story on how she turned injury and disappointment into opportunity here. O’Sullivan brings a solid bat, smarts, work ethic and experience to the team. She is one of nine Australians drafted to the WPBL and has won multiple championships.

RHP / OF – Meaghan Haggart (WA) – Haggart will be able to provide some flexibility and options for manager Jason Pospishil. She plays solid outfield and third base. She can also catch if required. Haggart brings plus off-speed pitches and can be used both as a reliever or start. We’ve seen Haggart lead Western Australia to a national championship by embracing all kinds of different roles. She is a return player from the 2023 squad.

UTIL – Rio Bradley (QLD) – She can catch, she can play outfield and, crucially, she can run. Bradley has been one of the most consistent bats for Queensland over the last half-decade. She’s always near the tournament leaders in stolen bases. It’s a tournament debut for Bradley, who is one of the most respected players in the Australian baseball community.

PITCHER ONLY

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The below players are expected to be used primarily as pitchers.It’s important to note that Claire O’Sullivan, Caitlin Eynon, Leah Cornish, Bronwyn Gell, Lili Cavanagh, Molly Paddison, Meaghan Haggart and Abbey Kelly are also expected to contribute on the mound.

RHP – Allie Bebbere (VIC) – Bebbere will hope to double down on her tremendous 2023 World Cup campaign where she posted a 1.24 ERA in 5.2 innings. An iron horse of women’s pitching, Allie has claimed dual National Championship Golden Arm awards (2022 & 2024). Allie has also represented Australia at the 2024 Baseball5 World Cup. The 31-year-old is also a WPBL draft pick. There’s a great feature story on her and why she dropped everything to pursue her passion. You can read it here.

RHP – Brittney Baker (VIC) – Baker has cracked her first World Cup side after being on the cusp of selection for nearly a decade. She was a key pitcher in Victoria’s 2026 Women’s Championship win and has pitched in Australian Women’s Showcase events. Baker brings a good pitch mix. She is one of two mums on the roster.

RHP – Maddi Erwin (ACT) – Erwin returns for a second World Cup, after debuting in 2023 for the Emeralds. Erwin was one of nine Aussie draftees in the 2025 WPBL Draft. She brings a great curveball that keeps her near the top of the list in strikeout rates at national championships. She last won a title with New South Wales in 2025.

RHP – Mackenzie Jackson (NSW) – Jackson had to work hard to even be in position to make the squad. After pitching New South Wales to a championship in 2025, Jackson suffered a shoulder injury that wiped out nearly all of her 2025-26 club campaign. She recovered just in time for the Australian Women’s Championships where she tossed 4.2 innings. Jackson has great command of the strike zone and is making her World Cup debut.

RHP – Jess Johnson (VIC) – The 37-year-old is one of the feel good stories of the team. Johnson was in the last round of cuts for the 2023 World Cup squad. Between then and now, she became a mum. She also worked relentlessly, not wanting to squander an opportunity to represent her country. After a fantastic 2026 tournament, Johnson showed enough to earn a spot. She is a consistent strike-thrower who won multiple championships with Victoria. Of note, Johnson has represented Australia in Gridiron (American Football) World Championships.

 

 

Caitlin Eynon has been named captain of Australia’s Women’s National Team.

The 23-year-old Western Australian is set to lead the Emeralds into the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Eynon has built an impressive baseball resume.

The short-stop and right-handed pitcher is entering her second World Cup after debuting for the Emeralds in 2023. She is a national champion (2023), and an Australian Women’s Championship MVP (2026), Golden Arm (2025) and Golden Glove (2025) winner.

She was one of nine Australians selected in the inaugural Women’s Professional League (WPBL) draft.

Now, she can add ‘National Team Captain’ to that list.

While what she does on the field is impressive, Emeralds manager Jason Pospishil says it’s what she does off-the field and in the club house that separates her.

“Eynon exhibits everything you want in a leader. She has consistent behaviours, a team-first mentality and a commitment to winning and the program,” says Pospishil. “I was so impressed with how she went about her business in the last World Cup and how the players gravitated towards her lead.”

For Eynon, it’s a surreal moment. It wasn’t all that long ago she was a little kid, learning the game in Perth, dreaming of playing the game at the biggest stage possible.

“Nine year old Caitlin would be absolutely honoured and thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this team,” says Eynon. “Leadership qualities are something I have been working to develop on and off the field and I am beyond grateful to utilise them to help bring this team success.”

LISTEN: Hear from Caitlin Eynon on ABC Radio

Pospishil says he felt it was important to name a captain for the group in 2026, after not having one in 2023. He says Eynon represents ‘true leadership.’

“There is a misconception that leadership is through vocality, but that is only one part of it. We need leadership that exercises consistent behaviours and great social decision making skills, not just vocality,” says Pospishil.

“By naming a captain that has the respect of the playing group and exercises the behaviours and standards that we desire, our program will achieve what we want to achieve.”

So what is Eynon’s leadership style?

“I employ the ‘lead from the front mentality’. I always want my words and actions to align with what it means to represent Australia on a World Cup stage,” she says.

Pospishil says he sees Eynon being part of the national team program for a while.

“She will be the cornerstone of this team for a long time and I couldn’t think of a better candidate to lead the Emeralds into the future,” he says.

Eynon is one of 20 named to the 2026 World Cup roster. They will compete in the Rockford Group in Illinois from July 22-26.

“We are going into this group stage at the World Cup with a winning mentality. We focus only on the aspects that contribute to winning and put no energy into the uncontrollables that don’t align with that model,” says Eynon. “Having all 20 players bought into that mentality will give us the best chance of success.”

Australia’s U-15 National Team for the 2026 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup has been announced, with 19 players selected following strong performances across the country throughout the past 12 months.

The squad was selected based on performances at the U16 Australian Youth Championships (AYC), assessments within local training and competition environments, and opportunities through previous World Cup qualifying events.

Team Australia U15 Manager says there were tough decisions to make with the group, but there is a lot of flexibility at his disposal.

“I believe this playing group shows versatility. We have a lot of players that we can throw on the mound and be comfortable with them attacking the zone,” he says. “In this age group with tournament baseball, two-way players are extremely important and most importantly we need to catch the baseball. We have chosen a squad around these priorities.”

The Australian Youth Championships again proved a key part of the selection process, giving national selectors the chance to evaluate the country’s top young talent against elite opposition in a tournament environment.

Andy Kyle was there watching it all unfold.

“I think it’s been exciting to see the majority of this group over the past 6 months in different contexts. We have had the qualifiers in Guam, the AYC’s in January and then evaluation sessions,” he said. “I feel this has provided a solid baseline of information for each athlete. We now have an opportunity to work with each Performance Program and prioritise areas we need to focus on during this Winter with individuals.”

Australia qualified for the World Cup by winning the WBSC Oceania Qualifier in Guam last December, going undefeated across the event to secure a place on the world stage.

Kyle says that tournament helped bring the group together. He’s excited to see 15 players return from that squad.

“I think consistent touch points with the players has and will provide a better chemistry within the group and direction around our Team Australia foundations,” he says.

The WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup will now be held in Mérida, Mexico from September 25 to October 4 after the tournament was moved from its originally scheduled host nation of Italy earlier this year.

Before heading to Mexico, the team will take part in a five-day training camp in the United States as part of final preparations for the tournament.

Australia will compete against some of the world’s top baseball nations at the event, including World No. 1 Japan, No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 3 USA, No. 5 Venezuela and host nation Mexico, ranked No. 6 in the world. Cuba, Dominican Republic, Czechia, Germany, Nicaragua and South Africa have also qualified for the tournament through their respective regional pathways.

The groups have yet to be decided.

The coaching staff will be led by manager Andrew Kyle, alongside pitching coach Kai Meuronen, assistant coaches Kelii Zablan and Scott Meager, and Executive Officer Michael Crooks.

Victoria leads the roster with six players selected, followed by New South Wales and South Australia with four apiece.
Queensland has three representatives, while Western Australia has two.

There are 15 players who overlap between Australia’s 2025 U15 Oceania Championships roster and the newly announced 2026 U15 World Cup roster. The four new players added to the 2026 U15 World Cup roster are: Chase Crew (QLD), Felix Oliver (SA), Tom Skinner (VIC) and Seb Watts (SA).

The team also features nine players who were on Australia’s 2023 U12 World Cup Roster (Thomas-McLean, Tayler, Petersen, Morris, McCabe, Leigh, Evans, Crew, Chase).

Further information on the tournament can be found on the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup website.

 

Australia’s roster for Pool A the 2026 Women’s World Cup Group Stage has been locked in.

Off the back of the recent Women’s National Championships, manager Jason Pospishil and the High Performance arm of Baseball Australia have named a 20-woman squad for the July tournament.

Australia’s national team, also known as the Emeralds, will compete in Pool A in Rockford, Illinois from July 22-27.

They will face a challenging mix of powerhouses and emerging nations. Australia will take on No. 2 USA, No. 6 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong, China, No. 12 Korea, and the winner of a playoff series between Canada and Puerto Rico.

If they finish Top 3 in the Group, they will qualify for the Finals with five other nations in 2027.

The athletes will depart to the USA in advance of the tournament for a five-day training camp where they will practice, adjust to a new times, and play exhibition games. Between now and then, the players will work out with their respective Performance Pathways Programs.

Here’s a little bit more about the roster:

AT A GLANCE

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This roster features:
– 13 players with World Cup experience
– 11 returning players from 2023
– An average age of 25.8
– 7 players set to make their Emeralds debut
– 13 pitchers, including 8 who can play multiple positions
– 9 Women’s Professional Baseball Draft Picks
– 3 teenagers: Atkinson, Cornish, Paddison
– 11 players aged 25 or younger

ROSTER CONSTRUCTION

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This group is built on versatility.

Head coach Jason Pospishil notes that having players who can play multiple positions is important due to the number of two-way players in the mix.

“We have such a high percentage of quality two-way players, we need as much defensive versatility as possible,” says Pospishil. “One of our foundations is being able to throw two pitches for strikes in any count. There was a big emphasis on pitchers who were able to do that.”

“One of the other pillars is that we are a tournament style baseball-centred team. We picked 20 players who we think fit into this team and give us as many good options as possible for the environment we’re about to play in.”

Pospishil said the lessons from 2023 heavily influenced the roster makeup. Australia finished fourth, barely missing out on qualifying for the Final Stage. They made six errors in two key – and close – losses.

“It would be very naïve of me to not take into consideration the lessons we learned from three years ago,” he says. “That’s played a big part in the ability to be better defensively, throw more strikes, and foster a positive winning culture.”

He also pointed to the impact of the recent Australian Women’s Championships (AWC) on selection decisions.

“The AWC put some players in contention and allowed players to make this team that may not have been as firmly on the radar before,” says Pospishil. “What the AWC showed us is there are parts of each individual game they can work on for the next eight-to-10 weeks. We were studious on looking at players and how their skill sets measure up with the Team Australia foundations.”

Pospishil believes the balance of youth and experience gives the Emeralds a strong foundation heading into the tournament.

“We have a great mix of ages here,” he said. “We have a few young players on this team, three teenagers, and players who have clubhouse leadership in veteran leadership. I think that’s a really good mix.”

“At just under 26, the average age is in the sweet spot,” he adds.

Culture also played a major role in the final selections.

“It’s important we all understand who we are right away,” said Pospishil. “There are players on this team we picked because of their outstanding clubhouse qualities.”

Now, the focus shifts to what the team can do on the field. Australia is looking to medal for the first time since 2014.

“Our expectation is qualify for the World Cup Finals next year,” said Pospishil.

At the same time, he stressed the door remains open for players who missed this roster, especially with the 2027 Finals in mind.

“2027 is an option for players that didn’t make this team,” he said. “We have four players who were on the radar and missed out last World Cup cycle that are now here. So for those that aren’t part of this twenty it doesn’t mean the book is closed on you. When we qualify for 2027, players are going to play AWC and the process continues. The book is not closed on the people that didn’t make this team.”

“I think that’s what the AWC also showed. There is so much talent coming through. I can’t put a line through a player ever. I can’t stress enough how excited I am,” he adds.

THE NEW FACES

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The Emeralds feature nine players who were not on the 2023 World Cup squad – a group that fell one place short of advancing to the finals.

They are catcher Jamie Bastian, catcher Chloe Atkinson, 2B / RHP Bronwyn Gell, OF / LHP Molly Paddison, OF Elodie O’Sullivan, UTIL Riordan Bradley, RHP Brittney Baker, RHP Mackenzie Jackson and RHP Jess Johnson.

It’s hard not to be excited with what each brings to the table.

Atkinson is an 18-year-old emerging superstar. She has won back-to-back Golden Bats at the Women’s Nationals (AWC) and is a Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) draft pick.

Molly Paddison, 18, is also a WPBL draft pick and has led Queensland to the finals the last few AWC.

Jamie Bastian put together a huge tournament behind the plate. She led Victorian pitching staff to the best ERA and threw out multiple runners on the base paths. Bastian also missed out narrowly in 2023. With a great ability to control the run game, it’s evident why she cracked the squad this time around.

Rio Bradley missed out narrowly on World Cup selection in 2023. She pieced together a brilliant 2026 National Championship with Queensland and is one of the fastest players on the roster. She can catch, play outfield, run and provides the team with a versatile option with leadership ability.

Bronwyn Gell has already appeared in five World Cups but hasn’t been on a roster since 2016. She’s been one of the most dominant players in Victorian baseball over the last couple of seasons and a leader over the last two decades.

Elodie O’Sullivan was on the 2018 squad but missed out on 2023 selection after not quite being healthy enough after a foot injury. O’Sullivan plays professionally in Japan. More on her below.

Then there’s the pitchers. Brittney Baker and Jess Johnson both make the team shortly after becoming mums for the first time. Johnson is a rookie at 37.

Mackenzie Jackson was arguably the best pitcher at the 2025 Nationals for New South Wales. She tore her labrum and missed nearly all of the recent season. She returned and fired off four shutout innings at the 2026 nationals and made the squad.

THE RETURNEES

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11 players are back from 2023 – many of them already young players with more experience.

Claire O’Sullivan has turned into one of the best all-around players in Australia and has even won a national championship in Japan. She was selected in the recent WPBL draft, too.

22-year-old Caitlin Eynon is the reigning Women’s MVP and considered one of the best players in the world. She, like O’Sullivan is a WPBL draft pick.

There are four other WPBL picks: OF Ticara Geldenhuis, INF Leah Cornish, RHP Allie Bebbere and RHP Maddi Erwin. Bebbere was one of the best statistical pitchers in the 2023 tournament, Cornish had an .800 OBP as a 16-year-old, and Geldenhuis went deep fro Australia in 2023.

Maddi Heath returns for her second year behind the plate, with more experience and a national title to her name.

Gen Beacom offers serious power at first base, and has been playing top level softball in the NCAA college system at Oregon State.

Abbey Kelly returns for her fourth World Cup experience. She’s won nearly every award you can at a nationals.

Meaghan Haggart can play multiple positions and will play in her second World Cup. She pitched a huge finals game in a win vs eventual champion Victoria in April.

Lili Cavanagh looks ready to become an international star. The 23-year-old was the 2024 Women’s MVP and will play important positions. She’ll pitch, play centrefield and shortstop.

HEAR FROM A COUPLE EMERALDS

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“Calling people and telling them they made the team is just awesome,” says Pospishil. “It’s one of the best parts of the job to tell somebody their dream came true. There were tears. They were fun calls to make.”

One of those calls was the Jess Johnson, a 37-year-old pitcher who was one of the final cuts in 2023.

Since then, she has played a key role in winning two Victorian national championships. Importantly, she became a mum in that time.

“It was pretty emotional,” says Johnson of the phone call. “After not making the previous team, there’s always a bit of anxiety around receiving one of those calls. I don’t think reality has fully sunk in yet and it probably won’t until we’re on the plane.”

“I’ve been working towards this for a few years now. Despite everything the goal never really changed, if anything, it pushed me more. The last year especially, coming back after having my son and putting in the work to get back to this level has been a big part of that.”

“Before it was about me and my goals, but now there’s a bigger why behind it. I get to do this not just for myself and the team but also for my son, which makes it really special.”

Another fun call was to Elodie O’Sullivan.

That’s in direct contrast to the last World Cup cycle. Pospishil says a phone call to her in 2023 was one of the harder conversations. He had to tell O’Sullivan, a 2018 representative, that she wasn’t on the team. Lingering issues from a major foot injury was the headline.

O’Sullivan used the disappointment as motivation. She changed her story.

“Over the last three years I’ve been really proud of the narrative I have written for myself. After the work I put in to return from my injury in 2023 I wanted to find a place to play some games; to capitalise on the good shape I was in and I was hungry to challenge myself.”

“I found myself with opportunities to play in the Japanese domestic competition for Tokai Nexus. Being around a whole new level of passion, enjoyment and high standard of the game reminded me of what I want in a baseball environment and an enhanced understanding of how to get the best out of myself.

“I have an immense amount of gratitude for everyone who has supported me (especially my family and friends and a number of Emerald alumni, baseball WA HP staff, Carine Cats, Eastern Suburbs dolphins, my gym Jump Lift Run and Form and Function Chiro who have ensured I’ve been in top shape, and of course Risa Nakashima and Tokai Nexus).”

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There are plenty more stories to come!

But for now, congratulations to the 2026 Emeralds.

Note: The Coaching Staff will be announced next month.

Australia’s path to the 2026/27 Women’s Baseball World Cup is locked in, with the Emeralds set to represent Oceania as the global field begins to take shape.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) flagship women’s event will again be played across two stages, with 12 nations split into two groups of six in 2026. The top three from each advance to the Finals in 2027.

For Australia, currently ranked No. 10 in the world, the tournament presents a chance to return to the top tier of international women’s baseball.

The Emeralds have drawn into Group A, to be played in Rockford, Illinois from July 22–27, where they will face a challenging mix of powerhouses and emerging nations. Australia will take on No. 2 USA, No. 6 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong, China, No. 12 Korea, and the winner of a playoff series between Canada and Puerto Rico.

The second group, to be played in Tainan, Chinese Taipei, features world No. 1 Japan, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Great Britain and a wildcard entry.

Japan enters as the dominant force in the sport, having won seven consecutive Women’s Baseball World Cup titles dating back to 2008.

Australia’s qualification comes as part of the Oceania allocation, while the Americas and Asia regions have already begun to fill out the field. Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba secured their places through the Pan American Championship, while Canada and Puerto Rico will contest the final Americas berth. Japan, Chinese Taipei, Korea and Hong Kong qualified through the Asian Cup, and Great Britain claimed Europe’s spot after winning the 2025 European Championship.

The remaining wildcard will complete the 12-team field.

The Finals, also to be held in Rockford from July 19–25, 2027, await the six teams that advance.

For the Emeralds, the tournament marks another opportunity to re-establish themselves among the world’s best.

Australia has a proud history at the Women’s Baseball World Cup, reaching the top four five times since the tournament began in 2004. Their best result came in 2010, when they finished with a silver medal after advancing to the final, while their most recent podium finish came in 2014 with bronze.

However, the program has been chasing a return to those heights in recent years.

Australia has not reached the top four since 2014, and in the most recent World Cup cycle in 2023, the Emeralds finished fourth in their group and did not advance to the next stage.

The 2026 Australian Women’s Championships will play a big role in determining who makes the final Emeralds Squad for this World Cup cycle. You can follow along the tournament on Baseball.com.au via our Women’s Hub.

Agony.

Australia was three-outs away from advancing to Miami, before Korea scored a dramatic run in the final inning to dash the Green and Gold’s dream of going to Miami to play in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal.

To advance, Australia couldn’t lose by more than four. They lost by five.

For Korea to advance, they needed to win by five or more and hold Australia to less than three. They did exactly that.

7-2 is the final from Tokyo.

Korea, Australia and Chinese Taipei all finish 2-2 in Pool C. Korea wins the tiebreaker by a single run.

The dagger score was in the final inning.  It was unearned.

After Australia fell behind 4-0 early – and pushing the tie breaking scenarios to the brink – it was a see-saw battle of “would they or wouldn’t they.”

Australia trailed 5-0, 5-1, 6-1 and 6-2 before the dramatic final inning. Every half hour, it felt like a different team had their name written on a ticket to Miami.

In the eighth inning, it felt like Australia were through.

Travis Bazzana stepped up and came through with a massive RBI single in the eighth inning to cut a five run deficit to the required four. At the end of the eighth, if things held, Australia was advancing to Miami with a 6-2 lead.

South Korea scored the deciding run in the ninth as Hyun Min Ahn’s sacrifice fly plated Hae-Min Park. Moments earlier, a throwing error by Australian shortstop Jarryd Dale allowed Park to reach third and score the deciding run.

There was still more drama in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a diving catch off Rixon Wingrove. The ball looked like a sure double that would have gone to the wall and might have scored an Aussie runner from first to give Australia a four-run loss, which would have been enough to advance.

It wasn’t to be.

The Australian’s tournament, which included a 3-0 win over World #2 Chinese and a one run loss to World #1 Japan came to a dramatic close.

“We didn’t meet our assignment [this tournament], we kind of failed,” said Manager Dave Nilsson after the game. “At the same time, we did a lot of good things. It showed we can play on this stage but we have more work to do, more improvements to make in the big moments. We keep looking forward and to build on the program. I told the players how much I believe in them, and how much I trust them and that’s all I can do.”

Travis Bazzana was noticeably emotional in the dugout after the game.

Tip of the cap to Jack O’Loughlin. The left-hander turned in a gutsy relief appearance on the mound. The most recent Aussie Major Leaguer threw 3.1 innings to close out the game, allowing one earned run and constantly navigated threats.

An effort to be proud of, but they fall just short.

Here’s how it unfolded:

RECAP

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When reading this recap, it’s important to remember context.

Australia’s formula to advance to the quarterfinals was this: A) Win. B) Lose, but by no more than four, and don’t allow 7 runs.

6-2 would be the literal edge you could live on.

Keep this in mind throughout.

It’s the game within the game that’s important here.

Here’s how it flowed.

After Lachlan Wells opened with a nine pitch first inning, Australia had an opportunity to strike in the bottom half.

With two runners on and just one out, LG Twins starter Ju Young-Son forced a fly-out and ground-out to escape the jam.

Korea pounced in the second.

Do Gyeong Moon’s two-run blast put Korea up 2-0.

They continued to threaten. With two on and two out, relief pitcher Coen Wynne entered the game and forced a ground ball to end the inning.

But Korea kept piling it on in the third.

San Francisco Giants star Jung Hoo Lee doubled to push the lead to 3-0. Moon followed with his third RBI of the night on a sharp line drive to centre field.

By the bottom of the third, Australia’s four-run buffer required had all but disappeared, with the team trailing by exactly that, four runs.

Alex Wells settled the ship a little bit in his second tournament appearance, helping Australia get out of the third, then tossing a 1-2-3 fourth.

But with a runner on and two outs in the fifth, Moon delivered his third hit and fourth RBI of the evening to push Korea to a 5-0 advantage and into the driver’s seat for a spot in Miami.

“Our pitchers were close but didn’t have that sharpness,” said Nilsson. “We fell behind in counts and they took advantage of it.”

In the race to Miami, Korea had the lead.

Australia’s offense struggled to get much going past the first.

The combination of Kyung Sun Now and Hyeong Jun So retired eleven Australia batters in a row.

Robbie Glendinning broke that up with authority.

In his first start of the tournament, Glendinning fired off a solo shot to start the fifth inning to put Australia back in ‘live’ quarterfinal position.

Korea took control of their destiny right back in the sixth.

Lead-off man Do Yeong Kim singled in a run off Alex Wells. 6-1.

It marked the end of the day for Wells, who threw 3.0 innings, giving up two runs off three hits with three strikeouts.

Enter Jack O’Loughlin.

Australia’s most recent Major Leaguer looked good in the seventh. He allowed a freak infield single, but worked an inning ending double play off the dangerous bat of Do Gyeong Moon.

It looked like Australia was going to make their move in the seventh. They had runners on first and second with nobody out. But Major Leaguer Dane Dunning induced a ground ball double play to Robbie Glendinning, and a strikeout to Rixon Wingrove, to prevent the Australians from scoring.

Agony. Korea still in control.

O’Loughlin held his nerve again in the eighth. He was tested.

Despite allowing a lead-off double, O’Loughlin struck out the next two batters and forced a ground ball to get out of the inning and hold Korea at six.

Australia, needing to score a run, finally produced some magic in the eighth. Travis Bazzana was at the centre of it.

Robbie Perkins walked. He was pinch run for by 19-year-old Max Durrington, Australia’s youngest player making his WBC debut in the grandest moment.

Tim Kennelly, in what could be his final at bat, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position.Travis Bazzana then drove him in to cut the deficit to 6-2 and put Australia, for the time being, in a quarterfinal spot.

That’s all they managed.

Korea responded with a lead-off walk in the ninth.

O’Loughlin forced what looked to be a double play that would have taken the runners off the base, but a bobble off his glove made the opportunity difficult for shortstop Jarryd Dale.

Dale lost grip of the ball while trying to throw to second for the lead runner, and the ball sailed to the outfield, putting the crucial seventh run at third base.

“He’d be playing fantastic defense for us all tournament,” said Nilsson of Jarry Dale. “He backed himself, thought he could get the guy at second, lost grip of it and threw the ball to right field. He tried to make a good play.”

Hyun Min Ahn’s sacrifice fly plated Hae-Min Park.

There was still more drama in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a diving catch off Rixon Wingrove. The ball looked like a sure double that would have gone to the wall and might have scored an Aussie runner from first to give Australia a four-run loss, which would have been enough to advance.

A heartbreaking effort. More to come.

——

GAME DETAILS

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Match-Up: Australia (2-1) vs Korea (1-2).

Australia has defeated Chinese Taipei (3-0), Czechia (5-1) and lost to Japan (4-3). Korea has defeated Czechia (13-0), and lost to Japan (8-6) and Chinese Taipei (5-4).

First pitch: 9:00PM AEDT / 7:00PM JST

Starting Pitchers: Lachlan Wells for Australia, Son Joo-young for Korea. Incredibly, both are signed with the LG Twins this season in the KBO. More on that below.

Game Notes: Link to come here.

TV: ESPN on Foxtel, Kayo or Disney+ in Australia.

Game Notes: Click here 

SCENARIOS

---

First, the standings. The top two advance to the quarterfinals in Miami:

1. Japan 3-0
2. Australia 2-1
—
3. Chinese Taipei 2-2
4. Korea 1-2
5. Czechia 0-3.

Australia can advance to the quarterfinals with:

1. A win over Korea; Or

2. A loss to Korea, and winning a three-way tiebreaker at 2-2 records with Chinese Taipei and Korea.

About the tiebreaker, and the potential formula:

– The tiebreaker in this event is the “lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.”

– The current state of play is…Australia: 0 runs in 27 outs….Chinese Taipei: 7 runs allowed in 54 outs…Korea: 5 runs allowed in 30 outs.

– A few internet sleuths have worked out the math. Unofficially, this looks correct. Check out this tweet below:

In simple terms, if Australia loses, they can advance as long as they:
– Lose by four runs or less AND don’t allow more than six runs.

As Dave Nilsson said after the game: “We have to play the game to win. Obviously there’s math to it, but we will just play to win. Try to stop them from getting runs. It’s as simple as it gets.”

Should be fun.

ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: LACHLAN WELLS

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In 2017, a barely 19-year-old Lachlan made his WBC debut as one of the youngest players in the tournament.

Nine years later, he returns to the national side as a different human and pitcher.

He’s older. He’s more experienced. He’s matured as a person and a player.

Spend a few moments with him, and you can just feel a tremendous level of gratitude he has for this game, his community, those around him and his time with the national team.

He’s having fun.

Wells has been lined up for a while to pitch in this crucial clash vs Korea.

A win? And Australia is straight through to the quarterfinals in Miami. The objective is no different to any other start: keep runs against low.

“I have more of an appreciation for the game [than I did then],” said Lachlan in an interview earlier this week. “Obviously as you go through life, things change. At one time I looked at baseball as a job instead of something you like to do, but now I really love this game and want to play it as long as I can. I love baseball.”

His new found spark for the game after taking some time away from the sport.

When he returned in the 2023-24 season, he hadn’t pitched professionally in almost three years.

He took the Australian Baseball League by storm. Lachlan won the League MVP, the Pitching Award and earned a contract back in pro ball with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Right now, he’s playing with the reigning Korean champions – the LG Twins.

Oddly enough, Korea’s starting pitcher is Lachlan’s teammate on the Twins. 27-year-old left-hander Son Ju-yeong, who boasted a 3.41 ERA in Korea last season, will not only toe the rubber for Korea tonight but exist in the same starting rotation as Wells in the KBO.

Wells has just been taking the whole experience in. He even joined the Fuchu camp before all the other affiliated players just to be with his Australian brothers.

“To be able to do [this] again and be in this situation right now, it’s something that you dream of as a kid,” said Wells in an interview earlier this week. “It’s obviously what I’ve loved doing for a very long time.”

It’s heartbreak in Tokyo, as Australia fell 4-3 to top ranked Japan in a game determined by the smallest of margins.

Australia held a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning before Boston Red Sox superstar Masataka Yoshida delivered a game defining swing, crushing a two run homer with two outs to give Japan the lead for good.

The final score: 4-3. But the Aussies put forth an effort the whole country can be proud of.

They hung tough with a roster with a combined annual salary of $301 million AUD. Australia’s combined annual salary in 2025 was less than 1.5 million – and half of that comes from one player.

They showed they belong with the best.

BOX SCORE: All the stats

Australia outhit their talented opposition 8-5, led 1-0 in the seventh inning, made tremendous plays in the field, showed tremendous fighting sprit to the final out, and came so close to knocking off Japan for the first time since the 2004 Olympics.

“We’re disappointed with the outcome. We were close with the best team in the world, and we couldn’t get it over the line,” said manager Dave Nilsson after the game. “We did a lot of good things tonight. I’m just feeling disappointed because we were that close.”

Some highlights include an emotional start three inning shutout start from journeyman Aussie Connor MacDonald, Robbie Perkins throwing a runner out at second with bases loaded, and Aaron Whitefield collecting three hits and giving Australia a late lead using his deadly speed.

Even when Australia fell behind 4-1 in the ninth, they clawed back with a pair of homers from Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove.

Whitefield led the team with three hits. Captain Tim Kennelly had two.

“Obviously we want to win that game but you tip your cap to Japan. They’re the best for a reason. They stick with every game and are never out of it,” said Robbie Perkins after the game. “We were good. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing tomorrow and we’ll be okay.”

And remember, not all hope is lost.

Australia has one final game in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic on Monday night vs Korea. If they win that, they are through to the Quarter Finals in Miami.

If Australia lose, they will enter a three-way tie with Chinese Taipei and Korea at 2-2. 

In this scenario, it would come down to a tiebreaker to determine who goes through based on runs allowed per defensive innings in games played between the three teams.

Australia is in a good spot. More on that below.

“I wouldn’t call the loss frustrating but I would call it bittersweet,” said Perkins. “We knew we had the chances today but we also know there’s one tomorrow and that’s the one that matters now. We don’t need to worry about the tiebreak scenarios. Win the game, and it takes care of itself.”

Here’s how the game unfolded:

Baseball Australia sends out a comprehensive media release to about 300 contacts with quotes, photos, highlights and game notes. If you are a media member and you’d like to be included, please email eric.balnar@baseball.com.au.

RECAP

---

Australia hung around with the three-time World Baseball Classic champions early.

If anything, they pressured with five hits in the first five innings. Tim Kennelly had two hits, as did Aaron Whitefield. 

They hit balls hard but couldn’t find that one ball to drop with runners on base.

On the mound, three-time Japanese League MVP Tomoyuki Sugano threw 4.0 shutout innings, before Chihiro Sumida threw tossed a scoreless fifth.

But the story for Australia in the first half of the game was pitching and defense.

Connor MacDonald, in the biggest start of his baseball career, navigated through three innings vs the reigning WBC champions. The man they call ‘The Big’ left the game after 3.0 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks.

The Unicorn, Shohei Ohtani, went 0-for-2 against the Big Horse.

When MacDonald exited, he was tearing up. Not just the pitcher himself, but his brother watching proudly in the stands.

“My brother [Liam] also bought a flight yesterday to come over to see this. And like, my family’s everything to me. My wife and two boys here, my mum and dad, my brothers are here, my uncle, my sister-in-law,” said MacDonald. “It was almost a fairytale. I’ll remember it the rest of my life.”

Dave Nilsson was also impressed by Connor’s start. Why wouldn’t he be?

“I think first of all, I’m really proud of Connor. He carried a really big load tonight. It shows how hard he worked to prepare for this moment. It’s a real testament to the work he’s put in,” said Nilsson.

It look like Japan was going to finally break through in the fourth inning. 

They loaded the bases thanks to a pair of walks against reliever Warwick Saupold.

In fact, it felt inevitable.

Bases loaded. Two outs. The Tokyo Dome. Shohei Ohtani, arguably the best player of all time, up to bat.

But catcher Robbie Perkins caught Shugo Maki off the bag at second base, firing a bullet to Jarryd Dale who laid down the tag.

No damage done.

Scoreless after four.

“Everyone knows Shohei can do damage so you’re looking for any opportunity to get out of the inning. Jarryd and I were on the same page and honestly we just used our instincts,” said Perkins. “It worked out.”

Blake Townsend followed suit with a scoreless fifth, including a strikeout of Boston Red Sox star Masataka Yoshida. 

Aaron Whitefield then created chaos on the base paths – and a run for Australia.

The former Major Leaguer drilled his third base hit down the line for a double. He stole third. On an errant throw he scampered home.

1-0 Australia.

Coen Wynne produced a couple outs in the bottom of the sixth.

He was removed from the game with a runner on first in favour of Jon Kennedy – one of the three Australian pitchers who tossed three shutout innings in the first game vs Taiwan.

An infield single put runners on first and second with two outs. 

As they say in Australia: “No Worries.” Big Jon Kennedy forced Kenya Wakatasuki into an inning ending ground ball to short (6-4) and Australia went to the seventh inning up 1-0.

Australia was nearly out of the seventh inning as well.

But with two outs, and one on, Masataka Yoshida launched a ball over the right-field wall to put Japan up 2-1.

Sensing a chance to lock down the game, Japan went to reliever Atsuki Taneichi. He tossed a perfect eighth inning.

Terauki Sato provided an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth. Seiya Suzuki walked to push the scoreline to 4-1.

Japan’s number one closer, Taisei, closed the door with a save.

Alex Hall did cut into the deficit with a solo shot – his second homer of the tournament.

“I thought we performed really well [for the most part],” said Nilsson. “I thought our pitchers did really well and it was a good experience for them.”

With the win, Japan clinches top spot in Pool C.

Australia turns its focus to Korea tomorrow.

“We will come here tomorrow feeling really good about our opportunity to get through to the second round,” said Nilsson after the game. “It’s right there for us.”

Lachlan Wells will get the ball for Australia.

“We have to play the game to win. Obviously there’s math to it, but we will just play to win. It’s no different to tonight,” said Nilsson. “Try to stop them from getting runs. It’s as simple as it gets.”

BONUS QUOTE

Author of the story here. I don’t know how to weave this in but as the fans were leaving the stands, I ran into Connor MacDonald who was standing there taking it all in. This is what he said:

“Oh, I don’t really even know how to describe it, mate.

I’m just proud, proud of all my teammates. I’m just proud to be Australian.

[One of my] brothers bought a flight yesterday to come over to see this. And, like…my family’s everything to me. My wife and two boys are here, my mum and dad, my brothers are here, my uncle, my sister-in-law.

It was so close to a fairytale. So close.

I’ll tell you what, mate. I’m sick and tired hearing back home that when you tell someone that we play baseball, that people are shocked when we say ‘Oh, we play baseball in Australia?”

I mean, we do.

Look, we freaking out-hit the best team in the world. We led through 6 innings and we still get asked if we play baseball in Australia.

My freaking teammates, man…I’m just so proud to be a part of the Australian baseball community. You know, we punch so much about our weight.

So just tonight, I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.

And tomorrow’s the day, right? Like that’s the big game. 
It’s bittersweet because we lost by one run to the best team in the world but we also should take pride in the fact we could have beat them.

So, I think the boys are just going to take that punch and use that for confidence tomorrow.”

 

STANDINGS AND SCENARIOS

---

First, the standings. The top two advance to the quarterfinals in Miami:

1. Japan 3-0
2. Australia 2-1
—
3. Chinese Taipei 2-2
4. Korea 1-2
5. Czechia 0-3.

Australia can advance to the quarterfinals with:

1. A win over Korea; Or

2. A loss to Korea, and winning a three-way tiebreaker at 2-2 records with Chinese Taipei and Korea.

About the tiebreaker, and the potential formula:

– The tiebreaker in this event is the “lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.”

– The current state of play is…Australia: 0 runs in 27 outs….Chinese Taipei: 7 runs allowed in 54 outs…Korea: 5 runs allowed in 30 outs.

– A few internet sleuths have worked out the math. Unofficially, this looks correct. Check out this tweet below:

In simple terms, if Australia loses, they can advance as long as they:
– Lose by four runs or less AND don’t allow more than six runs.

As Dave Nilsson said after the game: “We have to play the game to win. Obviously there’s math to it, but we will just play to win. Try to stop them from getting runs. It’s as simple as it gets.”

Should be fun.

PREVIEW AND GAME NOTES

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Here are some useful links to prepare you for the big game.

Here’s a cool stat to get you started: Japan’s combined annual salary in professional baseball for 2026 is $301 million AUD. Australia’s is less than 1.5 million.

– Game Notes: Australia takes on Japan, Guide, Stats and Stories

– MLB.com Preview and Box Score

– Australia vs Japan: The biggest game most Australians don’t realise is happening

– Reviewing the Numbers: A look at Team Australia through two games of the WBC

– More on Connor MacDonald, Australia’s starting pitcher 

– Preview: It’s time for Aussie baseball as Japan test looms

by Sean Walsh

As we reach the halfway point of Team Australia’s 2026 WBC Pool C Game Play, the David Nilsson-led Green and Gold baseball club sits at 2-0 in the group with wins over Chinese Taipei (3-0) and Czechia (5-1).

Now, they face familiar heavy-weights Japan on Sunday Evening (9pm AEDT) and Korea on Monday (9pm AEDT).

Baseball.com.au’s Sean Walsh breaks down some of the numbers that have allowed the Aussies to pick up wins in both games at the Tokyo Dome and what trends will be important for the Southern Thunder to continue if they are to get out of the “Pool of Death” and progress to the Quarter Finals in Miami.

You Get a Hit, Everyone Gets a Hit

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After Day 2, the Aussies piled up 16 hits across the two games (7 vs Chinese Taipei and 9 against Czechia), with a six players having registered multiple hits. Let’s take a look:

Curtis Mead- 4
Jarryd Dale- 3
Travis Bazzana- 2
Chris Burke- 2
Alex Hall- 2
Robbie Perkins- 2

This is a fantastic display of the balanced attack of Team Australia’s offense so far and not relying on one of two bats to stay hot.

“I think anyone can have a moment,” said captain Tim Kennelly before facing Czechia. “You saw that when Perkins and Bazzana hit homers, and I think we’ll see in future games other guys have big moments too.”

In Game 2, it was Curtis Mead, Jarryd Dale, Chris Burke and Alex Hall who had two-hit performances. Mead and Hall went deep.

It gives Dave Nilsson and his coaching staff flexibility across the board with lineup jigging as they head towards the back end of Pool Play against Japan and Korea.

“We have a lot of players who have the ability to put the ball out of the park. I think we’ve displayed that over the last WBCs,” said Nilsson. “The athletes continue to get better, continue to get stronger, and they’re putting some good swings on the ball.”

After Friday night, Jarryd Dale and Alex Hall were the only two of four players (Ohtani- JPN & Whitecomb- KOR) with multiple XBH, with the Victorian-born SS Dale picking up a double and triple against Czechia in his outing.

A note on Alex Hall. The Western Australian picked up a double off a Ondrej Satoria FB to LF off the wall that had an exit velocity of 107.2 MPH (172km/hr) as well as chalking a Solo 338ft (106.9 mph off the barrel) insurance blast to deep left CF for the Aussies to go ahead 4-1.

Bullpen Brilliance

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They say in tournament play that it’s the team with the best pens that control games and the Aussie arms have been absolutely fantastic across the two games thus far.

They have only allowed one run in the 18 frames of work. That lone run came from Czechia’s Vojtech Mensik on a sacrifice fly off southpaw starter Josh Hendrickson – who was terrific in his own right.

The guys behind both Hendrickson and Game 1 starter Alex Wells have been nothing short of outstanding, with 12 scoreless innings across both games from the bullpen.

Wells himself was excellent in his start. He garnered  six punch outs across his 3 innings of work, including a Team Australia WBC record of 5 consecutive Strikeouts.

Major Leaguer talent Jack O’Loughlin followed, working through 44 pitches across his three innings, using his four-arrow quiver of Slider (32% usage), 4SFM (30% usage), Changeup (22% usage- all v RHH) and Sweeper (20% usage- all v LHH), to work around any danger of a mixed left and right order that Chinese Taipei possessed.

Long-time ABL star Jon Kennedy was able to then continue the momentum of his fellow two southpaws with three more scoreless stanzas on the way to collecting the save. He had a 66% strike percentage and only gave up the one hit across his 41 pitch outing.

That continued vs Czechia with the mix of different arms and slots.

Coen Wynne (2IP 0H 0BB) had his Sinker-Curve-Change attack, while Blake Townsend’s lefty arsenal of sinker-sweeper produced another scoreless inning.

In his WBC debut, Ky Hampton had two strikeouts with with a pair of swinging strikes from his deadly sinker.

As the Aussies were tasked with holding a slim two run lead heading into the final six outs, Todd Van Steensel’s eighth inning was highlighted by his familiar heater. The veteran’s four-seam fastball sat at an average velocity of 92.4 mph.

Mitch Neunborn followed with a great ability to change gears on the speed scale, sitting at 91mph with his FB and the Splitter sitting a whopping 14mph slower.

The Aussies are also yet to use pitchers like Team Australia long-time bullpen star Sam Holland (RHP at his second WBC), former Detroit Tigers Major Leaguer Warwick Saupold (4th WBC), and co-ABL Reliever of the Year Cooper Morgan.

Complimentary Baseball

---

A lot of the pre-tournament focus from Team Australia manager David Nilsson and his coaching staff was the ability in big pressure moments that the team in Green and Gold don’t shoot themselves in the foot and hold the simple keys close to their minds.

Across the opening games of Pool Play, the numbers paint a pretty picture for Team Australia.

The collective group holds  0.67 WHIP, only having allowed five walks across 59 total ABs the staff has seen.

“I think the key here is we are limiting the walks, staying focused and executing the game plan. We’ve allowed one run in 18 innings and I think anywhere that’s a good stat. We’ve really simplified the game plan and all the credit goes to the players and coaches for executing a game plan.”

An area that will be vital to the continued improvement against powerhouse’s Japan and Korea will be the offences’ ability to make the most of any RISP, with Australia currently sitting at 2/10 (20%) across the opening games. This was a strength of the Aussies in the 2023 tournament, driving the ducks on the pond at an elite level of 14-for-34 (41%).

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Australia plays Japan tonight at 9:00PM.

Tune in on ESPN / Disney+.

HUB: www.baseball.com.au/wbc

Let me be clear from the start.

This article is not written for Australia’s baseball community.

It’s not for people in Asia who follow the sport closely and it’s not for those already inside the game.

This is for everyone else.

Because right now, Australia’s national baseball team is playing in one of the biggest sporting tournaments in the world – and most Australians have no idea.

Maybe you’re someone reading this who does understand the significance. If so, share it. Tell people.

Because what is happening in Tokyo this week is enormous.

How do we begin?

Australia is playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

The WBC is effectively the FIFA World Cup of baseball. The best players on Earth represent their countries. Major League stars, Nippon Professional Baseball icons, and the best international players all compete in one global tournament.

Don’t believe me? Have a google of ‘Shohei Ohtani WBC Grand Slam.” It’s insane stuff. The best baseball player of all time is in Japan doing unicorn things.

And right now, Australia is in the middle of that atmosphere.

The  so called “Group of Death”

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Australia entered the tournament ranked No. 11 in the world.

Their pool includes three of the sport’s heavyweights:
– Japan (World No. 1)
– Chinese Taipei (World No. 2)
– Korea (World No. 5)

Round it out with Czechia (#15) who can beat a top team on their day.

It is widely considered the Group of Death.

Only the top two teams advance to the quarterfinals in Miami.

Australia has already made a statement.

They are 2-0, including a victory over World No. 2 Chinese Taipei in front of nearly 40,000 Taiwanese fans in Tokyo.

Two games remain: Japan and Korea.

And the next one might be one of the most intense atmosphere you can imagine.

9:00PM on Sunday night (Sydney time) is must see TV to see the impact baseball has globally. Watch on ESPN.

The hottest ticket in Japan

---

On Sunday 8 March, Australia plays World No. 1 Japan at the Tokyo Dome.

Yes…that Japan. The reigning World Baseball Classic champions. The country of Shohei Ohtani. A baseball superpower that did not lose a national team game between 2019 and 2024.

The scale of this event is difficult to explain to an Australian audience.

But the numbers help.

380,000 people reportedly queued online for tickets to the Australia–Japan game.

Merchandise stores around the Tokyo Dome have wait times of up to eight hours.

The Emperor of Japan will attend the game, the first time a Japanese emperor has attended baseball in 67 years.

The last time Australia played Japan in the World Baseball Classic, more than 40 million Japanese viewers tuned in. That’s more than the entire population of Australia.

It’s a national event, not just a ‘big game’.

Imagine if Todd Van Steensel’s beloved Taylor Swift was famous. That’s what it’s like here.

Baseball is king in Japan

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In Australia, baseball is often viewed as a niche sport.

There are roughly 34,000 registered players across the country. It’s a small number compared to AFL, cricket or rugby.

But globally, the sport sits on a very different stage. In Japan, baseball is the number one sport by far.

The passion is difficult to compare directly with anything in Australia. The closest parallel might be cricket during an Ashes series but even that might not capture the intensity.

Fans line up for hours for merchandise.

Media coverage runs wall-to-wall.

Television audiences reach tens of millions.

Even within the Tokyo Dome this week, the scale is obvious. Australia’s players walk into press conferences with 60 media members packed into the room, with more reporters waiting outside for interviews during batting practice.

The attention is relentless.

In the two weeks before the tournament began, Team Australia’s X account has reached 15 million users – 98% of them in Japan.

Australia’s baseball history is stronger than many realise

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Baseball may not dominate headlines at home, but Australia has quietly built a proud international history.

The men’s national team has been competitive with the world’s best for decades. Australia won the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, defeating Cuba in the final. They won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics.

The women’s national team has won multiple World Cup medals, including silver in 2010.

Australia climbed as high as No. 6 in the world rankings before the pandemic.

At the last World Baseball Classic, Australia defeated Korea and reached the quarterfinals for the first time, eventually losing to powerhouse Cuba by one run.

It’s home to the 2024 #1 MLB Draft Pick in Travis Bazzana. There are over 30 Australians playing professional baseball abroad, about 120 in college.

This is no longer a nation simply hoping to compete.

Manager Dave Nilsson made that clear this week in Tokyo.

“This tournament is so important to the smaller nations,” Nilsson said. “I feel like we as a nation have transitioned away from that now. We have really high expectations and we don’t consider ourselves a second-tier nation. We kind of feel we’re right in the mix of it now.”

It’s one of the reasons players didn’t love a comment from the media that called their 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei shocking.

“I don’t know why people keep thinking these are upsets,” said Robbie Perkins after the game. “We beat Korea last time, and we beat Chinese Taipei today. I think we’re there with the best in the world on any given day. I think we need to start acknowledging we can give it to them.”

A moment Australians shouldn’t miss

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All of this leads to Sunday. Australia versus Japan.

And while the key game to advance out of the group is Korea, this one carries significant weight.

The world’s top-ranked team. The reigning champions. A sold-out Tokyo Dome. Tens of millions watching on television.

And somewhere in the middle of it all there’s a group of Australian players representing a sport that doesn’t always get the spotlight at home.

For many of them, this will be the biggest stage they ever play on.

For the rest of the world, it’s already must-watch sport.

And maybe, just maybe, Australians might start paying attention too.