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Insanity.

The Emeralds overcame sweltering heat, multiple player injuries, two five-run deficits and a 3 hour, 30 minute marathon to walk off Canada 14-13 in one of the games of the Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Molly Paddison came through with a two-out RBI single to tie it at 13, before Elodie O’Sullivan drove in the winning run.

Australia had plenty of reasons to fold.

First, they had already secured their place in the World Cup Final and it was 40 degrees outside.

Then, star players Lili Cavanagh, Abbey Kelly, Caitlin Eynon and Chloe Atkinson all departed the game due to either injury or heat exhaustion.

But that’s not the Australian way.

The win, like the others this week, took a little bit of magic from everyone involved.

Australia trailed 3-0 in the first, 8-3 in the fourth, 12-7 in the fifth and were down to their final strike in the last.

It didn’t matter. Australia just found a way.

“That is one of the gutsiest wins I have ever been apart of. We just had this next woman up mentality. I could not be prouder of this group and prouder to be an Australian today,” said manager Jason Pospishil after the game.

Leah Cornish was outstanding again. She collected three hits to take her tournament-leading total to 12, made two terrific plays in foul territory to save runs, and then threw a scoreless sixth inning to keep Canada’s powerful offence at bay.

“Simply, she’s one of the best two way players in the world,” said Pospishil.

Molly Paddison was immense. She crushed a game-tying two-run homer in the first inning, then tied the game again with two outs in the seventh.

Caitlin Eynon launched a two-out grand slam in the fourth to cut Canada’s lead to 8-7.

Jamie Bastian executed a perfect suicide squeeze to tie the game in the sixth.

Pitchers Claire O’Sullivan, Jess Johnson, Brittney Baker, Mackenzie Jackson, Leah Cornish and Maddi Erwin all battled through defensive miscues but came up with key outs when Australia needed them most.
Paddison and Eynon both homered.

Australia finishes the group stage 4-1 and advances to the Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in Rockford in 2027, where they will be one of six nations competing for gold.

HERE’S HOW IT UNFOLDED

Canada matched the weather with a scorching start. Three consecutive two-out hits produced three runs in the opening inning.

Australia answered immediately.

Leah Cornish delivered a two-out RBI single to put the Emeralds on the board before 18-year-old Molly Paddison launched the first Women’s World Cup home run of her career to tie the game at three.

Canada responded again.

Four straight baserunners helped chase starter Claire O’Sullivan from the game after the Canadians cashed in twice.
Jess Johnson, fresh off 2.2 scoreless innings against the United States, entered with two on and one out.
She escaped the second inning, but Canada struck again in the third.

RBI singles from Frederique Noel and Emily Baxter, along with a wild pitch, extended the lead to 8-3.

Reliever Brittney Baker then steadied things with 1.1 scoreless innings, giving Australia a chance to respond.
Captain Caitlin Eynon did exactly that, crushing a grand slam to make it 8-7.

The momentum didn’t last long.

Australia was hurt by a pair of errors in the fifth, opening the door for Canada to score four runs and restore a five-run advantage. 12-7

The Emeralds answered again.

They loaded the bases, manufactured one run, before Cornish ripped a two-run double for her third hit of the afternoon.
12-11.

Cornish was then called upon in relief and delivered a scoreless sixth inning.

Australia kept coming.

Jamie Bastian laid down a perfect suicide squeeze to score Elodie O’Sullivan and tie the game at 12.

Caitlin Eynon was scheduled to pitch the seventh, but tweaked a muscle during warm-ups.

In came Maddi Erwin.

She limited Canada to one run and navigated a bases-loaded jam to keep Australia within striking distance.
Then came the finish.

With two outs, two strikes and a runner on third, Molly Paddison delivered yet again, lining a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 13.

Moments later, Elodie O’Sullivan drove home the winning run.

Insane.

BOX SCORE: Australia vs Canada 

Mission accomplished.

Australia arrived in Rockford for the Group Stage of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup with one objective: finish in the top three of Pool A and secure a place in next year’s Finals.

The Emeralds achieved exactly that on Saturday, defeating Korea 13-3 to improve to 3-1 in the tournament and officially book their place in the final stage of the tournament.

It wasn’t flawless, but it was relentless.

Australia applied pressure from the opening pitch, with every player reaching base at least once as the Emeralds generated 28 baserunners across six offensive innings.

The Australians bookended their attack with a six-run first inning and a five-run sixth, finishing with 13 hits to Korea’s four.

BOX SCORE: AUS vs KOR

Abbey Kelly starred offensively with a three-hit performance, while Lili Cavanagh reached base four times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases. Caitlin Eynon, Leah Cornish and Gen Beacom also collected multiple hits.

On the mound, Allie Bebbere, Brittney Baker and Cornish combined to limit Korea to four hits.

The victory improves Australia to 3-1, joining the United States and Canada on three wins and making it mathematically impossible to finish outside the top three.

Australia wasted little time taking control.

The Emeralds ripped four doubles during a six-run first inning, chasing Korean starter Sohee Kwak after just two outs. Cavanagh, Cornish, Beacom and Kelly all drove doubles as Australia raced to a 6-0 lead.

 

Bebbere, coming off 4.2 scoreless innings of relief in Australia’s dramatic extra-innings win over Mexico, looked in control early.

Korea responded in the third when Jua Park launched a three-run home run to trim the deficit to 6-3.

Australia answered back immediately.

TOURNAMENT HUB: www.baseball.com.au/emeralds

Eynon singled home a run before Cornish drew a bases-loaded walk to restore the lead to five at 8-3. The Emeralds threatened to break the game open even earlier but stranded the bases loaded in the second, third and fourth innings.

Bebbere finished with 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, three runs and two walks while striking out two. Baker recorded the final out of the fifth before Cornish tossed a perfect sixth inning.

Australia finally put the contest away with a five-run sixth inning.

Kelly collected her third hit of the game with an RBI single before Eynon doubled her home. Cornish followed with an RBI ground ball to make it 11-3, Claire O’Sullivan added a sacrifice fly, and Beacom drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game via the run rule.

Australia will wrap up Pool A play against undefeated Canada on Sunday at 6:00am AEST.

CURRENT STANDINGS

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Top three teams qualify for the World Cup Finals, a group of six, held in 2027 in Rockford.

1 Canada 3-0*
2 USA 3-0*
3 Australia 3-1*
4 Korea 1-3
5 Mexico 1-3
6 Hong Kong 0-4

Australia suffered its first defeat of the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup on Friday night, falling 10-5 to tournament powerhouse the United States in a spirited performance.

The challenge was always going to be immense. The Americans entered the contest unbeaten at 2-0, having outscored their first two opponents 46-5. They handed the ball to tournament ace and one of the biggest names in women’s baseball, Kelsie Whitmore.

Australia refused to back down.

TOURNAMENT HUB: Follow the tournament live 

The Emeralds matched the United States early, with Leah Cornish doubling home the tying run before the Americans eventually pulled away behind a three-run homer from Denae Benites and a four-run fourth inning built on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning.

There were plenty of positives despite the result.

Australia actually outhit the United States 12-10 and became the first team at the tournament to keep the Americans within a single digit winning margin. The closest margin of victory before tonight was 19.

BOX SCORE: Live stats from USA vs AUS

After winning their opening two games by a combined 41 runs, the USA were pushed far harder by the Emeralds.

Cornish continued her outstanding tournament, finishing 3-for-4, while Lili Cavanagh also collected three hits.

Claire O’Sullivan impressed both at the plate and in the field with several outstanding defensive plays at second base, while Molly Paddison delivered a two-RBI double late in the game.

One of the most heartwarming moments came when 37-year-old Jess Johnson made her Emeralds debut. The rookie reliever tossed 2.2 scoreless innings under pressure to keep Australia fighting until the final out.

Australia now faces Korea (1-2) on Sunday morning in a winner-takes-all clash. Victory would send the Emeralds through to the 2027 Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals.

How the game unfolded

Australia did an admirable job early of limiting hard contact thanks to some nice work from starting pitcher Bronwyn Gell.

But the Americans showed why they are favourites by manufacturing runs and capitalising on every opportunity.

Naomi Ryan singled home the opening run in the first inning to give the USA a 1-0 lead.

Facing Whitmore, Australia remained patient at the plate and worked deep counts. The approach paid off in the second inning when Leah Cornish doubled before Claire O’Sullivan singled up the middle to tie the game at one.

The USA regained the lead in the third. Fresh off a two-home run performance, Ashton Lansdell found a hole through the Australian shift to make it 2-1 before later stealing home during a rundown to extend the lead to 3-1.

Australia’s most experienced Emerald, Bronwyn Gell, did well to induce soft contact throughout her outing and received excellent defensive support. Lili Cavanagh made a superb running catch in centre field, while Claire O’Sullivan produced a diving stop at second base.

The Emeralds answered immediately to get themselves in the right.

Jamie Bastian, Lili Cavanagh and Ticara Geldenhuis opened the inning with three consecutive hits, with Geldenhuis driving in a run on an infield single to cut the deficit to 3-2. One out later, Cornish lined an RBI double to level the scores at 3-3.

The deadlock didn’t last long.

Benites, one of the game’s biggest stars, launched a three-run home run to centre field in the bottom of the inning to restore the American advantage at 6-3.

Gell finished with 3.0 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits with one walk and one strikeout before Abbey Kelly took over in relief.

The USA capitalised in the fourth, scoring four runs through a combination of timely hitting and aggressive small ball.

Ryan drove in her second run of the night, while Benites and Lansdell also collected RBIs as the lead stretched to 10-3.

With the bases loaded and one out, 37-year-old debutant Jess Johnson entered the game in danger of the contest ending via the mercy rule.

Instead, she delivered one of Australia’s brightest moments of the tournament.

Johnson induced a ground ball before striking out the final batter of the inning to strand the bases loaded, then returned with another scoreless frame in the fifth. Her 2.2 shutout innings marked just the second and third scoreless innings thrown against the United States during the tournament.

Whitmore finished after four innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out five.

Australia continued to battle.

The Emeralds loaded the bases in the fifth but couldn’t break through before Molly Paddison delivered a two-out, two-RBI double later in the game to bring Australia’s final tally to five runs.

Despite the loss, Australia showed it can compete with the world’s best and will now turn its full attention to Sunday’s must-win showdown against Korea, with a place at the 2027 Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals on the line.

CURRENT STANDINGS

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Top three teams qualify for the World Cup Finals, a group of six, held in 2027 in Rockford.

1 Canada 3-0
2 USA 3-0
3 Australia 2-1
4 Korea 1-2
5 Mexico 0-3
6 Hong Kong 0-3

The Emeralds continued their 2026 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 21-0 victory over Hong Kong in five innings.

Australia piled on 18 hits, including seven extra-base hits, while four pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout to give the Emeralds the perfect start to Pool A.

BOX SCORE: All the stats

The game also provided a chance for six of Australia’s seven World Cup debutants to make their mark. Molly Paddison, Riordan Bradley, Chloe Atkinson, Jamieson Bastian, Mackenzie Jackson and Brittney Baker all made big impacts in the green and gold.

Paddison finished 2-for-2 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored.

Bradley also collected her first international hit and drove in two runs, while Bastian singled and scored twice.

Atkinson reached base twice via walks and drove in a run.

Both Jackson and Baker each threw a scoreless inning in relief. Jackson earned the victory after retiring the side in the fourth, while Baker struck out two during a clean third inning.

HUB: Follow Australia, Schedule, Streaming, Scores

“Today was almost the perfect game for us,” said Australia’s manager Jason Pospishil. “We took care of business in a very professional manner. The biggest positive was we were able to give some players their Emeralds’ debut and I’m sure it’s a day they’ll never forget.”

Australia wasted little time taking control. They scored three in the first, before blowing the game open with seven runs in the second. Six in the third, and four in the fourth, and Australia led 20-0 after four.

There were all kinds of gaudy stat lines.

Elodie O’Sullivan backed up her huge outing vs Mexico with a game-high four RBI after going 3-for-4 with a double.

Captain Caitlin Eynon went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Leah Cornish also collected three hits, including a double and triple, while Abbey Kelly scored three runs and drove in two.

Gen Beacom added two RBI as 14 different players in Australia’s lineup reached base.

On the mound, Meaghan Haggart started with two perfect innings before Baker, Jackson and Maddison Erwin completed the shutout. The quartet combined to allow just two hits, one walk and struck out four.

Australia continues Pool Play Saturday morning vs the USA, looking to build on a commanding opening performance.

“The energy around the team has been great. We have some foundational pillars that we attempt to respect and so far they have been exemplary in that regard,” said Pospishil. “We have our arms lined up the two feel best match-up with the USA so we’re in a good spot for tomorrow.”

The game starts at 10:00AM AEST.

Stats, via WBSC website 

Batting

2B :(1) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(1) EYNON, Caitlin Jane;(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(1) BASTIAN, Jamieson L S;(1) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona

3B :(1) PADDISON, Molly Cate;(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han

RBI :(2) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(2) BRADLEY, Riordan Isabella;(3) PADDISON, Molly Cate;(3) EYNON, Caitlin Jane;(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(1) ATKINSON, Chloe Grace;(4) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona;(2) BEACOM, Genevieve;(2) KELLY, Abbey Michelle

BB :(1) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(1) GELDENHUIS, Ticara;(2) ATKINSON, Chloe Grace;(2) O ` SULLIVAN, Claire Lesley;(2) HEATH, Maddison Joy;(1) KELLY, Abbey Michelle

SF :(1) ATKINSON, Chloe Grace;(1) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona

TB :(2) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(1) BRADLEY, Riordan Isabella;(4) PADDISON, Molly Cate;(4) EYNON, Caitlin Jane;(6) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(2) BASTIAN, Jamieson L S;(4) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona;(2) BEACOM, Genevieve;(2) KELLY, Abbey Michelle
Fielding

DP :(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(1) BEBBERE, Allison

Australia erupted for 10 runs in extra innings to defeat Mexico 12-2 in its opening game of the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Just getting to extra innings was a challenge. It was a tense pitcher and defensive duel, filled with plenty of “what if” moments for both teams.

That all changed when the Emeralds finally broke the game open with a relentless offensive outburst that saw eight different Australians drive in runs during the decisive frame. Ticara Geldenhuis delivered the biggest blow, clearing the bases with a three-run double that stretched Australia’s lead to 9-2 and put the game beyond doubt.

“This is a huge win in the scheme of the tournament,” says manager Jason Pospishil. “I thought our pitchers were outstanding to keep that quality of Mexican offense off the board. Two runs across eight innings is awesome.”

Hub: Australia Tournament Hub

Elodie O’Sullivan was the standout offensive performer, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI in an incredible return to the national team after an eight-year absence.

Her two-run single in the third gave Australia its first lead before she delivered the go-ahead RBI single in extra innings. She later drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a four-RBI afternoon.

Allie Bebbere was equally influential, throwing 4.1 innings of shutout relief. She allowed just two hits, walked none and struck out five, while producing a game-saving pickoff in the seventh inning to send the contest to extras.

Getting there was anything but straightforward.

Box Score: Stats from AUS v MEX

Mexico’s defence repeatedly frustrated the Emeralds, turning four double plays to erase scoring opportunities. The biggest came in the top of the seventh when Australia appeared poised to take the lead. With the bases loaded and one out, reliever Camila Cruz induced Leah Cornish into a remarkable 5-1-3 double play to keep the game tied.

Mexico then looked set to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh after Marcela Diaz and Gabriela Sandoval opened the inning with back-to-back doubles.

However, Bebbere caught Diaz too far off second base and picked her off to erase the winning run. She then induced a groundout before finishing the inning with a strikeout to send the game to extras.

“We had some chances to win it earlier but didn’t execute,” says Pospishil. “However, we stayed on task when the game was on the line. I’m so proud of how we competed as a group.”

Mexico had opened the scoring in the second inning after a runner reached second before a fly ball was dropped in right field by Ticara Geldenhuis, allowing the game’s first run to score. The run was unearned off starting pitcher Claire O’Sullivan.

The Emeralds prevented the deficit from growing an inning later thanks to Elodie O’Sullivan, who laid out for a spectacular diving catch in left field to rob Mexico of another run.

Australia had placed its leadoff hitter aboard in each of the opening four innings before finally capitalising in the third. With runners on second and third, O’Sullivan lined a two-run single into left field to put Australia ahead 2-1. The Emeralds continued to threaten by loading the bases, but Mexico escaped further damage.

Mexico answered immediately in the fourth with a two-out rally. Marcela Diaz delivered an RBI single to level the scores, ending Claire’s outing after 3.2 innings. She allowed five hits and two runs, only one of them earned, while striking out six without issuing a walk.

O’Sullivan also had a crucial run-saving pick-off at second bae.

Bebbere entered in relief and immediately escaped further trouble before settling into a dominant outing that kept Australia within striking distance. It included the big time pick off play.

“I knew bunt was an option, but we put on a play. I saw Caitlin break, I turned around and made a good throw,” said Bebbere. “It was called safe, but I knew it was close. While Pops challenged, I asked Caitlin if she got her and she said, ‘It would have been close.’ Obviously, I was pumped to have the call go our way. I let myself have a little celebration, but it was quickly back to telling myself, ‘The job’s not done. Let’s go after this next hitter.’”

Then came the eighth.

With two runners aboard under the international tiebreak rule, Chloe Atkinson laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases before O’Sullivan punched a single back through the middle to restore Australia’s lead.

The floodgates then opened.

Jamie Bastian forced home a run with a bases-loaded walk before Abbey Kelly and Georgia Cavanagh each delivered RBI bloop singles to make it 6-2.

Geldenhuis delivered the knockout blow with a three-run double to extend the margin to 9-2. Leah Cornish added another RBI before O’Sullivan drew a bases-loaded walk for her fourth RBI of the day. Bastian followed with an RBI single, while Gen Beacom capped the remarkable inning with Australia’s 13th run.

“I just needed to find a way to shut them out so our girls could go out and get some runs,” she said. “When I went back out in the eighth, I knew I didn’t have to be as fine and could attack the hitters.”

Mexico starter Rosa Del Castillo threw 6.1 innings, allowing four hits and two runs in the loss.

Australia starts the tournament 1-0 and will face Hong Kong (0-1) on Friday.

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.

For the tournament hub with ALL your information, visit us at www.baseball.com.au/emeralds. Scroll for tournament info and player bios.

All games broadcast on Gametime.Sport.

———–

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.

HUB: Follow Team Australia at the Women’s World Cup

WATCH: Broadcast on Gametime.sport

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.

COACHING STAFF

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Manager: Jason Pospishil – “Pops” returns to lead Australia’s Women’s Team for a second time after taking the helm before the the 2023 World Cup. He coached the U18 National Team at the 2025 U18 World Cup. One of Australia’s most experienced coaches, previously managed the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League. A former Major League Baseball scout and assistant coach with the Australian senior men’s team, he has also served as High Performance Manager with Baseball NSW. As a player, Pospishil signed professionally with the Minnesota Twins organisation, providing him with decades of experience across playing, scouting and coaching at the highest levels of the game.

Pitching Coach: Chris Oxspring – Chris Oxspring brings one of the most decorated playing careers in Australian baseball history to the coaching staff. The former Major League pitcher represented Australia at the 2004 Olympic Games, helping the team to a historic silver medal, and has also represented his country at multiple World Baseball Classics and Premier12 tournaments. Oxspring enjoyed a 20-year professional career across Major League Baseball, Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korean Baseball Organization, while also starring for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League. Following his playing career, he has served as a pitching coach with Team Australia and in professional baseball, bringing decades of international experience to Australia’s next generation of talent.

Assistant Coach: Samantha Hamilton – Samantha Hamilton is one of the most accomplished figures in Australian women’s baseball history, having represented Australia in every National Championship and every Women’s World Cup from the program’s inception until her retirement in 2013. A 10-time national champion with Victoria, Hamilton helped Australia claim multiple international medals, including a historic silver medal at the 2010 Women’s Baseball World Cup. She now serves as the head coach of national champion Victoria, an assistant coach with the Emeralds, while coaching at club level with the Doncaster Dragons. Hamilton was inducted into the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame in 2026.

Assistant Coach: Lisa Norrie – Lisa Norrie is one of Australia’s most respected baseball coaches and player development leaders. She made history in 2017 as the first female coach in the Australian Baseball League with the Brisbane Bandits and has since worked internationally as a roving instructor with the Oakland Athletics organisation. A former Australian representative player, Norrie currently serves as Baseball Queensland’s Women’s High Performance Manager and has managed Queensland representative teams while contributing to Australia’s national women’s program.

Ursula Howard – EO: The real boss of the Emeralds, Ursula is in charge of everything that happens on the road as we bring the Emeralds across the globe for this tournament. Ursula performed the same role in 2023, and has experience as the EO for the Victorian state team that competes at National Championships. She also has great experience as a player – a three-time national champion, a championship as a youth coach, and was part of the support staff at the 2018 WC.

Tammy Ong – Physio:  Tammy brings extensive experience in elite sport and athlete care. She has been the Head Physiotherapist for the Sydney Blue Sox,  and currently leads the NRLW and Female Pathways physiotherapy program at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Ong has also worked with athletes across Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and CrossFit, combining her expertise in sports physiotherapy and rehabilitation to support high-performance athletes at the national and international level. She was the physio for the Emeralds in 2023.

 

 

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.