The Emerging Athlete Program (EAP) is designed to provide foundational baseball development for youth athletes aged 10–16. With multiple regional delivery sites and age/skill-based groupings, the program ensures athletes receive tailored instruction in throwing, hitting, fielding, speed, agility, and S&C.
Participants receive a personalised EAP shirt and cap, with a registration fee of $297 (incl GST). Program runs from august through mid-September.
Coordinator: Marty Waters Location: confirmed weekly based on GCBA Winter Season Date: Saturdays, starting Aug 2 Time: 2:00pm – 4:15pm
Coordinator: David West Location: Narangba, Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Pine Hills – pending field availability Date: Saturdays, starting Aug 2 Time: 9:00am – 11:15am
Coordinator: Luca Rostagno Location: Bannister Park, Hendra Date: Saturdays, starting Aug 2 Time: 9:00am – 11:15am
Coordinator: Nick Bachono Location: Darra, Runcorn & Redlands – pending field availability Date: Saturdays, starting Aug 2 Time: 9:00am – 11:15am
Coordinator: Noel Tate Location: Bannister Park, Hendra Date: Saturdays, starting Aug 2 Time: 2:00pm – 4:15pm
2025/26 Summer Season – Important Rule and Competition Updates
MEDIA RELEASE – 18/07/2025
With sign-on days fast approaching, Baseball Queensland would like to remind all players, coaches, clubs, and regions of important rule changes and competition updates that will take effect for the 2025/26 Summer season.
Below are some key updates to ensure everyone is prepared and well-informed.
The following rule will apply for player eligibility at the Women’s Division 1 Queensland State Titles:
Should a player be registered with, and/or have played with, two (2) or more affiliated teams during the season prior to the dates of the State Championship, the Region in which the player registers and pays their Baseball Australia and Baseball Queensland Capitation fees will have priority for selection.
It is a fundamental requirement of this policy that each team must exhaust all possible avenues to select players from within their own Regional boundaries first. If a team is unable to field a complete roster from within its Region, it may request approval from the BQ Game Development Manager to access players from other Regions.
Important notes:
Regions must not directly approach “Friendship Players.” Breaches of this rule will result in the player being deemed ineligible for the tournament.
All Friendship Players must register into the designated “Pool.” While a Friendship Player can nominate a preferred Region, there is no guarantee they will be assigned to that Region’s roster.
Players participating in a Queensland local competition, or who have played for a Queensland Club, Region, or represented Queensland within the past 12 months, will have priority for team appointments over interstate or international players who have not participated in local Queensland competitions.
For further details or questions, please contact Baseball Queensland at [email protected]
Updates from the Greater Brisbane League (GBL) Competitions Committee
Please be aware these competition changes are relevant for 12-16 year-olds at any participating Greater Brisbane League clubs. The competition format may vary for the other 25/26 Summer competitions, Gold Coast Baseball Association and Sunshine Coast Baseball.
GBL – New Look Senior League Competitions
GBL have updated the Senior League competition formats that aligns with Baseball Australia guidelines. These changes aim to better support League Age players by offering flexibility in field measurements and age brackets, while allowing clubs to better match players based on experience and development needs.
Clubs will have the ability to:
Place players in the most appropriate division during pre-season assessments.
Move players during the season if they demonstrate significantly higher or lower skill levels, without needing to complete a formal “playing out of natural age group” process.
These changes are designed to support player development, improve game experiences, and ensure safe, fair, and competitive opportunities for all players. For further details or questions, please contact the GBL Competitions Committee at [email protected]
Baseball Queensland encourages all clubs, coaches, and players to familiarise themselves with these updates ahead of the 2025 season. For further details or questions, please contact [email protected]
As we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025, Baseball Queensland is proud to reflect on and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation. This year’s theme, “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud,” invites all Australians to amplify and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices — a message that aligns strongly with our values and recent milestone.
Baseball Queensland is proud to announce the formal endorsement of its inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) by Reconciliation Australia — a significant milestone in our commitment to reconciliation and inclusivity in sport.
We recognise that baseball, like all sports, has a powerful role to play in the health, wellbeing, and connection of communities across Australia. However, we also acknowledge that participation opportunities aren’t always equal. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face ongoing barriers such as limited transport, financial challenges, time constraints, and competing cultural or family commitments.
Through our Reflect RAP, Baseball Queensland is taking the first steps to address these challenges and promote more equitable participation across our sport. This plan was shaped by honest reflection, listening to the experiences of our participants, and identifying the need for more purposeful action to support reconciliation.
⚾ Our commitment is already in motion. Baseball Queensland has proudly partnered with the South West Indigenous Network, supporting their sports education tours and NAIDOC Week celebrations — a practical step towards building stronger relationships and creating real opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Our Reflect RAP will be delivered across the entire organisation, led by our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Panel, which reports directly to the Board and includes voices from clubs and regions throughout Queensland. Our RAP Champions – the CEO and Director of Projects, Equity and Inclusion – are driving these efforts to embed reconciliation into the heart of everything we do.
“Getting these first steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.” – Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia
We are excited to walk this path with purpose and integrity, ensuring Baseball Queensland plays an active role in reducing inequality and honouring the cultures, histories, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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: Tyler Sakzewski
Quick Profile
Name: Tyler Sakzewski
Nickname: T
Position: Pitcher
Club: Pinehills Lightning Baseball Club, Brisbane Metro
University / College: Lamar Community College, Colorado
Tyler Sakzewski, known around the fields as “T”, has been locked into baseball since he picked up a glove at five. His drive to pursue college baseball was sparked at just 11 years old, playing in Cooperstown, New York with the Queensland Dolphins. That early taste of the U.S. environment set his goals in motion.
He progressed through every level of Baseball Queensland’s development system, from the Emerging Athlete Program, into State Teams, the Performance Pathways, the High Performance Program, and eventually the Australian Squad before heading to college.
Coaching & Influences
Tyler’s development has been supported by a wide network of coaches, mentors, and teammates.
Justin Erasmus provided individual pitching lessons for years from U12s
James Somerville guided him through junior to senior transitions
David Badke placed trust in Tyler and his QLD teammates at Nationals
Nev Brockie & Kevin “Crazy” Cantwell were always there with timely advice
His men’s A Grade teammates at Pinehills and, above all, his mum—who drove him to every session and became his post-game sounding board
resilience & Reward
The lesson that stuck?
“Resilience. Have a never give up attitude. If you want it—never stop trying.”
Tyler’s top memory with Baseball Queensland was winning Nationals in January 2023 with a standout QLD team and being selected in the first round for the Australian Squad.
Adjusting to the U.S. Game
The shift to Colorado brought both weather and game intensity challenges.
“Going from playing in heat to the minus temperatures in Colorado was a huge change. The way the game is viewed and played is also at a much higher level.”
His daily routine reflects the college baseball grind:
Morning: Breakfast at the cafeteria and classes (scheduled around the baseball schedule)
Afternoon (1 PM – 5 PM): Team training, individual sessions, and weights
Evening: Dinner and schoolwork
Advice for Future Players
Tyler’s advice for aspiring Queenslanders is clear:
“Keep working hard and never give up. A dream will never be out of reach if you put the work in.”
What’s Next?
With a strong foundation from Queensland and now settling into his freshman year at Lamar Community College, Tyler is ready to continue pushing forward—representing his state, his family, and the years of dedication that brought him here.
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
