2024, what a year!
From three Nationals to a Showcase, to a world-first in Little League, and a third Barclay Cup.
To Aussie juniors and seniors repping it on the world stage, a new format of baseball and two new domestic series.
From Melbourne to Lismore to Sydney, across to the USA, Japan and even Guam.
There was a lot to smile about for Aussie women's and girls baseball in 2024!
Rewind the year with Women’s Baseball The Inside Pitch’s moments of the year.
2024 Australian Women's Championships - Twice the bridesmaid, now the blushing bride
Photo - Team Victoria
The best of the best in women’s baseball returned to Melbourne Ballpark in 2024, with Victoria lifting its first post-COVID trophy and their 14th overall title in 25 years following a superb undefeated run at the Australian Women’s Championships.
The Big V completed a perfect 7-0 tournament, displaying their class with two impressive wins over silver medallist NSW during the week, in addition to defeating Queensland Maroon which went on to claim its first medal in almost ten years.
It was Lili Cavanagh’s world that week and we were just living in it, with the Victorian securing the MVP honours with a simply stunning display with the bat, on the mound and in the field. New South Wales’ Claire O’Sullivan claimed the Golden Bat award, while Victorians Allie Bebbere and Abbey Kelly were awarded the Golden Arm and Glove respectively.
It was also awesome to see a host of newcomers, rising stars, and some already familiar names match it with our Emerald stars.
While there were many more we could have written about, we think many would have had Queensland’s Molly Donald, the New South Wales duo of Lisa Nakashio and Isobel Lambert, South Australia’s Jess Maslin and Bianca Ramsey, WA’s Chloe Atkinson and Ava Tyson, plus Victoria’s Jess Johnson and Belinda Cannington on their nationals highlight reel bingo list.
Australian Women's Youth Championships - Next-level next-gen
Photo - Trent Schwarz
If you walked past the back diamond at Altona in April, you would be excused for thinking you were watching the Women’s Nationals, such was the display of talent from Australia’s next-gen at the 2024 Australian Youth Women’s Championships.
In the battle of Australia’s best under-15 ballers, it was South Australia who came out on top with the blue and red lifting its first ever Youth Nationals trophy with a 14-1 win over defending champions Queensland in the gold medal match. In fact, it was SA’s first ever Youth medal!
Western Australia claimed its first Youth medal since 2016 taking the bronze.
In 2024, the individual performances were out of this world with Alice Brown (SA) dominating with both the bat and ball to take the MVP and Golden Arm, punctuated by a brilliant 7-inning complete game in the gold medal game. Shenaye Lett (WA) grabbed the Golden Bat and Holly Moellers (QLD) the Golden Glove awards.
The Youth Nationals is an integral part of the Australian women’s baseball pathway, evidenced by the names scattered across the individual awards honour roll since across the ten editions held since 2012.
It is just a matter of time before we see some of the youth names star in the elite ranks.
Little League Nationals - The answer is Lismore!
Photo - Studio Honsa
The regional New South Wales town will forever be locked in history as the answer to a trivia question: What was the first city in the world to host a national all-girls Little League championship?
In May, Lismore welcomed 90 of Australia’s best junior girls aged 12 and under for the world’s first Girls Little League National Championships.
The six teams had made history even before they threw the first pitch, with NSW Blue, NSW White, Victoria Belles, Adelaide Seahorses, West Coast Rays, and Brisbane Rebels showcasing an unrivalled level of talent and spirit.
From Emma Gainsford’s MVP-esque performance to Audrey Cheung’s home run, all teams had a chance to shine. It was a dominant display from New South Wales Blue, who took the inaugural title, remaining undefeated throughout the round-robin stages before defeating Victoria Belles 15-1 in the decider.
For us, our favourite part was the event being held alongside the 2024 Australian Women’s Showcase. It allowed a new generation to showcase their skills on the field in the morning, before sitting back in the crowds to watch their heroes live under lights each night.
After all, you can’t be what you can’t see.
Women's Baseball Showcase - World’s best shine through fog and rain
Photo - Studio Honsa
The third Women's Baseball Showcase was a charm with a host of Australia’s and the world’s best shining on the diamond in Lismore.
The opening day fog and the incessant weekend rain did little to dampen the spirits and performances of the World Cup stars from Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, who played for the Brisbane Bandits, Victoria Aces, and Adelaide Giants.
Canadian superstar duo Raine Padgham and Sena Catterall, plus local hero Claire Sullivan, guided the Brisbane Bandits to their first Showcase win with a nail-biting victory over 2023 champions Victoria Aces in the final game.
It was an unforgettable four days spent celebrating all things girls and women’s baseball which ended with all women’s and little league players exchanging autographs, hats and more on the field well into the night!
We are all hoping we see a fourth edition very soon!
Little League World Series & U12 World Cup - Aussie juniors taking on the world
Photos - Cheung Family / Little League World Series
Two of our youngest shone on the international stage, with 12-year-old Emma Gainsford and 11-year-old Audrey Cheung representing the green and gold overseas.
A stand out for NSW at the inaugural Little League Girls Nationals in May, Gainsford then helped her Hills Little League win the Australian Little League Championships in July and a spot at the famous event held in Williamsport, USA. This would see Gainsford become just the twenty-third female to play in the Little League World Series since 1974, with her sliding catch in centrefield a social media highlight.
Cheung, who hit the first home run at the inaugural Little League Girls Nationals in May, headed to Guam in November for the U12 World Cup qualifiers. She helped Team Australia qualify for the 2025 World Cup with three wins from four games, contributing runs, a stolen base, and a key pickoff play at second base.
Can’t wait to see what’s next for these two!
Barclay Cup - The Barky spirit is still giant
Photo - Baseball NSW
When it comes to events, it’d be hard to find a more inspirational one than the Barclay Cup.
Named and held in honour of Australian Emerald legend Jacinda Barclay, the 2024 event started with an official welcome dinner where the players and coaches were treated to a Team Australia Emeralds panel including Katie Gaynor, Tahnee Lovering, Claire O’Sullivan, Laura Neads and Jordie Richardson.
On the field, 100 players across seven teams from South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria (two teams), and New South Wales (three teams) competed fiercely for the championship title and celebrated together off the field in true Barky fashion.
The Adelaide Seahorses completed an undefeated run in the tournament, with NSW Jacinda Giants and NSW Cinda Spirit finishing second and third.
Every year, the Barclay Cup inspires more people through the sharing of stories about Jacinda, in addition to the stories they are creating on their own baseball journey.
We are already looking the next Barclay Cup chapter!
Baseball 5 World Cup - Baseball, but not as we know it
Photo - WBSC
Team Australia made its debut in the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup, a new five-on-five, five-inning street version of the game of Baseball/Softball that can be played anywhere.
The eight-player mixed roster featured Emeralds’ 2023 Women's Baseball World Cup star Allie Bebbere who became the first Australian to play in a WBSC senior Baseball and senior Baseball5 World Cup.
16-year-old Amelia Wright added a senior rep jersey to her 2023 Youth Baseball5 World Cup selection, while Jamie Bastian and Ebony Sutherland made their debuts in the green and gold.
Held in Hong Kong, China in October, the 39-ranked Australia was pitted in a tough group against World No. 5 Japan; No. 4 France; No. 3 Tunisia; No. 7 Mexico and No. 9 China.
While the might of the world stopped Aussies from recording a win in their debut, it was more than just about the scoreboard for the players, team, and importantly for the fledging sport, as it continues to build momentum in Australia.
Just give the green and gold some more time.
Darwin Women's League - On top in the top end
Photo - Baseball NT
Following a visit by Emeralds Ticara Geldhuis, Maddi Erwin, and Samantha Hamilton in April, the Darwin Women’s League was brought to life by the team at Baseball Northern Territory.
The inaugural Taverners NT Darwin Women’s Baseball League began with a series of training sessions and come-and-try clinics in September before launching into an eight-week season featuring four colourful teams with unique top-end names: Green Ants, Stingers, Cyclones, and Barras. The Cyclones were crowned inaugural champions after a thrilling 9-7 comeback victory over the Barras.
The real winner, however, is Northern Territory baseball, which experienced an 85% increase in female player registrations before the Series, in addition to Hannah Fior & Chelsea Erickson repping the state for the first time at the Barclay Cup.
2025 promises to be epic!
NSW-Fukuoka Partnership - The language of baseball knows no barriers
Photos - O’Sullivan/Geldenhuis
A notable 2024 moment that actually began in 2023 when Baseball NSW signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan.
In October 2023, and again in 2024, some of Australia’s best female players travelled to Japan to play and train alongside the premier female baseball team, the Kyūshū Honeys.
Team NSW stars Claire O’Sullivan, Ticara Geldenhuis, Maddi Erwin, Isobel Lambert, and Lisa Nakashio were some who immersed themselves in Japanese baseball and culture, competing across the country, including at the National Championships.
These partnerships are initiatives we’d love to see all Australian states and territories establish, not only with Japan but with other women’s baseball-playing countries worldwide.
After all, more Aussie women playing more baseball all over the world, what’s not to love about that?
More.
WA Elite Series - The lights shine on women's baseball in the west
Photo - Baseball WA
In September, Baseball WA launched the Women’s Elite Series, a four-team tournament which took centre stage on Wednesday nights at Empire Ballpark from October.
The Carine Cats, Kalamunda Rangers, Wanneroo Giants, and Melville Braves were announced as the first four teams to compete for the Club Cup Tournament under lights and also broadcast live on Streamer (7West Media).
At the time this article was prepared, the season had completed its round-robin stage, with the Giants and Braves atop the ladder with five wins each.
A series that backs their women, promoting them to the main stage, under lights, with an international audience….. we tip our caps WA.
We can’t wait to see this in all states and territories soon!
More.
