Baseball - Baseball Queensland

2024 Gold Coast Summer Classic

We’re thrilled to confirm our participation at The GCBA Summer Classic from January 5th to 7th, 2024.

Baseball Queensland is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from youth women players in the Little League and first-year Junior League categories who are currently without a team to play for. Priority is given to representing your region, so if you’ve already committed to a team, please remain with them.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Click here to register Coach EOI
Click here to register Player EOI

2024 Gold Coast Summer Classic Event

Event: 2024 Gold Coast Summer Classic

Dates: 5-7th January 2024

Location: TBA

Member Spotlight: Caesar Gardiner

CAESAR GARDINER, a key player in Baseball Queensland’s U18 Roster, is gearing up for the AYC next year. His journey to the top has been filled with amazing achievements, showcasing his strong dedication and outstanding talent.

At Earnshaw State College, Gardiner is part of the Baseball Academy, a special program at the college that helps students improve their baseball skills while following the national curriculum. Recently he won several awards at the school including the Australian Platinum Sporting Award, the Excellence in Baseball Award and was also named Bruce Cramb Senior School Sportsperson of the Year.

His success isn’t just local. Gardiner was named Baseball Queensland’s 2023 U16 Hitter of the Year, was named in the School Sport All Australian Team and was part of the National U16 camp in Canberra this year. His love for the sport promises a bright future as he continues to climb higher in his baseball journey.

We spoke to Gardiner about his love for baseball.

“When I think about baseball, the first thing that springs to mind is the friendships and enduring memories I’ve built while playing the sport,” Gardiner fondly reflects, highlighting the profound connections fostered through baseball. “My favourite thing about baseball is hitting and the constant challenge to improve every time I step up to the plate or take my position in the field.”

When we asked him who his number one fan is, he beamed with no hesitation,

“My number one fan is my little brother, Big Judez!”

However, his family’s unwavering presence, his numerous mentors from rookie ball to now, providing invaluable support at every event and tournament further solidify his foundation of encouragement and love.

Looking ahead, Gardiner confidently shares,

“Yes, I still envision myself playing baseball in five years time, whether professionally or for a college overseas, perhaps in America or Japan. Baseball will always be a part of my life.”

With his outstanding skills, unyielding passion, and a robust support system, Caesar Gardiner remains a shining star in Australian baseball, destined for a bright future in the sport he loves.

October BQ Award Winners

In our continuous effort to acknowledge and celebrate excellence within the realm of baseball in Queensland, we are delighted to introduce the Monthly BQ Awards. This initiative represents our commitment to recognising exceptional achievements, sportsmanship, and contributions that significantly impact the baseball community.

With an array of exceptional nominations for October, we proudly unveil the following monthly award winners!

Administrator of the Month: KATRINA WILSON

Coach of the Month: CARL JEISMAN

Scorer of the Month: LEIGH DRUERY

Umpire of the Month: CASSANDRA HALL

Volunteer of the Month: PETER CROOKS

To read their nominations, click here.

Congratulations to the following who were nominated:

Nick Potter, Matthew Vickers, Brooklyn Prindable Garner, Wendy Gaunt and Ben Robertson.

Nominations are now open for November and close on the 22nd December 2023.

Nominate Now!

Play Well, the focus of Australia’s first Sport Participation Strategy

Play Well, the focus of Australia’s first Sport Participation Strategy

Aussies are being called on to Play Well as part of the nation’s first co-designed Sport Participation Strategy just released.

With safe, welcoming, inclusive and fun experiences at the heart of it, Australia’s Sport Participation Strategy is a united approach with a vision that ‘everyone has a place in sport.’

The new strategy and the Play Well ethos compliments Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy, built on creating an environment where athletes and sports can Win Well.

Creating great sporting environments and experiences is central to the Play Well Strategy which focuses on people of all ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities coming together to access the benefits of sport.

This strategy belongs to us all and we invite you to join us to help make Australian sport safer, more welcoming, inclusive, and fun.

Download the strategy at playwell.gov.au

South West Indigenous Network TRAX Tour

Baseball Queensland staff, Daniel (last week) and Luca (this week) are out on the road with the South West Indigenous Network Trax sports education tour! From Surat to Roma, Yuleba, Wullumbilla, Goondiwindi, Chinchilla and Dalby, they introduced students to the fundamentals of our sport and how fun baseball can be ⚾

These tours mean the world to small and remote schools, offering kids a rare chance to try new sports and receive top coaching. For a week, primary school students enjoy quality coaching, inclusivity, and improved well-being through physical activity.

But it’s not just about the kids! The tours provide workshops and training for teachers and administrators, supporting ongoing community sports participation.

Supported by state and national sporting bodies, SWIN’s 12 tour programs, funded by the Department of Social Services, are reaching 61 communities. It’s not just sports; it’s about empowering rural areas with quality sporting experiences.

For more information on SWIN, visit https://www.swin.org.au/