How old are you?

21

Was this your first time competing at the Australian Women’s Championships?

No this was my 9th nationals. 

What position(s) did you play during the tournament?

I played second base.

How did it feel representing Queensland at such a big national event?

It always feels like a massive honour and privilege to be able to represent my state in a maroon jersey.

What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships?

I was most excited to play along side my team as it was such a young team and the energy that they were bringing was amazing!

2. Team Dynamics

What was it like being part of the Queensland team with your teammates?

It was such a good experience to be able to play along side such amazing players with such great potential!

How do you think the Queensland team performed overall during the tournament?

I think with being a young team we did such an amazing job going into every game with great energy and always supporting one another. 

How would you describe the team spirit and support throughout the Championships?

The team this year was unmatched, we always came together and supported one another and never letting a teammate drop their heads throughout the tournament.

What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)?

One of the best parts for me would have to be our red ball game we played before every game as it brought the team together before every game.

3. Personal Performance

What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships?

One of the proudest moments was when Charlotte Stokes who was the youngest on the team dove for the VERY first time in a game and being young and doing that for the first time at a high level is awesome! Another proud moment would have to be when Molly Paddison continually played her hardest especially diving for the ball anytime it was a must get ball and even if it fumbled out of the glove she did not stop hustling until that ball was in the infield!

How is playing in a national tournament different from competing in the Queensland State Titles?

I find it different because instead of playing against each other we play along side one another which makes us start getting closer as a women’s baseball community in Queensland, also playing against other states i feel brings more challenges as every state plays the game with different level of intensity and passion as well as everyone plays the game differently.  

How do you feel about your performance in your position during the tournament?

I feel as if i did a decent job in some aspects but I still definitely have a lot of work to do to get to my goals.

Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them?

The goals I set for myself within this tournament was to have fun, and be a good teammate as well as not letting the small things affect me. I believe I did a pretty good job with not letting things get to me and I hope my team thought I was a good teammate throughout the tournament. 

4. Challenges and Growth

From your AWC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team?

I will be continuing to better my skills within my fielding and batting. 

What was the biggest challenge you faced playing in such a competitive environment, and how did you overcome it?

I’d say one of my challenges was adjusting to pop flys just over my shoulder and second base and trying to go for them but either losing it in the sun or continuously moving my head and losing the ball. The way I overcame this was going and speaking with my head coach (Lisa Norrie) and asking what I was doing wrong because at the time I didn’t get it but after realising that mistake I adjusted and got the next pop fly over at second base. 

What’s one thing you learned during the Championships that will help you improve in your position?

My above answer is going to help within my position as a second baseman.

5. Reflections and Future Goals

What would you say to other players about the experience of playing for Queensland at the Australian Women’s Championships?

It is one of the best experiences you could possibly do within Women’s baseball in Australia! You don’t just play against other states and players who have amazing talent, you also make new friends from other states and people you wouldn’t have met without doing this tournament! Another part is also observing how each state and player play the game because most of the time it can be completely different to how you either play or approach the game. 

How has competing at the Australian Women’s Championships shaped your future goals for baseball?

Competing in the Australian Women’s Championships for a few years has shaped and made me work a lot harder to try and achieve my goals of someday wearing an Australian jersey and not just representing my state but my country. 

I am 23 years old.

Was this your first time competing at the Australian Women’s Championships?

No, I competed with the White team in 2023 and debuted in AWC in the 2019 tournament.

What position(s) did you play during the tournament?

I played mostly at 1B but also pitched a few innings.

How did it feel representing Queensland at such a big national event?

It is quite surreal playing against the top female baseball athletes in Australia. It filled me with pride wearing the Queensland gear. Obviously there is some nerves there but was mostly just keen to get out there and show what we have got and been working towards.

What were you most excited about leading up to the Championships?

I was excited to play against the best in the business with my teammates/friends. Its also a lot of fun to wake up for a week straight for it to be a game day.

2. Team Dynamics

What was it like being part of the Queensland team with your teammates?

It is always a great honour from being presented our caps and wearing the jersey/uniform out onto the field. We have so much fun staying together for the week, traveling to the games together in the team vans, listening to great pump-up music pregame (shoutout Ngaire), and having our pool recovery sessions together. Its just so amazing immersing in the experience for the week.

How would you describe the team spirit and support throughout the Championships?

We were always team first. We wanted to be the best we could for the team including being the best bench player that we could be. The bench is an important part of the team, they keep the spirits and emotions high, pick up the players, and always have to be ready to go onto the field. Our bench was amazing the whole tournament. They always congratulated the team and individual wins of the players; they were cheering as loud as they could and stayed on top of team jobs.

What’s your favourite fun moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball-related)?

The reunion of the AWC Lily’s/Lilly’s/Lili’s. We like to call the AWC the Lily convention.

3. Personal Performance

What was your proudest moment, either individually or as part of the team, during the Championships?

As a team my proudest moment was getting a win against SA. We were so close the previous game so to comeback and win against them the following time was a great feeling.

My proudest individual moment was hitting my first AWC triple (although the slide into third wasn’t something to be desired).

How is playing in a national tournament different from competing in the Queensland State Titles?

The hits are certainly harder to find, the bases near impossible to steal (if you have my speed), the ball is coming a lot quicker (my biggest respect goes to the third baseman) but the eagerness to compete at the level is next to none.

Did you set any personal goals for the tournament, and do you think you achieved them?

I had a goal this tournament to try to break my PO (pitcher only) stereotype and prove myself as a hitter and first baseman. My last AWC in 2023 I unfortunately went hitless. I worked hard on my hitting over preseason and into the 2024-25 season. I tweaked on my swing a lot and owe a lot to the Baseball Queensland coaching staff and club/region coaches. This AWC I had 8 hits along with 10 RBI’s. I still have a lot of room for improvement and excited for next season to continue the grind to becoming a hitter.

4. Challenges and Growth

From your AWC experience, what do you think you could work on as an individual or as part of the team?

I would love to work on my speed so I can get my first AWC stolen base. Unfortunately, my speed is not there at the moment to sneak a base. I will also keep working on my presence as a 1st baseman.

What was the biggest challenge you faced playing in such a competitive environment, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge was to push through the fatigue day to day, and to stay mentally and physically ready. To overcome this, recovery each day was important. I needed to actively participate in our pool recovery, do hot/cold showers, roll out the sore muscles and make sure I get adequate sleep each night. Taking time for myself to do something that calms me (for me reading a book or watching a show) each evening helped to calm my mind. Having a good routine and knowing what the next day brings also helped me stay mentally ready .

What’s one thing you learned during the Championships that will help you improve in your position?

To always communicate with my teammates before each play. It just takes one lapse in concentration before a pitch being thrown for a ball to be hit and then not know: Where’s the play? Who’s the cut? Where should I back up? Am I trailing the runner? If we are always communicating to one another before each pitch, then we should always be able to answer these questions.

5. Reflections and Future Goals

What would you say to other players about the experience of playing for Queensland at the Australian Women’s Championships?

It is an honour playing for a Queensland team. It is also so much fun to be a part of the tournament, playing at the Melbourne Ballpark and competing against the top athletes of the sport.

How has competing at the Australian Women’s Championships shaped your future goals for baseball?

I would just love to keep playing against the best out there.

Story by Connie Rowe

Coming through the Queensland Youth program, Ashley Ruzicka has long admired the Queensland Women’s Nationals players, using them as inspiration to shape her own game.

After several years as a regular in the youth competition, Ruzicka answered the call this year to step up to the big league.

Pulling on the white and maroon jersey wasn’t just about representing her state — it meant playing alongside some of her idols.

Shiori Hoshino, a key figure in the maroon side, has been watching Ruzicka’s progress closely.

“Ashley has really impressed this tournament,” Hoshino said.

Knowing Ruzicka’s dream to play at the top level, Hoshino offered some advice: “Know your strengths and weaknesses. Work on the weaknesses, but enhance and draw on your strengths.”

One strength already on display is Ruzicka’s speed. She reads and tracks the ball well, making her a real asset in the field — all while remaining humble and team-focused.

Ruzicka, who started baseball at six years old, discovered her love for the sport in a unique way. With a netballer mum, a sprinter dad, and a soccer-playing brother, baseball was a left-field choice. A Christmas of Wii baseball and a backyard sports pack sparked her passion.

From local T-ball at Carina Redsox to competitive youth baseball, Ruzicka’s drive has never wavered.

“I absolutely love it. I just want to come out here and show what I can do,” she said.

Meeting and playing against her idol, Hoshino, was the perfect way to cap off her first Opens tournament.