Baseball Queensland is inviting applications for a part-time Player Development Coordinator to join our team and play a key role in growing baseball across the state.
In this role, you will deliver player and coach development programs that increase participation and prepare athletes and coaches for entry into the high-performance pathway. Working closely with the CEO and Performance Program Manager, you will support clubs and regions with tailored development initiatives, lead coach education for aspiring coaches, and manage the coordination of emerging talent and touring team operations.
You will also assist in delivering major pathway events such as State Championships, working alongside volunteers, committees, and staff in a collaborative, member-based environment.
We’re seeking a proactive, organised individual with strong communication skills and a passion for nurturing Queensland’s baseball talent.
GOLD MEDAL GAME: BRISBANE NORTH 11 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 2 – Brisbane North out muscle Melbourne Athletics to claim Australian Junior League Championship
Brisbane North out-hit, out-pitched and out-scored them in a dominating Gold Medal Game display.
Brisbane North collected 14 hits to Melbourne’s four and had a big pitching performance from Tyler Wilson in the win.
They’ll now represent Australia at the 2025 Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan.
Coby Holt led Brisbane with a three hit performance. Tyler Wilson, Barry Hunter and Chase Crew also picked up a pair of hits.
Tyler Wilson (below) threw 5.0 innings, allowing just one run, three hits, four walks and had eight strikeouts.
It looked early as if Melbourne Athletics would chuck a lopsided number on the ledger. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the second inning.
Enter Tyler Wilson.
The right-handed Brisbane North pitcher struck out the side and walked just one batter. He escaped the inning with just one run on the board and the bases full of Athletics.
It seemed to spark the offence.
Brisbane North scored three runs immediately following in the third inning. Coby Holt tied the game with an RBI single to right-field. Two batters later, Patrick Fogg hit a ground ball and reached on an error by the pitcher which caused two more runs to score on the play.
3-1.
Aaron Bell drove in a pair with a two-RBI single to left in the fifth. Barry Hunter and Kenneth O’Brien picked up RBI singles in the fifth.
7-1.
Meanwhile, Wilson was cruising. His final stat line read 5.0 innings, with three hits, one run, four walks and eight strikeouts.
The Athletics pegged one back in the sixth but Brisbane North sailed away to a Golden sunset in the top of the seventh. They plated four runs thanks to a bases clearing triple from Logan Lokeni and a line drive RBI from Logan Larkin.
Patrick Fogg recorded the final three outs.
Brisbane North will represent Australia at the 2025 Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan from August 3-10.
The players are: Chase Crew, Joey Perkins, Tyler Wilson, Barry Hunter, Archer Peterson, Logan Lokeni, Patrick Fogg, Kenneth O’Brien, Coby Holt, Aaron Bell, Logan Larkin, Eddie Jones. Coaches:
BRISBANE NORTH
Hits (14): Patrick Fogg, Logan Lokeni, Chase Crew (2), Logan Larkin, Barry Hunter (2), Kenneth O’Brien, Tyler Wilson (2), Aaron Bell, Coby Holt (3)
RBI: Lokeni (2), Bell (2), Larkin, Hunter, O’Brien, Holt
Brisbane North has done Queensland proud, taking out the 2025 Australian Little League Championship with a dominant 6-0 win over Ryde Red. (WATCH THE MINI-MATCH here)
With the national title secured, they’re now headed to the Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania this August – a dream come true for these young Queenslanders!
💛💚 From start to finish, their teamwork, focus and passion stood out, and we couldn’t be prouder of the entire squad representing Queensland on the world stage.
⚾ More to Come – Brisbane North Junior League Heads to Melbourne
While the Little League team gears up for their World Series debut, Brisbane North’s Junior League side is heading to Melbourne this week for their semi-final against Cronulla Black. The game kicks off at 9:30 AM this Friday, after the original tournament was postponed due to wet weather.
Braxton Black threw a complete game shutout as Brisbane North defeated Ryde Red 6-0 in the 2025 Australian Little League Gold Medal Game.
The Vikings starter struck out 12 batters and conceded just four hits and two walks in his dominating display.
Brisbane North are going to Williamsport. They will represent the Australia Region at the famous Little League World Series, play in front of crowds of over 30,000 and television audiences of over a million.
Brisbane North only managed three hits off a tricky Ryde pitching staff of Miles Powell, Flynn Helliar & Jenson Koch.
They took advantage of walks, errors and a few passed balls.
Brisbane North scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning and never saw a ball leave the infield.
You can watch the highlights and the runs below.
Harper Lokeni, Xander Reid and Josh Campbell-Manfield had the base knocks for Brisbane North.
The Queenslanders lost just one game all week. They only allowed 15 runs in seven games – the best mark in the tournament. They struck out 72 batters as a collective.
Game On: Queensland Athletes Abroad is a new Baseball Queensland series celebrating homegrown talent chasing their baseball dreams on the international stage. From local clubs to college commitments, these athletes have taken their game to the next level, showing that dedication, discipline, and passion can create incredible opportunities beyond home. Each story highlights the journey from Queensland pathways to overseas success, aiming to inspire the next generation of players to believe in what’s possible with hard work and commitment. Whether they’re studying, training, or competing, these athletes carry Queensland pride with them every step of the way. Game on — let’s follow their journey.
Athlete spotlight: TOM CHESSELL
Quick Profile
Name: Tom Chessell
Position:3rd Base, 1st Base
Club:Redcliffe Padres, Brisbane North
College:Clarendon College, Texas
College Year: Freshman
Degree:Kinesiology
Socials:@tchessell_
The Pathway to College Baseball
Tom Chessell’s journey from Brisbane North’s Redcliffe Padres to U.S. college baseball is one of dedication and persistence. His development through Baseball Queensland’s Emerging Athlete Program, High Performance Program, and U18 State Team prepared him for the transition to playing at the next level.
Starting his high-performance journey at 16 years old, Tom was guided by a strong group of mentors, including David Badke, Phil Overlack, Greg Morris, Chris Norris, Dan Wilson, and, of course, his Mum and Dad.
Lessons from Baseball Queensland
For Tom, the key to success has always been consistency and coachability.
“Stay consistent. Turn up to training each day ready to learn and perform. Being coachable is everything.”
One of his proudest moments came from winning the U18 Australian Youth Championship (AYC), an experience that solidified his confidence and fueled his ambition to play at a higher level.
Adjusting to College Life
The transition to college baseball wasn’t just about stepping up in competition—it was about earning everything.
“You’re no longer the standout. You have to earn your spot on the team through hard work and passion.”
The daily routine at Clarendon College reflects that commitment:
9 AM – 11 AM: Classes
1:30 PM – 5 PM: Training
6 PM – 8 PM: Weights
Balancing academics, training, and physical preparation is a daily grind, but one Tom embraces wholeheartedly.
Advice for Aspiring College Players
Tom’s advice to young Queensland athletes is simple but crucial:
“Be coachable. Listen to everything coaches say. Always turn up to training wanting to learn and get better.”
Success in college baseball requires not just talent, but a willingness to learn, adapt, and work harder than the competition.
What’s Next?
As Tom continues his freshman season at Clarendon College, he’s focused on developing his game and making the most of every opportunity. His journey serves as a blueprint for future Baseball Queensland athletes looking to take their game to the next level.
Queensland umpire Anahera Russell recently officiated at the Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships in Victoria — and was recognised with the No More Spirit of the Game Award.
We thought it was the perfect time to catch up with Anahera and hear more about her journey, her favourite moments, and why umpiring brings her so much joy 🙌
Getting to Know You How long have you been umpiring, and what first inspired you to pick up the umpire gear? I started umpiring 5 years ago when I played softball. I took a break from umpiring when my boys moved to baseball and missed it a lot, so I picked it back up at the end of the 23/24 season.
What do you love most about being part of the baseball community at Redcliffe Padres? I love that anytime I’m at the diamonds, I’m always supported and encouraged. I’ve met some amazing, selfless people who love baseball and want to share that with the wider community. Padres really are for the love of the game!
Spirit of the Game Award How did it feel to be recognised with the Spirit of the Game Award at the recent AWC & AYWC championships? I was honoured. I am only the third person to win that award, and I felt so lucky that Janine, last year’s winner, was part of our team this year too. I was already so happy and grateful to be umpiring at AWYC — that was totally unexpected.
This award is all about fair play, teamwork, community and respect — what do those values mean to you when you’re on the diamond? I feel like it means everything on the diamond. Embracing these values not only enhances my experience as an umpire but also helps shape character and builds a legacy of positive influence for women and young girls, both on and off the field.
Can you share a moment during the tournament where you feel you really lived out those values? There were so many moments on and off the diamond. The little chats with the players between innings, the banter with spectators, coming together after games and being given encouraging feedback, dinners where we shared stories about our umpiring journeys. But most of all, I felt I lived these values every day — being beyond happy to be there umpiring and sharing my passion with the many people whose path I crossed. I described being at Nationals as the “BEST WEEK EVER!” There wasn’t a day I didn’t arrive at the ballpark not smiling 😄
What advice would you give to young players or umpires about embracing the spirit of baseball, both on and off the field? Baseball’s a game — be competitive, but don’t forget to have fun too!!
Umpire of the Year – Redcliffe Padres Congratulations on also being named Umpire of the Year for Redcliffe Padres! 🎉 What does this recognition mean to you personally? Thank you! Honestly, it felt like the family got together to recognise and celebrate many awesome achievements this season. I couldn’t be prouder receiving this award and I hope it encourages more women and girls to have a go at umpiring!!
What do you think has helped you grow the most as an umpire this year? I think what’s helped me grow the most as an umpire this year is the belief and support from not just the Padres family, but club members all over Brisbane. This season (for Padres) I umpired juniors from Little League through to Senior League, Masters, Women’s, and Divs 5 & 6 on Sundays. I picked up games for other clubs, umpired at Women’s Div 2 State Titles, Junior League State Titles and recently AYWC. I have learnt so much from so many people, all of whom I am grateful to for passing on their knowledge and experiences to help me be a better umpire.
Is there a game or moment this season that stands out as a personal highlight in your umpiring journey? I had a few! I got to plate behind both my boys this season. There was lots of “constructive feedback” after those games 😂 but most recently at State Titles, I was base umpire in a LL Invitational game between Brisbane North and North Queensland. I got to team up with Dan Del Nido (OMG he’s off to umpire at the Little League World Series!! So cool!). The game was brilliant! The kids were having a great time, I was fist-bumping kids in the outfield who made great catches. It’s inspiring to see kids be kids — watching their faces light up with pure joy and having fun!
Reflections and Future Goals How do you stay positive and motivated through the highs and challenges of umpiring? At the beginning of the season it was really hard to process “those looks” on a called strike or ball, or a spectator calling out “hard on you batter” — but I kept putting my hand up to umpire because it’s my happy place. I remember the first time I watched Carla umpire, I was in awe 🤩 The many times I’ve teamed up with Cass and learnt so much from her — and now she’s off to Williamsport to umpire in the Maria Pepe Little League Legacy Series! Meeting and rubbing shoulders with Lilian King who graduated from Wendelstedt Umpire School in Florida (OMG!!) — I have met some brilliant umpires, both male and female, young and old. They make me feel like the sky’s the limit!
What are your goals/dreams for the future — both in umpiring and in baseball overall? Dream for the future… debuting in the ABL before I’m 50? 😅 I’d love to be able to work more 3-umpire systems with my fellow QLD female umpires. That was fun at AYWC!
My umpire hat aside, I’m off to Lismore at the end of May to watch my youngest son play in the Australian Junior League Championships. I’m hoping I get accepted to umpire at the Australian Little League Girls Championship and Australian Little League Invitational in July, and then Women’s, Youth Women’s and/or Little League Girls State Titles in December 🙏🏾🤞🏾 I also wouldn’t say no to Futures League and Showcase if the opportunity arose 😄
