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feature by Connie Rowe, visit www.baseball.com.au/women for the Tournament Hub and more stories 

Tournament baseball adds a whole new spin on your typical ball game.

It’s a time to level up, push your boundaries and truly test yourself.

Over the seven day Australian Women’s Baseball Championships, a total of 25 games will be played. With each team playing up to eight each.

Each team that is, except one – the umpires.

Across the week, each umpire will step foot on the diamond 12 times. Each of those games is a chance to grow.

For the first ever all women’s umpiring crew at these championships, they have come to perform on the big stage.

Leanne Gearside is one umpire who has come to do just that.

“For us as umpires at this level, we have been training for these moments,” she says. “We run scenarios, study the rule book, analyse our games and sit through exams.”

All this preparation helps but there’s nothing like learning on the job.

“In a game of baseball like this, we typically run seven innings,” she says. “If there’s one thing you can take away from every innings then that’s seven new things to add to your repertoire each game.”

GOLD MEDAL GAMES: All Saturday on Baseball+

Communication is key when it comes to umpiring. From pregame chats to post game debriefs and the subtle silent sign language on field, it’s the secret to a well oiled machine.

But for this team, it is the first time that many have met each other, let alone worked a game together.

Not that this phases Gearside.

Between the laughter and the change room banter, the mateship that is formed between colleagues in just a short time creates a lasting bond.

Learning from each other comes as second nature, when you’re in such close quarters. Add to that some great mentors and you’re in good hands.

When it comes to women’s umpire mentors, you can’t go past Umpire in Chief and four-time world cup umpire, Fiona Lambrick.

“Having Fiona around, she is a wealth of knowledge but she is also here for each of us, to help make us better and more confident,” Gearside says.

And with more and more women coming through the ranks of umpiring, it is Gearside’s hope that they too can be an inspiration for the next generation of umpires coming through.

“We’re starting a legacy here – a new era for baseball.”

But for Gearside, it doesn’t matter if you’re a male or a female.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, if you are good enough and you work hard enough, the pathways are there for anyone.”

Fiona Lambrick knows full well the path less traveled for female umpires.

Five years ago, when a vision from the Australian Umpire in Chief Brett Robson, proposed to her of one day having an all female crew at nationals, it opened Lambrick’s eyes to a world of possibilities.

Since then, Lambrick has not only been chasing her dreams but is committed to supporting her fellow females to own the role.

“It is a very male dominated field and that can be intimidating,” Lambrick said.

Mentoring is something that Lambrick thrives on. Accepted into the Australian Sports Commission mentor program to drive gender equity and positive sport experiences for women and girls.

It’s about enabling, empowering, and supporting women mentors, with the tools to influence positive change and navigate change management in their clubs or organisation.

“It’s great to see so many ladies not only taking up umpiring but also inspiring others to get involved.”

To those thinking of getting involved and taking up the artform, Gearside and Lambrick have the same message.

A rewarding world awaits for those willing to take it.

“Just give it a go, you never know where it will take you,” Gearside said.

“Know that you will make mistakes, it’s what you do with those mistakes that matters,

“Learn from them, let them grow and shape you. Just don’t make the same one twice!”

If you like asking questions, challenging yourself and being there for others, becoming an umpire may just be your calling.

The Umpires from this tournament are:

Australian Women’s Championship

• Leanne Gearside – NSW
• Alisha Jewry – QLD
• Lilian King – ACT
• Jen Langlands – NSW
• Carla Pinder – QLD
• Janine Thompson – VIC

Australian Youth Women’s Championship

• Irma Cortez – QLD
• Jan Gatti – NSW
• Liliana Ostara – QLD
• Anahera Russell – QLD
• Tess Sard – VIC
• Jenelle Stafilis – VIC

MORE FROM CONNIE ROWE AND BASEBALL AUSTRALIA

• Live from the best seat in the house – a scorer’s view of the AWC | Feature by Connie Rowe
• Live Blog: Women’s Championships – April 18 | Gold Medal Spots on the line on Good Friday
• Meet Emma Reid: The mother of three leading Queensland White despite injury
• AWC Feature: A Quinn-tessential Display of Pitching
• AWC Feature: Lila Hall at home at the plate

Feature story from the Australian Women’s Championships by Connie Rowe

You could argue that having a front row seat to the Australian Women’s Championships gives you the best seat in the house.

For Kaylene Pengelly, there’s one better – the scorer’s box.

Kaylene heads up this year’s team of scorer extraordinaries – a team that sees and knows quite literally everything going on in this year’s action.

Much has been made of the all-female umpire crew at this event, but the scorers also are a proud team exclusively made up of women.

To put it in perspective for those following along at home, the play-by-plays, the live score updates and the full stats breakdowns are all brought to you by Kaylene and her team.

So what is it about scoring that is so addictive?

Well aside from the view, Kaylene says that you get to be in the game and ride the emotions of every pitch.

“I get an adrenaline rush from it,” said Kaylene, especially when it comes to a good game.

“It makes you concentrate on the game so much more and you’re aware of the plays so much more than if you were just on the sidelines watching.”

And it’s not just the game that you see.

“You watch the batter, the ball, the umpires, the coaches, every aspect of the game that contributes to it running smoothly,”

Ask her after the game what happened though, and chances are she won’t be able to tell you.

“I think because you are so in the moment and your concentration is fully switched on, by the time the game finishes it can be a blur.”

This is where the score books come in, painting a picture of the triumphs and tribulations of the game at hand.

More than just colouring between the lines, Kaylene says that scoring can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.

FOLLOW THE ACTION FROM THE AWC: www.baseball.com.au/women

Kaylene started out her pathway through scoring after her brother took up the sport, being around the game so much, she quickly grew to understand and love the game.

When she had her own kids, scoring made her a better parent she said giving a better perspective of the game.

But it wasn’t until her friend dragged her to join an accreditation course that her professional scoring career went to another level.

“When you start out as a scorer, most people pick up the book and paper in the local league in kids games. In a way this is good, you see all sorts of things you wouldn’t expect to see but when I hit this level, in a way it’s almost more relaxed and straight forward!”

Scoring has taken Kaylene across the country and yet of all the tournaments she’s been a part of this Australian Women’s Baseball Championships is the highlight of her year.

This year’s tournament she is joined by a couple of up-and-coming scorers that are discovering the magic of scoring for themselves.

“I love encouraging scorers and seeing them progress in confidence and through the ranks,” said Kaylene.

So what’s the scorers birds eye take on this year’s tournament to date? Well for the team in the box seat there is nothing quite like a women’s baseball tournament. From the energy to the plays to the comradery on and off the diamond it’s unlike anything else.

The anticipation, adrenaline and craftsmanship are not just for those out on the diamond. Baseball truly is a game that lets you write your own adventure.

The Scorers at the 2025 Women’s Championships are;

Jennie Moloney
Mel Hargreaves
Bec Mitchell
Fiona Woolgar
Paula Sutherland
Tanneale Marshall
Emma Medwin
Enza Henty
Anna Narasaki
Linda Lawrence (Assistant Scoring Coordinator)
Kaylen Pengelly (Scoring Coordinator)

MORE FROM CONNIE ROWE

• AWC Feature: A Quinn-tessential Display of Pitching
• AWC Feature: Lila Hall at home at the plate

NOTE: THIS STORY IS AN ARCHIVE OR SCORES AND SCHEDULES. FOR THE DAY 6 LIVE BLOG, CLICK HERE.

Two of the most coveted titles in Australian baseball is up for grabs in April, 2025. Who will win the 2025 Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships?

From April 13-19, six open women’s teams (16+) and five youth women’s sides (U16) from across the country will compete in Melbourne.

Here is all you need to know about the tournament.

Please go to our Tournament Hub at www.baseball.com.au/women  for our most up-to-date information, results, communications and tournament details. 

First day of finals for the Women? Done.

Finals spots locked in for the Youth? Check.

Day Five of the AWC and AYWC was great!

In this story you will find game recaps, stats, stories and quotes.

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling! It’s probably there (including notes on finals and tiebreaks in each section).

Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women for links.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.

feature story by Eliza Wood, for more coverage visit www.baseball.com.au/women

Kira Kuwamoto wasn’t meant to be playing nationals.

But after an eleventh-hour call-up due to injury to a Victorian on the eve of the tournament, Kira has been at the centre of some of the highest drama moments at the Australian Women’s Championships.

Let’s start with Wednesday afternoon, day four of the tournament and the final day of pool play.

It kicked off with a ballpark banger between QLD Maroon and Victoria – two 3-1 teams fighting for finals positioning.

Six lead changes, 24 runs, and a 12-12 final scoreline guided Victoria to a tiebreak win and second place overall after the group stages.

Kira Kuwamoto’s name was everywhere.

Her versatility shone with both bat and ball, pitching 3.1 innings, while tallying three hits and three RBI.

First, she tied the game in the fourth to cap off a four run Victorian comeback, helping the charge from 5-1 down.

The biggest moment of all came in the fifth.

Down 9-7 with two runners on, Kuwamoto sent the ball flying into the outfield for a triple, scoring two runs.

She later scored in what is called a ‘Little League Home Run.’ She touched them all.

The feeling of excitement from the Victorian dugout radiated throughout the stands and you couldn’t help but be struck by the joy – it was incredible.

A presence that Kuwamoto herself thrives off.

“If it’s very quiet, it makes me nervous… I just feel [the] energy and get [that] energy when I play, so I love it,” she says.

Smiling from ear-to-ear as she crossed home plate, Kuwamoto was swarmed by her teammates, as the score ticked over to read 10-9 in favour of the VICs.

“The way that everyone got around her was absolutely extraordinary,” shares Victorian head coach Samantha Hamilton.

“The first thing she said was ‘what happened? I have no idea.’ That means she was watching the base coach the whole time, wasn’t watching the ball, just trying to get her work done,” she continues.

You couldn’t have scripted this fairytale performance from Kuwamoto, who last Saturday, the day before national’s began, was sitting on the sidelines.

Hamilton was up against the clock to find a replacement for star outfielder Lily Bell-Tanner, who was devastatingly withdrawn due to a finger injury late in the week.

The priority for Hamilton was to bring in someone who could play outfield, could pitch and importantly, could cohesively slot right into Victoria’s lineup.

“The criteria for us as coaching staff was that they needed to be a part of last year’s team, aware of our signals and our signs and the way our team functions,” explained Hamilton.

Enter Kuwamoto, a player who performed well at the 2024 Australian Women’s Championships.

Above: Kuwamoto with Morgan Doty at the 2024 Showcase

“She’s a big impact player, she’s everyone’s favourite as well and it’s those kind of [qualities] that make her fit into the team straight away,” says Hamilton.

It was clear as day the love and care Kuwamoto has for her teammates and them her.

Grateful to be a part of it all, Kuwamoto is playing for more than just her team this week.

She’s playing for her friend.

“I feel sorry for [her], I just want to play good for LBT (Lily Bell-Tanner),” expresses Kuwamoto.

A commitment she has been living up to since day one of the tournament.

Stepping up to the plate in the rivalry game against NSW – the first match of the tournament – Kuwamoto went 2-for-3, with a single, a double, a RBI, a run and a couple of nice defensive plays.

Ultimately helping Victoria come back from three runs down to beat the Blues late.

Kuwamoto is second on Victoria in hits (7) and second in RBI (7).

Couple this with her highlighted effort today and it’s this kind of magic that only sport can deliver.

A true embodiment of humility, joy and team-first spirit, every team needs a player like Kuwamoto.

With pool play wrapping up and WA securing fourth, all eyes now turn to finals.

Victoria sitting 2nd and QLDM 3rd, these two powerhouse teams will face off again.

The winner advancing to the qualifying final and the loser to the elimination game.

With everything on the line, the road to that elusive gold is going to be an exciting one!

MORE STORIES

• Stat Leaders after Pool Play
• A Quinn-tessential Display of Pitching, by Connie Rowe
• Lila Hall right at home behind the plate, by Connie Rowe

— —

Catch Finals Coverage on Baseball+ from April 17-19!

Follow the action on Day 1 of the Finals: Thursday 17 April Scores & Recaps

Pool play has come to an end at the 2025 Australian Women’s Championships.

Here are your stat leaders after all teams have played each other once in Pool Play.

Finals are tomorrow.

Follow the tournament at baseball.com.au/women and watch on Baseball+.

HITS

11 – Chloe Atkinson (WA)
10 – Molly Paddison (QLDM)
10 – Lilly Simpson (VIC)
8 – Georgia Davis (SA)
8 – Maddi McGuire (NSW)
8 – Charlotte Stokes (QLDM)

RBI

11 – Maddi McGuire (NSW)
9 – Maddi Heath (NSW)
8 – Molly Paddison (QLD)
8 – Kira Jansen (VIC)
7 – Lily Moffatt (QLDW)
7 – Kira Kuwamoto (VIC)
7 – Abbey Kelly (VIC)

STOLEN BASES

9 – Ticara Geldenhuis (NSW)
8 – Claire O’Sullivan (NSW)
7 – Jasmine Bentley (VIC)
4 – Ruby Orchard (QLDM)
4 – Molly Paddison (QLDM)
4 – Ash Ruzicka (QLDW)
4 – Lily Simpson (VIC)

WALKS

10 – Narumi Kametani (VIC)
6 – Emma Sullivan (QLDW)
6 – Meaghan Haggart (WA)
6 – Ruby Orchard (QLDM)
6 – Shiori Hoshino (QLDM)
6 – Kya Foxwell (QLDM)

EXTRA BASE HITS

4 – Chloe Atkinson (WA)
4 – Caitlin Eynon (WA)
3 – Maddi McGuire (NSW)
3 – Ticara Geldenhuis (NSW)
3 – Kira Jansen (VIC)
3 – Kira Kuwamoto (VIC)

STRIKEOUTS (PITCHING)

8 – Meaghan Haggart (WA)
7 – Shiori Hoshino (QLD)
7 – Caitlin Eynon (WA)
6 – Mattea Karn (NSW)
6 – Narumi Kametani (VIC)
6 – Saeko Suzuki (VIC)
6 – Mackenzie Prentice-Evans (VIC)

ERA

Min. 4.0 IP

0.00 – Claire O’Sullivan, 4.0IP (NSW)
0.00 – Bree Green, 4.00IP (NSW
1.75 – Charlotte Stokes, 4.0 IP (QLD)
2.62 – Meaghan Haggart, 8.0IP (WA)
2.80 – Jess Sullivan, 5.0 IP (QLD)
3.21 – Narumi Kametani, 4.1 IP (VIC)

WHIP – Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched

Min 4.0 IP

0.50 – Claire O’Sullivan, 4.0IP (NSW)
0.93 – Narumi Kametani, 4.1IP (VIC)
1.00 – Bree Green, 4.0IP

BATTERS AVERAGE AGAINST 

Min 4.0

0.071 – Claire O’Sullivan, 4.0IP (NSW)
0.93 – Narumi Kametani, 4.1IP (VIC)
0.150 – Jess Sullivan, 5.0IP (QLD)
0.153 Ava Tyson, 4.0 IP (WA)
0.188 – Bree Green, 4.0IP

STANDINGS

It’s NO MORE Day at the Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships! And what a day it was….

The finals are set after two absolutely insane games. You can read about them below (and get your finals schedule).

In the Youth Women’s, South Australia locked in their finals spot – the first of that division.

In this story you will find game recaps, stats, stories and quotes as the day progresses.

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling!

Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.

Here are your stat leaders at the end of Pool Play. 

by James Dyer

There are over 30 Australians playing professional baseball, including over 20 in MLB-affiliate ball.

Here’s an update on how some of them are doing, two weeks into the minor league season.

Curtis Mead – Tampa Bay Rays

Curtis has started the season with the Rays after an impressive showing during spring training. With four hits and an RBI, Mead is averaging .200 and has been solid defensively across the infield with four assists and two putouts.

Liam Hendriks – Boston Red Sox

Veteran pitcher Liam Hendriks has started his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Worcester Woo Sox in impressive fashion. Hendriks has pitched two scoreless innings across two games while striking out four of the eight batters faced.

Jack O’Loughlin

A tough start to the season for Jack with the Albuquerque Isotopes, in 13.1 innings across four games he has allowed 15 earned runs, while giving up 17 walks. O’Loughlin will look to bounce back against El Paso this week.

Travis Bazzana

The #9th MLB prospect and #1 Guardians prospect, Travis Bazzana has been lighting up AA ball with the Akron RubberDucks. Currently hitting .344, including a HR, three triples, seven RBI and two steals Bazzana is stuffing the stat sheets. Could we see Travis arrive to the Major League during September call ups?

Mitch Neunborn

Neunborn has started where he left off last season with the AA Reading Fightin Phils. Across three games, Mitch has thrown 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out five of the 16 batters faced.

Kai-Noa Wynyard

Right handed pitcher Kai-Noa Wynyard is off to a solid start with single-A Hickory Crawdads. In three games, Wynyard has two wins to his name pitching 5.1 innings, striking out five batters while allowing just one earned run.

Brandan Bidois

Queensland native Brandan Bidois is currently on the 7-day IL. Brandan is assigned to the High A Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Blake Townsend

After spending time across A and AA ball last year, Townsend has started this season with High A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Townsend has thrown 5.2 innings across three games, allowing one earned run while striking out seven batters.

Solomon Maguire

Maguire has yet to record a hit this season with Single-A Bradenton Marauders. In 11 at-bats Maguire has walked four times, bringing in three runs in the process. Solomon has been sharp in the outfield playing across all positions with a fielding percentage of 1.000.

Adam Bates

19-year-old pitcher Adam Bates has thrown 4.2 innings in two games, allowing five earned runs this season for the Single-A Salem Red Sox. Bates has six recorded strikeouts with six walks.

Happy Tuesday! Here’s your recap from the Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships.

Looking for something? Keep on scrolling! There’s a lot of recaps, player quotes and information for you. Or, visit our tournament hub: www.baseball.com.au/women

Congratulations to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland who have booked a spot in the finals. South Australia and Western Australia will battle for fourth tomorrow.

For live scoring, download the GameChanger app. You can search ‘Australian Women’s Championships’ or click this link.

Follow @baseball.com.au for social media updates and highlights.

feature story from the Australian Women’s Championships, by Connie Rowe. Photos by Izzy Lilburn.

– – –

Loaded bases, none out, and a run for run ball game at a national championships.

Stepping into a pressure situation like this is enough to rattle even the most seasoned relief pitcher.

Not Amara Quinn.

Coming into the game after a 7-5 first innings, despite admitting to a rush of nerves before taking the ball, Amara kept that under wraps.

In fact, in her four innings on the mound, she only allowed three extra runs.

It allowed South Australia to claw back from as many as five runs down in an epic 14-12 win over Queensland White.

With full faith in the team around her, Amara knew that it would take strikes to keep her game in winning contention.

“We just needed outs,” said Amara thinking only of the job at hand.  “I just went out there and tried my hardest.”

And that she did.

Backed by a solid South Australian defence, Amara led her team to chalking the first 0’s on the score board and a crucial 1-2-3 inning.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know that you’re able to hold a state team to zero runs,” she said.

18-year-old Amara enters her third championships off the back of a red hot season with Woodville in the local South Australian competition as a regular for their Div 3 men’s team.

Like so many in the women’s game, pushing herself against the men in the league whether on the mound, in the box or on the field only fuels her drive to improve.

Her career has been spattered with ups and downs, but this has only helped grow her composure as the complete athlete.

Off the back of a nail-biting, high-scoring, must-win game against Queensland White, South Australia were set some work early. Having to claw back a four run deficit to clinch the win in the dying moments of the game. Amara said the energy in the dugout was electric.

The momentum built throughout that first game of day two clearly lit a fire within Amara, rallying through with the bat and contributing to SA’s highlight reel with some incredible plays at second base.

Despite going down in a comprehensive scoreline against Victoria in her second game of the day, Amara finished the day with 4 innings pitched, 3 runs, with 4 strike outs, and a line drive catch – a score card to be proud of.

MORE STORIES

Follow @baseball.com.au for behind-the-scenes action, scores, highlights, interviews and more.

• Lila Hall at home behind the plate | 2025 Australian Women’s Championships Feature by Connie Rowe
• 2025 Women’s Championships Day 2 – April 14 | Scores, Recaps, Results
• HUB: 2025 AWC and AYWC