BQ Board seek additional members to join the Participation Subcommittee.

The Participation Subcommittee has been established by the Board of Management of Baseball Queensland to identify avenues to increase participation in Baseball and/or Baseball-related activities by athletes of all ages within the state of Queensland.

We are seeking additional members to join the Participation Subcommittee. Members should have networks within the wider baseball community that are important for the development of the sport (grassroots development and innovations such as Baseball5); experience in sports scheduling; experience in baseball coaching, umpiring, scoring or in Club administration; an understanding of how Clubs operate within the state of Queensland; and an understanding of the issues relating to the connections between Clubs and their Regions. The Subcommittee is also seeking individuals with expertise and an interest in providing support to the committee through communication and project management. The time commitment for members is approximately 3-4 hours per month, but can vary throughout the year.

Selection of members will be guided by these criteria and with consideration for existing expertise within the Committee to ensure diverse and complementary skills, experience and backgrounds necessary for the Participation Subcommittee to collectively undertake its responsibilities.

Expressions of interest addressing the criteria are to be submitted in writing no later than close of business on 16 April 2021. Please email the expression of interest to Andrea Marshall, Secretary, BQ Participation Committee (a.marshall@baseballqld.asn.au). Additional information can be obtained from the Secretary or Chair, David Badke (d.badke@baseballqld.asn.au).

Queensland Schools Baseball State Champs in full swing

The Queensland Schools Baseball Event is happening from the 11th to the 14th of March at Pine Hills Lightning baseball club.

We wish all participants, coaches and officials good luck over the next 4 days.

2021 QSS Baseball State championship Draw

Brisbane South and Brisbane West Merge to Form New Junior and Senior League Division 1 Charter

The below statement is supplied by the Brisbane West and Brisbane South Regions.

Participating in the Baseball Queensland State Titles Tournament can be a thrilling experience for players, parents and coaching staff, creating life-long bonds with team mates from other Clubs around the Region.

Brisbane South and Brisbane West Regions have long and proud histories of representing their member Clubs and Players.  At the Little League level both Regions have a strong and deep player base, giving Little League players the opportunity to play in either the Division 1 or Division 2 tournaments.

Junior League Division 1 and Senior League Division 1 have been more challenging for both Regions over the last few years.  There have been times where each Region has been unable to field a Division 1 team, meaning some players have missed out on competing at the higher competitive level.

Rather than see players miss out on these opportunities, members from the Brisbane South and Brisbane West Regions have worked together and sought approval from Baseball Queensland,  Baseball Australia and Little League International to create a new combined charter, to be known as Brisbane SouthWest.

The Brisbane SouthWest charter is designed to be a temporary joint-venture arrangement, ideally lasting only a few years or until such time as both Regions can rebuild to improve the playing numbers and develop their eligible players to sustain independent teams once again in the Junior League and Senior League Division 1 State Title Tournaments.

It’s very important to note that the existing Brisbane South and Brisbane West Regions will continue to operate as they do today, supporting players in the majority of age groups and divisions.  The Brisbane SouthWest Region applies to Representative Junior League and Senior League Division 1 teams only.

You might be wondering ‘why’ we need a combined SouthWest Region?

1. It’s about creating and maintaining participation opportunities for our baseball players.  Neither the South nor West Region has enough eligible players to field teams in Junior League and Senior League Division 1 teams in the immediate future.
2. Providing opportunities for players to compete in Division 1 State Titles that may lead to success at a National level.
3. Retaining players in our Member Clubs and in the sport of baseball who might otherwise opt-out due to a lack of participation opportunities.

Show your support for the new SouthWest charter and follow on facebook, instagram or twitter here:

• https://www.facebook.com/BrisSouthWest
• https://www.instagram.com/BrisSouthWest
• https://www.twitter.com/BrisSouthWest

Intermediate League Survey

Queenslanders selected in Inaugural National Junior Squad

Baseball Queensland would like to congratulate those selected in the Inaugural National Junior Squad.

Baseball Australia released the extended squad today via their channels of the entire squad which hosts 17 Queenslanders.

The squad will take part in a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from April 3-11 as part of Boral Team Australia’s preparations for the 2021 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Florida.

Queensland alongside Victoria made up the majority of the squad with 17 players each, whilst NSW have 14, Western Australia nine, South Australia two and one from the Australian Captial Territory.

Players were chosen following an in-depth review of information collected at the National Showcase Series events around the country earlier this year.

Below is the list of Queensland players selected in alphabetical order.

Baseball Australia National Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell shared his thoughts about the inclusion of Ashley Anderson, the Surfers Paradise outfielder who was tragically involved in a fatal accident on the weekend after being selected.

“He had worked tirelessly to be a part of the squad and had developed into a fantastic young baseball player and an even better teammate,” Riddell said.

“We would like to pass on our deepest condolences to his family, friends and our baseball community in Queensland.”

Anderson was included on the squad list, with the consent of his family, to acknowledge his achievement and celebrate his selection.