Baseball Queensland - Baseball Queensland

Athlete & Coach Development in Townsville

Feb 13, 2025

Baseball Queensland recently delivered a comprehensive Athlete and Coach Development opportunity in Townsville, providing targeted training and resources for athletes and coaches across all levels. This initiative aimed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of participants, fostering growth in the North Queensland region.

This initiative was funded through the Queensland Government’s Active Industry Project Fund (AIPF) Super Round, which supports projects that enhance participation and address pathway inequalities for athletes. Baseball Queensland’s project focuses on decentralised talent identification and athlete development, ensuring the sport thrives in multiple locations across the state.

Athlete and Coach Development – Townsville Highlights

Led by Nick Bachono and Lisa Norrie, Head Coach of the Queensland Women’s Team, the initiative delivered specialised sessions for both athletes and coaches. The focus was on skill development, game-specific drills, and providing coaches with resources to enhance their local programs.

Participants and Coaches

Athletes: 18 athletes from Cairns and Townsville participated across two days.
Coaches: Three coaches attended on day one, with four on day two.

Presentations & Practical Demonstrations

Lisa Norrie shared her expertise on overall athlete development and baserunning, while Nick Bachono led offensive programming sessions using a constraints-led approach. These concepts were brought to life through live drills and scenario-based training.

Tailored Clinics for Regional Development
The clinics addressed the needs of North Queensland’s athletes and coaches, including:

Athlete Development: Strength and conditioning, situational awareness, and decision-making.
Training Tools: Introduction to Driveline equipment, including Plyoballs, to modernise training methods.

Coaching Resources for Continued Growth
Coaches received a toolkit with session planning materials, Driveline equipment, and training tools to foster ongoing development in their programs.

Baseball Queensland extends its thanks to Lisa Norrie, Nick Bachono, and all participants for their involvement. This trip highlights the importance of regional development initiatives, made possible through the support of the Queensland Government’s AIPF Super Round.

Meanwhile, despite the heat, Queensland Women’s training is in full swing in North Queensland, adding to the momentum and growth of baseball across the region.

Kobe Koryo – Queensland Friendship Series, Kookaburra Cup

Feb 13, 2025

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.

About Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School

Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School is one of Japan’s leading schools for girls’ baseball. The team has won multiple championships in the Girls’ Koshien Tournament and the Senbatsu Invitational Tournament, Japan’s top high school baseball events.

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.

Related Articles: Are there girls’ high school baseball tournaments in Japan?

Baseball5 Open Day

Jan 23, 2025

Last Saturday, January 18th, was all about action and connection at the Robina Braves Baseball Club during their Baseball5 Promo Day. With music playing and a great crowd, the event was the perfect introduction to this fast-paced game.

The day started with a showcase game featuring students from Robina State High School, a Baseball Excellence school that has fully embraced Baseball5. Their skills and teamwork were on full display, giving the crowd a clear sense of the excitement Baseball5 brings.

After the showcase, 20–25 participants, wearing vibrant playing tops kindly donated by Dr Clayton Perks, took to the field for a round-robin competition. The colourful uniforms added to the excitement as the participants impressed the crowd with their quick plays and growing skills. A big thank you to Dr Perks for your generous support of Baseball5!

Whether they were first-timers or just eager to give it a go, everyone got into the spirit of the game. With fast-paced action, plenty of laughter, and a bit of friendly rivalry, the energy on the field was contagious.

The event highlighted the fun and accessibility of Baseball5, bringing the community together and sparking enthusiasm for the sport.

If you’re keen to try Baseball5, stay tuned—details about a Baseball5 social competition are coming soon!

Shayne Watson Departs Baseball Queensland

Jan 20, 2025

Shayne Watson Departs Baseball Queensland: A Fond Farewell and New Beginnings

Baseball Queensland announces the departure of Shayne Watson, whose tenure as Performance Pathways Manager has been marked by exceptional dedication and achievement. Over two decades, Shayne has been instrumental in shaping the pathways that have helped countless athletes progress through the ranks of baseball in Queensland. His vision and passion for player development have left an indelible mark on our programs.

Shayne’s impact goes far beyond the field; his ability to inspire players, coaches, and staff alike has enriched the Baseball Queensland community. While we are saddened to see him leave, we are excited for his next chapter with Baseball Australia (BA), where he will assume a pivotal role in the national baseball landscape. His expertise and leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the sport’s continued growth across Australia. We wish Shayne every success in this exciting new endeavour.

Nick Bachono Steps Up as Interim Performance Pathways Manager

With Shayne’s departure, Baseball Queensland is pleased to announce that Nick Bachono will serve as Interim Performance Pathways Manager while the recruitment process for Shayne’s replacement is completed. Nick, who has been a key member of our team as Player Development Officer, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this acting role.

As Shayne’s understudy, Nick has worked closely within the Performance Pathways framework, making him uniquely positioned to lead during this transition. His commitment to athlete development and his understanding of the programs ensure continuity as we maintain our focus on excellence.

We thank Nick for stepping up to this challenge and are confident in his ability to guide our pathways programs with the same professionalism and dedication he has demonstrated throughout his time with Baseball Queensland.

Please join us in celebrating Shayne’s accomplishments and wishing him well in his future endeavours, while also supporting Nick as he assumes this important interim role.

2025 Queensland Women’s Squads Announcement

Dec 20, 2024

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