Baseball Queensland is thrilled to celebrate the nomination of 17-year-old Max Durrington for the Queensland Sport (QSport) Channel 9 Queensland Junior Athlete of the Year award. Max’s extraordinary talent and commitment to the sport are showcased through his recent signing with the Oakland Athletics—one of the largest contracts ever awarded to a young Australian baseball player.

The competition for the Junior Athlete of the Year award will be intense, with ten of Queensland’s best young athletes representing eight different sports, including baseball, tennis, AFL, swimming, hockey, basketball, skateboarding, and athletics.

Max’s journey in baseball has been inspiring, from his early days at Mudgeeraba Red Sox to his success with Surfers Paradise Baseball Club, where he became a team leader both on and off the field.

U18 Queensland Team Manager, David Badke, highlighted Max’s impact: “Max has a combination of talent, leadership, great work ethics, and brings a lot of energy to the team. Leading by example that inspired a team that lead to being awarded the Most Valuable Player. I am not surprised that he signed a professional contract with the Oakland A’s; I look forward to watching Max continuing his development on his professional journey.“

Max’s nomination for Junior Athlete of the Year is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work, skill, and the bright future he’s building in baseball. Baseball Queensland couldn’t be prouder and will be cheering for Max as he goes up against Queensland’s best young athletes on November 21.

To read more about Max’s journey, visit: Max Durrington Signs with the Athletics

For more information about QSport Awards, visit: QSport Award Nominees

As Baseball Queensland gears up for the highly anticipated Women’s, Youth Women’s and Girls’ State Titles in December, the Baseball Queensland Tournament Advisory Panel has announced the release of updated Tournament Tech Norms. The comprehensive review and subsequent updates ensure player safety and clarity for all participating teams and officials.

One of the key updates in the Tech Norms is the clarification of mandatory rest periods for pitchers. Clarifying that these rest requirements apply across all forms of play and between events, providing additional safeguards for player welfare. Specifically, pitchers accruing mandatory rest periods during one tournament will need to adhere to these rest requirements even if they are participating in another event within the specified rest duration. For example, a pitcher who accumulates a four-day mandatory rest period in the Women’s Tournament must continue observing this rest period if they are set to participate in the Youth Tournament in the days that follow.

Additionally, the latest version of the Tech Norms includes forward-looking rules around eligibility that will come into effect in 2025. These provisions have been detailed in the current edition to ensure all teams and stakeholders are aware well in advance of their implementation.

Baseball Queensland remains committed to player welfare, fair competition, and the ongoing evolution of the sport in Queensland. As we head into the Women’s, Youth Women’s and Girls’ State Titles, all participants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the updated Tech Norms to ensure a smooth and safe tournament experience.

Download the BQ Tournament Tech Norms

Baseball Queensland is proud to announce the release of our 2024 Annual Report, a comprehensive overview of our activities, achievements, and the collective efforts that continue to elevate baseball across the state. This report highlights a year of growth and development, driven by the dedication of our community and the unwavering support of key partners.

We express our sincere appreciation to the Queensland Government for the Active Industry suite of funding, which has been instrumental in facilitating programs that promote active participation and enhance the overall baseball experience throughout Queensland. This funding has supported crucial initiatives, from grassroots development to high-performance pathways, ensuring that baseball remains accessible and enjoyable for all.

Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the Federal Government for the Play Our Way funding suite. This vital support has empowered us to launch new opportunities tailored to engage diverse communities and make baseball a sport for everyone. By investing in inclusive and innovative programs, this funding has allowed us to broaden the reach of our beloved game, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant baseball community.

We invite all members of the Baseball Queensland community to explore the 2024 Annual Report and reflect on the significant progress we have made together. Your continued support and involvement are crucial as we look forward to another year of success, collaboration, and shared passion for baseball.

The full report is now available:

View online now via ISSUU

Download the PDF HERE

In September 2024, Gareth Jones, CEO of Baseball Queensland, led an enterprise visit to Japan from 8–18 September, aiming to build partnerships with educational institutions and professional baseball organisations, while promoting sports exchanges between Japan and Queensland. The visit began in Osaka, where Jones and Mr. Danny Maruyama, Baseball Queensland’s Special Advisor for Partnerships with Japan, met with leaders of Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School, a top-performing girls’ baseball school. Discussions celebrated the school’s recent success in the Girls Koshien Tournament, with plans finalised for Kobe Koryo’s girls’ baseball team to visit Southeast Queensland in February 2025 to compete against Queensland’s Women’s, Development, and Youth Women’s teams. A tour of the school’s state-of-the-art baseball facilities showcased their commitment to player-led training and innovative approaches to skill development.

In Tokyo, the delegation met with representatives from Tokyo North Council, including Mayor Kanako Yamada, to discuss potential collaborations that could encourage participation in physical activity among Japan’s ageing population. Tokyo North Council expressed interest in promoting Queensland events such as the Pan Pacific Masters Games to Japanese teams. This partnership has the potential to expand mutual sports and cultural exchanges, further solidifying ties between Queensland and Japan.

The Nippon Professional Baseball Organisation (NPB) welcomed Jones to discuss opportunities related to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, with a focus on establishing Queensland as a potential spring training destination. Japan’s proximity to Queensland offers NPB teams a logistical advantage over traditional training locations in Hawaii and Arizona. With further collaboration, Baseball Queensland could establish Queensland as an attractive preseason base, providing NPB teams with the chance for high-level games to boost both local tourism and sports engagement.

In Fuchu, Baseball Queensland connected with Mr. Daisuke Minagawa and Mr. Aida, who lead a women’s baseball development initiative. This collaboration, supported by Baseball Australia, aims to offer players from Queensland opportunities to play competitively in Japan, fostering professional growth and cultural exchange. Future plans include promoting Japanese language skills and cultural exchange programs to enhance player engagement.

Overall, this visit established valuable new connections and reinforced existing ones, setting the stage for meaningful collaborations in 2025. Jones expresses gratitude to Mr. Maruyama and the Board of Baseball Queensland for their support, and he looks forward to welcoming the Kobe Koryo Gakuen teams to Queensland and working with NPB and Tokyo North Council on projects that will benefit Queensland’s baseball landscape.

Read the full report HERE

Baseball Queensland (BQ) is committed to improving the health and safety of its community and is excited to announce a new initiative to equip all clubs with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). This decision follows a comprehensive review and a health and safety survey conducted earlier this year.

Andrea Marshall, Director at Baseball Queensland and Professor at the Griffith School of Nursing and Midwifery, highlighted the importance of having AEDs available at club venues. She advised the BQ Board that “cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death for people under the age of 50 in Australia. For those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting, the survival rate is less than 1 in 10. However, when effective CPR and defibrillation are administered within 3-5 minutes, survival rates can soar from 6% to 74%.”

Professor Marshall went on to identify “An AED is portable and simple to use, even for individuals without medical training. The device delivers an electric shock to the heart via two pads, helping to ‘restart’ the heart’s normal electrical activity. CPR, on the other hand, helps maintain blood and oxygen flow, limiting damage to vital organs.”

To ensure every club has access to this life-saving technology, the Baseball Queensland Board of Management has resolved to provide AEDs free of charge to clubs that currently do not have one. The chosen model requires minimal maintenance and comes with an eight-year warranty. Clubs that already have an AED will receive a $1,000 voucher for use at First Aid Kits Australia, which can be used for purchasing first aid supplies or providing first aid and resuscitation training for volunteers.

Baseball Queensland makes this considerable investment in the expectation that all clubs will maintain these AEDs and ensure they are available at their venues at all times. This initiative is a critical step toward protecting the health and safety of everyone involved in the Queensland baseball community. This significant reinvestment into the community is made possible by the ongoing support of the community for Baseball Queensland programs and competitions.

Delivery of these devices and vouchers will commence in the coming weeks.

The Australian Resuscitation Council have produced this short video to provide insight to the ease of use of the AED devices.

Baseball Queensland would like to extend a sincere thank you to Brendan Vassallo for his service as Finance Director on the Board of Management. During his tenure, Brendan played an instrumental role in fortifying Baseball Queensland’s financial health, leaving the organisation in a strong position to support the growth of the sport across the state.

Brendan’s commitment to the development of baseball, particularly at the entry level, has been invaluable. He has been a champion of initiatives that make our sport accessible to all. His work to budget for the provision of participation kits for new entry level players exemplifies his dedication to creating opportunities for young people to engage with baseball.

Though Brendan steps down from his official role on the Board, he remains a passionate advocate and supporter of our sport. Brendan will also continue in his volunteer role as the Executive Officer of the U16 Queensland team for the 2025 Australian Youth Championships.

On behalf of the entire Baseball Queensland community, we extend our sincere gratitude for his dedication, vision, and positive impact. We look forward to his continued support as we work together to grow baseball in Queensland.