Baseball Queensland announces the Kobe Koryo – Queensland Friendship Series, Kookaburra Cup, a two-game event between the Queensland Women’s Team and Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School Girls’ Baseball Team from Japan. The series will take place in February at Redlands Rays Baseball Club and Mudgeeraba Baseball Club.
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday, 18th February – Redlands Rays Baseball Club
- Opening Ceremony: 6:30 PM
- First Pitch: 6:45 PM
Game 2: Thursday, 20th February – Mudgeeraba Baseball Club
- First Pitch: 6:45 PM
The Opening Ceremony at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, 18th February, at Redlands Rays Baseball Club will mark the start of the series, recognising the partnership between Queensland and Japan. The Queensland Women’s Team, made up of players from Open, Development, and Youth squads, will take the field at 6:45 PM for the first game.
This series continues to build on the relationship between Queensland and Japan. In September 2024, Baseball Queensland CEO Gareth Jones visited Japan to strengthen sports connections. He was joined by Baseball Queensland’s Special Advisor for Partnerships with Japan, Danny Maruyama, and met with leaders of Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School, a top school for girls’ baseball in Japan. This visit helped finalise the plans for the series.
“We are pleased to welcome Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School to Queensland. As repeat Koshien tournament champions their achievements in girls’ baseball are significant, and this series will provide quality competition and valuable cultural exchange experiences,” said Gareth Jones, CEO of Baseball Queensland. Read more about the trip here.
The Kobe Koryo – Queensland Friendship Series, Kookaburra Cup gives Queensland baseball fans a chance to see international competition. The Queensland Women’s Team will face one of Japan’s strongest high school teams in two games that highlight skill and sportsmanship.
Koshien refers to Hanshin Koshien Stadium, home of the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team and Japan’s national high school baseball tournaments. The Girls’ Koshien Tournament, founded in 1997, has held its summer finals at Koshien Stadium since 2021. In August 2024, Kobe Koryo Gakuen won their second straight Girls’ Koshien Championship, reinforcing their place as one of Japan’s top teams.