NORTH QUEENSLAND PLAYOFFS

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER

JABIRU PARK, TOWNSVILLE

Winners have been crowned in each respective town but now it’s time to face off and find out who are the real champions of the North.

This annual event is rotated between Cairns and Townsville as hosts, recognising true ambassadors of the game in the region.

Anne Kippin Cup (B GRADE)

TOWNSVILLE DIAMONDS VS CAIRNS BANDITS

8:30am 

“Go join and meet some friends…”

Little did Anne’s mum know that by encouraging her to join the local club, she would do more than just enrich her own life. Anne would go on to influence and provide a community for so many others to flourish in.

Since the 1980s, baseball in North Queensland has been synonymous with the name Anne Kippin.

It started with a friend inviting her along to score. That moment fostered her greatest love of the game. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a scorer in the region who hasn’t been to Anne’s school of scoring.

It’s not just scoring that Anne has had a hand in either.

Over the years, Anne has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep smooth operations for the game we love.

Anne is recognised as a life member of the Cairns Dodgers, Baseball Cairns and Baseball Queensland. She’s been on every committee in just about every position. She’s been volunteer of the year for Cairns and Queensland, awarded the Commonwealth Sports medal, and has been the Regional State Delegate for Baseball Queensland since… well… who can really remember!?!?

It may not seem like much when you put it down on paper but 40 years of service has shaped and grown baseball in our region to what we know it to be today.

True testimony to her character, her determination and commitment to her life’s passion is greater than any adversity that she may face.

“Even now while in hospital, she has her laptop and and is still running things in her usual indomitable fashion” – Sharon Ronenburg

KARINA CONNORS Cup (WOMENS SHOWCASE)

 TOWNSVILLE STEALERS VS CAIRNS ANGELS

11AM

“Women’s baseball is so important to me. I want to leave it better than I found it.”

Karina Connors found the game at age 4. Back then, she was the only girl she knew who played.

In fact it wasn’t until she was 14 when another girl from softball joined.

Flash forward to this weekend where we will be cheering on our fifth annual Karina Connors Cup, an all women’s showdown.

It’s safe to say that women’s baseball today does look vastly different.

And it’s thanks to passionate trailblazers like Karina.

Growing up, Karina would watch MLB games with her Step-Grandfather. They would dust off the VHS tapes shipped over all the way from his daughter in the USA. They’d sit and watch the Mets play nearly every game of the season.

From here her passion for the game would grow as she would go on to be one of Queenslands most capped players (tied with Nev Brockie).

Karina’s accolades are extensive.

In her playing career alone, she’s a multi-capped Australian player, Australian All Star 1st Base, Queensland Golden Arm and won numerous medals for her country and state, just to name a few.

“I didn’t know at the time but upon reflection I just wanted to play against the best players I could and see how I went.”

But Karina will be the first to tell you that for her women’s baseball means far more to her than that.

For the past 25 years, Karina has been in and around Queensland baseball, fiercely passionate and protective over creating an environment that encourages and makes women and girls feel safe and seen.

When she moved to Cairns, baseball took on a new flavour for her.

“There was this willingness to try anything and everything to bring people to the game, advance existing athletes and provide pathways for coaches.

There are so many natural athletes in NQ and I wanted to see what we could do and how many girls/women we could get to enjoy it.”

And so was born the first all women’s team in North Queensland – the Cairns Angels.

As a player and coach of the side, the Angels provided a space for women to play in a men’s comp in positions they would traditionally not be able to.

“Karina was proof to younger and newer players how far you can go in baseball as a female and was always there to listen and help. She’s a good role model and mentor” says Keely Henderson, long serving Cairns Angel.

In just one year, seven of her players were chosen for youth and women’s Queensland teams.

It was Karina’s love of training that she credits towards seeing her reach such a competitive level. But baseball doesn’t have to be high performance for everyone she admits.

“There are so many different ways and not all are high performance. There are social opportunities for players of almost any age all across the world, you’ve just got to decide what you want from it.

If you’re not sure what’s possible, just ask!

Today, Karina’s focus is through her coaching, providing mentoring and guidance to the next generation of athletes, always with the focus of strengthening the game for her fellow women.

For those chasing their own baseball dreams, she has these words.

‘If the Emeralds is your thing then find out what the benchmarks are and start working on chasing them down.

Watch MLB games of players who play in positions you want to play in. Watch them move, back up, and learn the position from watching them take what you’ve learnt into practice.”

“If women can say that they’ve felt welcomed and supported by everyone within the game then I feel I’ve helped embed that change in the culture of the game which will live on longer than anyone can remember who I am…”

So as for leaving the game better than how she found it… come out and see for yourselves as Cairns Angels take on the Townsville Stealers.

 STEVE LANDSBERG CUP (A GRADE)

TOWNSVILLE TAIPANS VS CAIRNS BANDITS

1:30PM

The true measure of a man is in the kindness he shows to those who have nothing to offer him.

It didn’t matter who you were, how old you were or what walk of life you were from, Steve Landsberg had the time of day for everyone.

And it’s through his actions, his passion and his fun loving demeanor that we remember Steve and the lessons that he taught us all. Not just about baseball but about life.

Steve was committed to providing opportunities for people.

Through his role in school sports and as a coach he worked hard to see everyone from prep onwards would find a fun, safe and welcoming environment in baseball.

Steve also was responsible for fostering the Cairns Baseball Umpires Association.

It is truly hard to pinpoint just one thing or moment to highlight about this man. But as you took a walk with him, you would barely make it 10m before someone would stop him for a chat.

He was known and loved throughout the folds of baseball not just in Cairns but across the entire state.

He was a genuine hero to so many. He made every moment so incredibly fun.

So as we step out for our annual Landsberg Cup, we do so in his memory. We do so in his spirit.

Honestly, genuinely and for fun.

He taught us, it’s not hard to be a good person. He was the greatest.