The 2025 Australian Youth Championships (AYC) highlighted the hard work of our Baseball Queensland athletes. Despite challenges, the players showed resilience, teamwork, and growth throughout the tournament.
Some players had the chance to travel to Taiwan in December before the AYC. This experience allowed them to train and compete internationally, improving their skills and preparing them for the tournament. The time spent in Taiwan was invaluable, providing the players with the chance to face different competition and adapt to new playing environments, all of which contributed to their success at the AYC.
At the AYC, the athletes competed against some of the best in the country, and their development was evident on the field. Off the field, they showed strong teamwork and professionalism while representing Queensland.
A big thank you to the coaches, parents, and support teams for making this experience memorable. Hear from some players as they share their AYC journey, including their time in Taiwan and the challenges they overcame.
We look forward to supporting these athletes as they continue to grow and aim for success in the future.
U16 ROOS
U16 QLD
U18 QLD
Q&A WITH BAILEY RUSSELL (U16 QLD)
How old are you? I was 15 at the AYC.
Was this your first time competing at the Australian Youth Championships? Yes.
What position did you play during the tournament? I caught.
What were you most excited about leading up to the championships? I was excited about the fact that we stayed with the team, as well as playing against national standard competition. These were both experiences I had never done before, so it was exciting to tick them off the bucket list.
What did the team get up to during the rainy delays? Although a large portion of the rain delays were spent out on the fields constantly rolling tarps on and off, when in the dugout we would take to playing some games with our teammates like “stopwatch baseball.”
What’s your favourite moment from the whole experience? As much as hanging around with the team at the hotel was fun, my favourite moment was probably the training day of the AYC. It was the first time in my life that all I was focused on for an entire day was baseball from start to finish. It was also a great day for the fielders to check out the field conditions and gain crucial knowledge for the tournament.
What was your proudest individual moment in the tournament? My proudest moment of the tournament was by far raking in my first hit vs South Australia, before recording my first out. That lead-off hit sparked a rally that would go on to score crucial runs for the team, down 7-1 at the time of the AB.
Did you set any personal or team goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them? Unfortunately, both my personal goal and our team goal were not achieved during the tournament. Both goals, however, were in hope for the absolute best outcome. I aimed to throw out as many runners as possible, and as a team we aimed to win the entire championship, sadly falling short with a commendable 5th place finish. But it was also a goal achieved to represent my state.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in AYC, and how was it overcome? For one day I was out with an arm injury. This occurred on Day 2 vs South Australia, and I made my defensive return on Day 4 vs NSW Country. Despite still feeling pain when throwing, the coaches and I collectively made the decision to go back out there. Although I wasn’t at my best, I knew I had to help my team out playing my part behind the dish.
What’s one thing you learned during AYC that will help you improve your game? That some days aren’t meant to be your day, but you must keep fighting every single pitch. Due to my injury, I only had limited game time throughout the week. This meant that every moment I had meant twice as much. Hence, you must believe that today will be the day, regardless of whether it is or isn’t.
How has competing at AYC shaped your future goals for baseball? A dream of mine has always been to play at a high level of baseball, whether it’s the ABL, NCAA or an overseas league. AYC helped me realise that there are hundreds of players better than me in all ages, just in Australia. I thought I worked hard before AYC, but I now realise that I’ve got to work 10 times harder to just get close to achieving my dreams, something I am more than willing to do.
Q&A WITH LACHLAN PAWSEY (U16 QLD)
How old are you? I am 15 years old and this was my first time competing in the AYC’s.
What position(s) did you play during the tournament? In the AYC tournament I played mainly catcher with a half a game at first base.
How did it feel representing Queensland in the U16 team at such a big event? It felt great being able to represent Queensland at AYC. From getting the hat, to putting on the jersey for the first time, to stepping on the field at Blacktown – every game felt like a huge honour.
What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships? Leading up to AYC, the thing I was looking forward to the most was the talent level we were going to be going up against. Whether it be the harder throwing pitchers, the better hitters or the great defence, I was looking forward to the challenge of playing the best baseball players in the country.
What was it like being part of the Queensland U16 team with your teammates? Being on the U16’s Queensland team was a lot of fun. Everyone got along well and there were no real fights or arguments among the players. It created a team culture that was easy to enjoy and appreciate.
How do you think the Queensland U16 team performed overall during the tournament? As a team, we went in with high expectations and unfortunately, we didn’t leave everything on the table or show our full potential. This is due to the high level of errors and walks. We struggled with momentum in the games. That being said, there were some bright spots which included great hitting throughout the week and exciting rally moments.
What did you do during the rain delays—did you bond as a team, or take the time for personal reflection or training? During the rain delays there was a mixture of both bonding and preparation. In the early stages of the delays while we waited for decisions to be made, the team would talk together and bond however, once the game time was set, we flicked the switch and used that time to prepare ourselves for the game.
What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)? My favourite moment outside of baseball was probably the pool sessions. Being able to play volleyball and go in the ice baths was fun and it brought the team together for something other than baseball.
What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships? I think the proudest moment as a team was probably fighting back against WA. Down 8 runs at the start of the inning, the team was able to crawl back and put up a 7 spot in the 3rd. Even though we had already been eliminated from the top pool, the team worked rallied hard and tied the game on the final pitch.
How is playing in a national tournament different from competing in the Queensland State Titles? Playing in a national tournament is completely different to playing at club ball due to the type of pitching and the increase in mental pressure to perform at such a high level. With the pitching, everyone was throwing harder than you usually see in club ball with better command and off-speed on a consistent basis. In addition, knowing you are representing your state puts an added level of pressure that you don’t have in club ball.
How do you feel about your performance in your position during the tournament? Overall, I felt good about my performance at AYC. We had hard training and preparation before the tournament that led me to feel very comfortable with the intensity – I hit really well and thought I played solid defensively however, I can always ask and give myself feedback on what I should improve on.
Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them? Two of my main goals entering AYC were to win the tournament and to be able to play well with the additional pressure. We didn’t win, but I thought I handled the additional pressure as well as I could.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team? As an individual, I think the main thing I need to work on is being louder. As a catcher, I need to direct everyone on the field, and I can’t do that being quiet.
What was the biggest challenge you faced playing in such a competitive environment, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge for me was the negative self-talk after I made an error or struck out. I overcame this by riding off my highs and pushing away the negativity when I stepped into the box or before the next pitch.
What’s one thing you learned during the Championships that will help you improve in your position? One thing I learned during the championships was how to call better pitches. Being able to learn from Phil Stockman and the other players around me is something I will definitely take to club ball.
What would you say to other players about the experience of playing for Queensland at the Australian Youth Championships? The experience of playing for Queensland was one of the highlights of my baseball journey so far. I didn’t make the team last year and that motivated me to put in the extra sessions and practice almost every day to better myself as a player. I guess I would tell other players that if you want it bad enough, go work for it.
How has competing at the Australian Youth Championships shaped your future goals for baseball? Playing in AYC has shaped my future goals by understanding what it is like playing at a higher level. I want to play for a USA University and this tournament was a glimpse of what rising to the next level means to compete against the best.
Q&A WITH Elijah inivale (U16 QLD)
How old are you? Was this your first time competing at the Australian Youth Championships? I was 15 at the time I played the tournament and this was my first time competing at AYC.
What position(s) did you play during the tournament? I played 1st base the whole time I was on the field and tried to represent my state with pride.
How did it feel representing Queensland in the U16 team at such a big event? I played with confidence in not just myself but my team.
What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships? Well obviously the thing I was most excited about was being able to represent Queensland but I also had a strong desire to win.
What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)? One of my fav fun moments was when we pretended it was one of the coaches’ birthdays and we sang him happy birthday in front of the whole restaurant and somehow I ended up with a “birthday” cupcake smooshed in my face by one of the coaches.
What was it like being part of the Queensland U16 team with your teammates? It was one of the best teams I’ve been a part of despite not getting the results we would have liked.
How do you think the Queensland U16 team performed overall during the tournament? Like I mentioned before, we hit quite well, but it was the pitching that we struggled with in the end.
What did you do during the rain delays—did you bond as a team, or take the time for personal reflection or training? On the day that all our games got cancelled because of the rain, we went to the pools as a physical and mental recovery and just had fun to help build that trust and camaraderie even more.
What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships? My proudest moment was against WA when we came back from being 7-0 to WA and getting the tie at 9-9.
How is playing in a national tournament different from competing in the Queensland State Titles? A national championship is always going to feel unreal because you’re playing the best players in Australia. Everyone is there cheering you on.
How do you feel about your performance in your position during the tournament? I felt quite confident during the tournament because of the work we put in before the tournament.
Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them? I set a few goals before the tournament; the first being to win AYC, but my next goal was to always compete, every day. I think I achieved that by creating a strong defense at first base and doing my part to help the team.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team? Really just getting heaps more swings in and lots of game experience.
What was the biggest challenge you faced playing in such a competitive environment, and how did you overcome it? For me, I played with confidence and did what the team needed.
What would you say to other players about the experience of playing for Queensland at the Australian Youth Championships? If you get the chance to play a national championship, then definitely do it. I can’t say it enough, and I think my team and coaches would agree when I say don’t take it for granted.
How has competing at the Australian Youth Championships shaped your future goals for baseball? Making a national team would be the next goal.
Q&A WITH ZAC NEWLAND (U16 ROOS)
Was this your first time competing at the Australian Youth Championships? Yes this was my first time playing AYC
What position(s) did you play during the tournament? I played 1 game in right field and played the rest of the tournament as pitcher
How did you feel when you found out you’d be part of the Roos team, combining players from Queensland and Victoria? I felt like the team would be a good team to bond and play with
What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships? Getting to play games against the different states
What was it like meeting and playing alongside teammates from another state? It felt a bit awkward at first because we didn’t know anyone beforehand, but by the time the tournament had ended they felt like true friends
How do you think the Roos team performed overall during the tournament? i thought the Roos team performed really well during the tournament
What did you do during the rain delays—did you bond as a team, or take the time for personal reflection or training? Well when the big rain delay happened me and a group of 4 ran to get the bags whilst the rest of the team stayed at the field where we were training and then the real heavy rain started so me and the boys went to undercover to the main field and some of our teammates were just having fun and sliding in the mud
What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)? my favourite moment was when we went to and from the games where our van driver would blast music and we all would sing along to all the songs
What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships? My proudest moment of AYC was when I came onto the pitch against South Australia. I pitched 3 innings with no hits and no earned runs and then i found out after the game I was one of the top pitchers in the whole tournament with a 0 ERA
How is playing in a national tournament different from playing in the Queensland State Titles? The difference between playing a national tournament to the state titles tournament was that the atmosphere was completely different to how it is for state titles. Everywhere you went there were a whole bunch of fans cheering everyone on
How do you feel about your own performance in your position during the tournament? I thought that my personal performance was outstanding. I did much better than I had expected.
Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them? My personal goal was that I pitched in the tournament. I just wanted to do my best which I achieved
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team? I think I can work on being more disciplined at the plate
Was it challenging to adapt to playing with teammates from two different states? The only challenging thing was to adapt to the Vic boys. We should have got together as a team a couple of days earlier before the tournament so we could all get to know each other better
What’s one thing you learned during the Championships that will help you improve in your position? After I have thrown a pitch and the batter has hit it, instead of just standing on the mound I learned there is always somewhere I can back up
What would you say to other players about the experience of joining a mixed team like the Roos? It was a really good experience and I made heaps of memories with just the one team
How has playing at the Australian Youth Championships inspired your goals for your baseball journey moving forward? The AYC inspired my goals for my baseball journey by showing me that putting in the extra work and effort into baseball I can play at my best performance.
Q&A WITH ELI HARDEY-ABDY (U18 QLD)
How old are you? Was this your first time competing at the Australian Youth Championships? I’m 17 years old. This was my second year in the U18s, and I also competed in U16s.
What position(s) did you play during the tournament? I was a pitcher, but I also played some relief infield and contributed with the bat.
How did it feel representing Queensland in the U18 team at such a big event? I felt confident knowing I had put in the effort and hard work to play at this level. I was grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills.
What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships? Playing for Queensland in a highly competitive tournament and having the chance to build on my pitching profile and showcase it at AYC.
What was it like being part of the Queensland U18 team with your teammates? Very uplifting. I’ve played with many of my teammates before, and I felt this was the best team culture I’ve ever experienced.
How do you think the Queensland U18 team performed overall during the tournament? Our pitching held strong, and we competed well against other teams. While the final result wasn’t what we aimed for, everyone gave 100% every day.
What did you do during the rain delays—did you bond as a team, or take the time for personal reflection or training? We bonded as a team, spending time together, talking, relaxing, and having a laugh.
What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)? Building stronger relationships with my teammates, especially during dinners and downtime in the rooms.
What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships? Throwing 8 scoreless innings! That memory and feeling will stay with me forever.
How is playing in a national tournament different from competing in the Queensland State Titles? You face the best players from every state, so the competition is intense every single game.
How do you feel about your performance in your position during the tournament? I hit a lot of personal goals, including reaching 86 mph on my fastball, which had been a target for months. I feel like I gave 100%.
Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them? Yes! My goal was to reach 86 mph, and I did. I also wanted to have strong outings on the mound, which I feel I achieved.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team? I want to continue developing my pitching skills to throw harder and faster every outing.
What was the biggest challenge you faced playing in such a competitive environment, and how did you overcome it? Mindset. I had to stay out of my own head and focus on taking things one day at a time. A positive mindset will help me grow as a player.
What’s one thing you learned during the Championships that will help you improve in your position? Treating my mind with as much care as my body.
What would you say to other players about the experience of playing for Queensland at the Australian Youth Championships? Make sure every rep counts!!!
How has competing at the Australian Youth Championships shaped your future goals for baseball? I’m hoping it opens doors for me to pursue baseball at an international level.
Q&A WITH CODY HARRISON (U18 QLD)
How old are you? 16
Was this your first time competing at the Australian Youth Championships? Yes
What position(s) did you play during the tournament? Pitcher
How did it feel representing Queensland in the U18 team at such a big event? I felt proud to represent my club, region and state.
What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships? Pitching against high-level competition
What was it like being part of the Queensland U18 team with your teammates? The team was great. We had a good culture and all the boys jelled together.
How do you think the Queensland U18 team performed overall during the tournament? I think we performed well overall. I feel the outcome of the tournament didn’t define how well we played.
What did you do during the rain delays—did you bond as a team, or take the time for personal reflection or training? We had a lot of team bonding time at the hotel waiting for weather updates and during that time there were discussions within the team on how we could improve our game.
What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)? Definitely the van rides!
What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships? My proudest personal moment was my first outing as a pitcher at AYC. One of the proudest team moments was our comeback against NSWC towards the end of the tournament. Full credit to the boys.
How is playing in a national tournament different from competing in the Queensland State Titles? Playing against each state’s best players is a lot more challenging, as a pitcher I liked pitching against hitters I have never faced before.
How do you feel about your performance in your position during the tournament? I think my performance in my first outing was very strong but due to an injury I was unable to compete the way I wanted to.
Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them? My personal goal was to keep composure on the mound against some of the best hitters in Australia, I feel I achieved this.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team? I think really working on my strength during the off-season could really lift my game as a pitcher in our rotation.
What was the biggest challenge you faced playing in such a competitive environment, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge I faced was mentally coming to terms with an unexpected injury at the tournament.
What’s one thing you learned during the Championships that will help you improve in your position? I learnt that preparation is everything for that level of competition.
What would you say to other players about the experience of playing for Queensland at the Australian Youth Championships? The experience is amazing, you have to take everything in and take advantage of all the knowledgeable coaches.
How has competing at the Australian Youth Championships shaped your future goals for baseball? It has given me a real hunger to want to wear the maroon uniform again next year.
