2024 Women’s, Youth Women’s and Girls State Titles Wrap-up!

2024 Women’s, Youth Women’s and Girls State Titles Wrap-up!

The sky falls and the scores rise... Mother Nature took an early lead, but we take the wins.

Story by: Nick Wyllie, Club Support Coordinator

A competition of 23 teams and more than 240mls of rain between two sides of Brisbane. Indians Baseball Club in Runcorn took hosting rights for the Women’s Division 2, supported by Southern Stars Baseball Club, with Narangba Demons Baseball Club holding the Women’s Division 1, Youth and Girls tournaments.

67 games scheduled, 44 completed and it all came down to 4x champions. Join us as we recap the Women’s Division 1 and 2 tournaments from the 13th-15th of December and the Youth and Girls tournaments from the 16th-18th of December.

Women's Divisions 1 and 2

Women’s Division 1 and 2 began on Friday night, with two games at Narangba and Runcorn.

Saturday was a complete washout for Division 1 at Narangba. Division 2 completed an 8-8 tied game and started three additional games before the rain cancelled the rest of the day.

This began the scramble to reschedule as much as possible on Sunday. Finals were dropped and it became about giving as many teams a chance at as many games as possible.

Field constraints saw Southern Stars offer up their diamond, as Runcorn were only able to recover one of their three diamonds. Having experienced a rain bomb of more than 60mls on Saturday.

Division 2 would’ve seen a final game played on Tuesday night at Narangba, however, you might’ve guessed, that ended up washed out as well.

Our two Women’s divisions finished with the following standings!

Division 1 Standings

  #1 Brisbane North
  #2 Gold Coast
  #3 Brisbane Metro

  #4 North Queensland
  #5 Brisbane West

Division 2 Standings

#1 Narangba Demons
#2 Brisbane South Green
#3 North Queensland

#4 Gold Coast
#5 Redcliffe Padres
#6 Pine Rivers Rapids Diamond Rebels
#7 Brisbane South Gold

That wasn’t all – a strong squad of Women’s athletes were selected in preparation for the Australian Women’s Championships in April 2025. You can find the named squad by clicking the link below, congratulations to all selected!

Youth women's

Monday was the scheduled start of the Youth Women’s competition. However, the weather had other plans.

Tuesday saw our first five games contested. Wednesday saw four… with the final being abandoned due to thunderstorms.

During Tuesday and Wednesday, our Queensland selectors were hard at work to identify the Queensland Squad, including a brand new initiative for 2025, the Elevate Squad. The primary squad is eligible for selection into the Queensland Youth Women’s team, set to compete in Melbourne for the Australian Youth Women’s Championships in April 2025. While the Elevate squad aren’t yet age-eligible for Nationals, these athletes will be offered further development and training opportunities! See who was selected below:

Youth Standings

#1 Brisbane North
#2 Brisbane Metro
#3 Brisbane South

#4 Gold Coast
#5 Commissioners

Girls

This years Girls competition was quite close! Multiple tied games being the perfect example!

Unfortunately, much like Youth, our Girls were only able to complete one game on Monday, with another suspended mid-way through. Our starting timeslot on Day 2 only featured one field. The team at Narangba managed to recover a second diamond, and their efforts meant that five games were completed on Tuesday.

Despite additional Tuesday night rain, Wednesday saw us start the day with both of those Little League diamonds up and running and a full complement of eight games were completed.

The strong showing from our six teams this year resulted in the final standings at the conclusion of Wednesday’s games:

Girls Standings

#1 Brisbane North Gold
#2 Brisbane South
#3 Gold Coast

#4 Brisbane North White
#5 Brisbane Metro
#6 Brisbane South and West

THANK YOU!

As the 2024 Queensland Women’s State Titles come to a close, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this tournament possible.

To the tournament staff, host venues, and the incredible volunteers, your hard work and dedication, especially in navigating the unpredictable weather, have been nothing short of amazing. From rescheduling games to prepping fields in challenging conditions, you’ve gone above and beyond to keep the tournament running smoothly.

To the players and their families, thank you for your patience, understanding, and unwavering support. Your flexibility and positive attitude in the face of weather disruptions made all the difference, allowing us to focus on creating the best possible experience for everyone.

Provide your Event Feedback

Our post-event Feedback survey is now live! Everyone who was involved, spectators, players, coaches, umpires, scorers or other volunteers are all encouraged and invited to submit their feedback!

That wasn't all...

Leading Edge Sports

Spirit of the Game awards

In partnership with Leading Edge Sports, one athlete from each game would receive a Spirit of the Game award. Each coach would come together to decide on a winner who demonstrated spirit, determination and a high level of support of themselves, teammates and the game.

Each winner received a $50 Leading Edge Sports voucher.

There were also a few Women, Youth and Girls who hit home runs, and these achievements were also rewarded with their very own Leading Edge Sports voucher.

Luisa Gauci

Queensland Alumni, Milwaukee Brewers

Luisa was our saviour on Monday. Hailing from Queensland’s Performance Programs, working her way up to Manager of Baseball Technologies with Driveline Baseball alongside other coaching roles, culminating in her current position as Minor League Hitting Coach with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Luisa was generous enough to donate her time and inspire our Youth Women and Girls with her story and answering some questions along the way!

Baseball5

One opportunity gone but another one to come…

Much like Saturday and Monday, we’d had plans for extra activities that were not suited to the weather.

The patch of grass set aside for Baseball5 became a drain for the soccer fields and remained soaked through the entire tournament.

Fear not! We’ve organised an Open Day, everyone is welcome, it’s all ages, all genders!

The flyer has the details – but if you’d like to learn more about Baseball5 head over to the webpage by clicking the button below!

Want to play baseball?

All clubs welcome Women and Girls, and you can find all of our clubs on our Local Clubs page by clicking the button below:

Women and Girls Specific Opportunities

Regardless of where you are in the state, if there’s baseball, there’s opportunities for Women and Girls!

Greater Brisbane League – Women’s Division 1, 2 and 3

Playing during the Summer Season, our clubs in Brisbane, Ipswich, Moreton, Logan, Redlands and select Gold Coast clubs compete in this Women’s only competition.

Sunshine Coast Baseball – Women’s Slow Pitch

A brand new initiative from Sunshine Coast Baseball, their season starts on January 12. Get involved with Sunshine Coast’s first ever Women’s Slow Pitch season!

Townsville Diamonds

The Townsville Diamonds is a growing women’s program in Townsville, recently expanding to a second team. The Diamonds offers a great opportunity to learn the game and be mentored by a number of Queensland Women and Queensland coaching staff.

 

Cairns Angels

A dedicated Women’s team within their mixed competitions, the Cairns Angels is a great place to introduce yourself to Baseball and be supported by existing female players!

 

In case you missed it… Baseball Queensland was successful in receiving Play Our Way funding to boost participation opportunities for Women and Girls! Read about it here.

Learn about our host venues

Narangba Demons

Harris Avenue, Narangba

Narangba Demons is the fastest growing club in Queensland, and likely Australia. Having tripled their numbers since the 2019/20 season. The club features teams in every age group and division and has a strong and growing group of female players!

Runcorn Indians

Wakerley Park, Runcorn

The Southside Indians have been a fixture of Brisbane baseball since 1982. With a strong volunteer base, the club is on the path to growth! The club also neighbours the Runcorn State High School Baseball School of Excellence.

Gender Equity Action Plan Workshop

Gender Equity Action Plan Workshop

Creating an inclusive baseball environment for women and girls

Baseball Queensland is hosting a Gender Equity Action Plan (GEAP) Workshop on 18 January 2025, from 9:30am – 2:00pm at the Sports House Meeting Rooms, 150 Caxton St, Milton. Virtual participation is also available, with registrations for the virtual option closing on 13 January 2025.

This workshop invites stakeholders to collaborate on actionable strategies for fostering inclusivity and equity in baseball, focusing on increasing opportunities and representation for women and girls.

 

Baseball Queensland recognises the importance of achieving gender equity and ensuring that women have a strong voice in our sport.

The National Gender Equity in Sports Governance Policy, a collaborative effort between the Australian Sports Commission and State and Territory Agencies for Sport and Recreation, aims to address the persistent under-representation of women in governance roles within the sports sector. The new policy establishes clear targets for national and state-level sports bodies across Australia, requiring them to achieve the following standards by 1 July 2027:

  • 50% of board directors are women and/or gender diverse
  • 50% of board chairs are women and/or gender diverse
    50% of key board sub-committee members are women and/or gender diverse

The Queensland Government has set similar targets for funded state-level sporting bodies (including Baseball Queensland) by 2029.  To identify and set our gender equity goals and actions, we will be preparing the Baseball Queensland Gender Equity Action Plan (GEAP) in 2025. It is critical that this plan takes account of input from a broad cross section of our members, including players, coaches, administrators, officials, board and committee members and other volunteers.

Therefore, as an important member of the Baseball Queensland family, you are warmly invited to attend our GEAP workshop, either in-person at Sports House in Brisbane or online via Zoom.

Register your attendance and learn more at Baseball Queensland – GEAP Workshop. Let’s build a stronger, more inclusive future for baseball together.

Please register using the link above no later than Monday 13 January 2025.
Any questions regarding the workshop can be directed to info@cprgroup.com.au or gareth@baseballqld.asn.au.

 

Register now: http://cprgroup.com.au/baseball-qld

Gold Coast Summer Classic 2025

Gold Coast Summer Classic 2025

This tournament is not administrated by Baseball Queensland. Please reach out to the Gold Coast Baseball Association with any questions regarding this event.
Contact email: rdo@goldcoast-baseball.com

 

Little League Minor @ Coomera Cubs Baseball Club

Little League Major @ Mudgeeraba Redsox Baseball Club

Intermediate League @ Coomera Cubs Baseball Club

Junior League @ Runaway Bay Dolphins Baseball Club

Senior League @ Robina Braves and Mudgeeraba Redsox Baseball Club

2025 Queensland Women’s Squads Announcement

2025 Queensland Women’s Squads Announcement

After a big week of Queensland State Titles, we are pleased to announce the players selected for the 2025 Queensland Women’s Squads. The squads include 48 Women’s players, 31 Youth Women’s players, and 22 in the Youth Women’s Elevate Squad.

Preparations are underway for the 2025 Australian Women’s Championships, held from 13-19 April, and the Australian Youth Women’s Championships (U16), from 15-19 April at Melbourne Ballpark. Training begins in January 2025, with tournament teams to be named in early February.

Congratulations to all selected players. We look forward to a big 2025 and an exciting year of women’s baseball ahead. 

🔗 2025 Australian Women’s Championship: baseball.com.au/events/2025-awc
🔗 2025 Australian Youth Women’s Championship (U16): baseball.com.au/events/2025-aywc

Gender Equity Action Plan Workshop

BQ GEAP Workshop

baseball Queensland Gender Equity Action Plan Workshop

Creating an inclusive baseball environment for women and girls

Baseball Queensland is hosting a Gender Equity Action Plan (GEAP) Workshop on 18 January 2025, from 9:30am – 2:00pm at the Sports House Meeting Rooms, 150 Caxton St, Milton. Virtual participation is also available, with registrations for the virtual option closing on 13 January 2025.

This workshop invites stakeholders to collaborate on actionable strategies for fostering inclusivity and equity in baseball, focusing on increasing opportunities and representation for women and girls.

Baseball Queensland recognises the importance of achieving gender equity and ensuring that women have a strong voice in our sport.

The National Gender Equity in Sports Governance Policy, a collaborative effort between the Australian Sports Commission and State and Territory Agencies for Sport and Recreation, aims to address the persistent under-representation of women in governance roles within the sports sector. The new policy establishes clear targets for national and state-level sports bodies across Australia, requiring them to achieve the following standards by 1 July 2027:

  • 50% of board directors are women and/or gender diverse
  • 50% of board chairs are women and/or gender diverse
    50% of key board sub-committee members are women and/or gender diverse

The Queensland Government has set similar targets for funded state-level sporting bodies (including Baseball Queensland) by 2029.  To identify and set our gender equity goals and actions, we will be preparing the Baseball Queensland Gender Equity Action Plan (GEAP) in 2025. It is critical that this plan takes account of input from a broad cross section of our members, including players, coaches, administrators, officials, board and committee members and other volunteers.

Therefore, as an important member of the Baseball Queensland family, you are warmly invited to attend our GEAP workshop, either in-person at Sports House in Brisbane or online via Zoom.

Register your attendance and learn more at Baseball Queensland – GEAP Workshop. Let’s build a stronger, more inclusive future for baseball together.

Please register using the link above no later than Monday 13 January 2025.
Any questions regarding the workshop can be directed to info@cprgroup.com.au or gareth@baseballqld.asn.au. 

Gold Coast Junior Girls’ Skills Day

Gold Coast Junior Girls’ Skills Day

Following on the success of the Junior Girls’ Skills Development program hosted by Mudgeeraba Redsox Baseball Club and Gold Coast Baseball Association, it was time to focus on the younger girls. Bad weather couldn’t keep these girls, aged 5-9 years, away. They turned up with smiles and enthusiasm and were met by the same from their coaches.

Led by Kim and Tammy McMillan, Gold Coast Division 1 players Lila Hall, Grace White and Taliyah Paolo put the girls through their paces. Some were new to the game, others had some playing experience under their belt.

Looking forward to seeing some of these girls give it their best at the upcoming Baseball Queensland Girls’ State Titles.

Come & Try Baseball5

Come & Try Baseball5

COME & TRY BASEBALL5 DURING THE STATE TITLES!

Location: Narangba Demons Baseball Club
Date:  16-18th December 2024 (during the 2024 QLD Youth Women’s & Girls’ State Titles)
Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Cost: FREE

We’re thrilled to invite you to the 2024 Queensland Youth Women’s and Girls’ State Titles, happening from December 16th to 18th at Narangba Demons Baseball Club! From 9 AM to 3 PM each day, we’re bringing the excitement of Baseball5 to the event, and it’s an activation you won’t want to miss!

Baseball5 is a fast-paced, high-energy version of baseball that’s open to everyone—whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player. The activation space will be alive with music, energy, and plenty of opportunities to jump in and test your skills. Don’t know the rules? No problem! Our friendly BQ Development Officers will be on hand to guide you through it, so all you need to do is bring your positive attitude and have some fun!

No equipment is necessary—just come ready to play and enjoy the action! This event is open to all ages and fitness levels, and the best part? It’s completely FREE! We’ll also be handing out awesome giveaways throughout the event, so there’s plenty of fun, prizes, and good vibes to go around.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to the Baseball5 activation at the State Titles and join in the fun! Whether you’re there for the fast-paced game or the cool giveaways, it’s sure to be a great time. We can’t wait to see you there!

Perfect for anyone who loves playing handball—come see how Baseball5 puts a fresh twist on a familiar game!

Learn more about Baseball5:

2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament

2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament

The Queensland U18 Baseball Team are in Taiwan, embarking on their second consecutive trip to play in the 2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament. This exciting journey offers a blend of cultural exploration and high-level competition, providing an exceptional opportunity for players to grow both on and off the field. The tour serves as a vital part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming Australian Youth Championships (AYC) in January 2025.

Game Schedule (QLD Time):

  • 9 December 2024 @ Sanchung Stadium – 11:00 am (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqDarTVv06I)
  • 10 December 2024 @ Tianmu Stadium – 11:00 am (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHCgv0xYNPA)
  • 11 December 2024 @ Sanchung Stadium – 11:00 am
  • 11 December 2024  – 11:00am  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYcfNraRxN8

Beyond the diamond, the players will have the chance to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of Taiwan. This combination of competitive play and cultural exposure makes the tour a truly enriching experience.

The players will be supported by a skilled and dedicated coaching staff, including David Badke, Scott Porter, Keith Land, and Rickey Lo. Their expertise and guidance will be invaluable as the team tackles the challenges of international competition and prepares for the AYC.

This international tour provides a unique opportunity for the Queensland U18s to refine their game, build team camaraderie, and gain valuable experience against international opponents. It’s an important stepping stone as they gear up for the Australian Youth Championships in January.

Official Facebook Page for 2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament: https://www.facebook.com/NTPCxFUBONxU18

Coach Badke Diaries

 Day 6 – Game 4 v Kaohsiung 

Unfortunately it was not our day going down to Kaohsiung 9 to 1 to end our tournament. We got off to a great start early but were not able to maintain the momentum. 

The team has had a great week finishing the tournament with 2 wins, 2 losses with making the super round only in our second year, which is a great achievement.

This evening the team and 4 other international teams (2 Japan, 2 Korean) were hosted by Chuan Jung Chen, Tournament Director for a fantastic buffet dinner that offered a wide variety of the local Taiwanese cuisines. It was a great experience for all to interact with the other teams for both the players and coaches. 

We will play Kanakawa (Japan team) tomorrow at 10am (local time) in a friendship game before heading home on Saturday night. 

Day 5 – Game 3 v Ting Pung Country 

The team had a strong 9 to 3 win over Ting Pung Country today. Jhett Wollin got us going on the mound with Andre Chang, Luka Moore and Eli Hardey- Abdy came in to relieve and continued to shut down the Ting Pung Country bats. 

Most guys racked up hits today with Caleb Duke and Ryley Shanks being the stand outs. The baserunning let us down and we need to be better tomorrow. 

I was happy with how we went about it today, pretty consistent and did not allow Ting Pung Country into the game, we got momentum from the first inning. 

With today’s win, we now advance to the super round that is a single elimination round.  Basically, we need to win every game from here on to make it to the Championship game on Saturday.  With this only being our 2nd year here, the team should be proud of what they have already achieved. 

We then went off for some chicken for lunch and got back on the Taiwan Metro train to go check out the Taipei 101 building (tallest building in Taiwan) and more shopping in Taipei City. 

We are looking forward to tomorrow’s Super Round game against Kaohsiung at 9am (11am QLD time). 

Day 4 – Game 2 v Seoul
 

Today, we came up against a strong Seoul team, and we could not get any momentum or make adjustments as well as we could have. It’s all part of the learning process, the good thing is that I know these guys can bounce back tomorrow against Ping Tung country. 

A win tomorrow will see us through to the next stage of the tournament reseeding in the top pool so we have a lot to play for.  

We have had a few early starts this week so the guys had this afternoon off to get some down time to recharge and refocus. 

Day 3 – Game 1 v Chiayi City 

The team had a strong start to the tournament with a 6-2 win over Chiayi City. Caleb Duke set the tone early on the mound, getting through 4 solid innings to keep the Chiayi City bats under control. Jhett Wollin and Luka Moore both came in to relieve and finished the job, maintaining the lead throughout.

Offensively, the team showed great discipline and approach, with Lachlan Reed, Zak Stafilis, Eli Hardey-Abdy and Ray Song leading with each collecting multiple hits. The hitters were patient, worked counts and hit the ball hard. 

Another standout aspect of the game was our aggressive baserunning, guys getting out of their comfort zone. The team did well putting pressure on Chiayi City’s defense, creating scoring opportunities. 

Overall, it was a solid performance today but we need to come out tomorrow and maintain how we played today. 

Great to get QLDs first win in Taiwan. 

The guys then relaxed for the rest of the day heading off to the baseball store, some learnt how to use a washing machine at the Laundromat and finished the night off with a nice steak, pasta and ice cream hosted by Melody Chen, Council Member, Overseas Community Affairs  Council of. China (Taiwan). Thank you Melody. 

Day 2 – Practice game v Er Chong High School 

The team played a practice game against Er Chong High School today (Sunday), our final hit out before the tournament begins on Monday. 

Pitching was solid overall with Ray Song, Max Clarke, Eli Hardey-Abdy, Zak Stafilis and Andre Chang getting their work in today though there was one inning where we lost some control, and a few routine errors defensively allowed the game to get away from us. We need to tighten that up before the tournament  

On the offensive side, the hitting was good. Caleb Duke, Ryley Shanks, Luka Moore, Zak Stafilis all recorded hits. The guys made some good pitch selections and squared up a lot of strikes. I’m confident they’ll find the gaps tomorrow when it counts.

We’re in a good place heading into the tournament!

The day ended up with the team heading out catching a Taiwan metro train to a local shopping mall to do some shopping, have some dinner and relax. 

Day 1 – Training and Opening Party Ceremony

After a long flight yesterday and a much needed rest, the team was recharged and ready to hit the field for a 2 hour training session today. The energy was high and plenty of enthusiasm and was great to see the team bonding together.
We then headed off for some lunch at a local noodle restaurant in Taipei City, which the food was pretty good.
The opening party ceremony was the highlight of the day – a spectacular event where the team had a fantastic night and set the tone for the tournament ahead.
The team gears up for our first game of the tournament on Monday. Everyone’s excited and I look forward to seeing how we stack up against the local competition over the next week.

2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament

U18s head to Taiwan

The Queensland U18 Baseball Team depart for Taiwan today, embarking on their second consecutive trip to play in the 2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament. This exciting journey offers a blend of cultural exploration and high-level competition, providing an exceptional opportunity for players to grow both on and off the field. The tour serves as a vital part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming Australian Youth Championships (AYC) in January 2025.

The team is set to arrive in Taiwan tomorrow and will dive into an action-packed week of games, sharpening their skills and experiencing baseball in a challenging international environment.

Game Schedule (QLD Time):

  • 9 December 2024 @ Sanchung Stadium – 7:00 am
  • 10 December 2024 @ Tianmu Stadium – 7:00 am
  • 11 December 2024 @ Sanchung Stadium – 7:00 am

Beyond the diamond, the players will have the chance to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of Taiwan. This combination of competitive play and cultural exposure makes the tour a truly enriching experience.

The players will be supported by a skilled and dedicated coaching staff, including David Badke, Scott Porter, Keith Land, and Rickey Lo. Their expertise and guidance will be invaluable as the team tackles the challenges of international competition and prepares for the AYC.

This international tour provides a unique opportunity for the Queensland U18s to refine their game, build team camaraderie, and gain valuable experience against international opponents. It’s an important stepping stone as they gear up for the Australian Youth Championships in January.

Official Facebook Page for 2024 New Taipei City International U-18 Baseball Invitational Tournament: https://www.facebook.com/NTPCxFUBONxU18