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: 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.

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

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 [email protected] or [email protected].