Fighting Spirit on Opening Day

Brisbane North opened the tournament with one of the most exciting games of the week, taking Central Firebirds right to the wire before falling 10-8. The game featured multiple lead changes and a dominant pitching display from Evan Grobler, who struck out 10 batters in just 3.2 innings. Despite trailing late, Brisbane North continued to fight until the final out, with Taylor Lyall driving in two runs as the team showed the determination that would define its tournament.

Game two saw Brisbane North take on eventual finalists Melbourne Rangers. While the Rangers claimed a 12-6 victory, Brisbane North’s offence produced 13 hits, led by Matthew Fogg and Avery Griffin with three hits each. Harper Lokeni also impressed on the mound with six strikeouts.

Breakthrough Victory

Facing a must-win situation on Day Two, Brisbane North responded with a clinical 6-0 victory over Canberra Rangers. Porter Cox and James Young combined for a six-hit shutout, striking out seven without issuing a walk. Brisbane North capitalised on opportunities throughout the game, while the defence stood tall, stranding every Canberra runner and keeping finals hopes alive.

Taking It to the Best

Brisbane North continued to show its competitiveness against strong opposition, pushing Ryde Red in a hard-fought contest. After falling behind early, the team battled back to within one run before Ryde Red pulled away late for an 11-7 win. Avery Griffin and Thomas Hession collected two hits apiece, while Matthew Fogg drove in two runs.

One of the team’s strongest performances came against Cronulla Black in the final pool game. In a pitching duel that remained scoreless through regulation, Harper Lokeni and Avery Griffin combined to keep Cronulla off the scoreboard for six innings. Brisbane North took the lead in extra innings through a Taylor Lyall RBI single before Cronulla ultimately walked off with a 2-1 victory. Despite the heartbreaking result, Brisbane North’s effort and composure under pressure were among the highlights of the tournament.

Finishing Pool Play Strong

Brisbane North bounced back in impressive fashion with an 11-0 victory over the NT Buffaloes.

Avery Griffin delivered one of the standout offensive performances of the tournament, blasting two home runs and driving in five runs. His over-the-fence home run was the only ball hit out of the park all week.

The pitching staff was equally dominant. Porter Cox struck out 11 batters across four shutout innings, while Evan Grobler added three strikeouts in relief as Brisbane North recorded 14 strikeouts from the 15 outs they recorded.

Grobler’s Record-Breaking Finale

Brisbane North saved one of its best performances for last, defeating Melbourne Athletics 10-0 in the consolation game behind a historic outing from Evan Grobler.

The talented right-hander was virtually unhittable, throwing five innings without allowing a hit, walk or run while striking out 14 batters. The only Athletics runners reached via a dropped third strike and an error, denying Grobler a perfect game but not an extraordinary performance.

His 14 strikeouts set a new tournament high and capped an incredible week on the mound. Across just 9.2 innings, Grobler recorded 27 strikeouts while consistently dominating some of the nation’s best young hitters. Remarkably, the 11-year-old is still eligible to return next year.

Grobler also contributed offensively, launching an inside-the-park home run and driving in two runs. Porter Cox and Avery Griffin each collected two hits, while Griffin added two RBIs as Brisbane North scored in four of the five innings.

Tournament Highlights

Throughout the week, Brisbane North showcased exceptional pitching, highlighted by:

• Evan Grobler’s 10-strikeout performance against Central Firebirds.

• Porter Cox and James Young combining for a shutout against Canberra Rangers.

• Harper Lokeni and Avery Griffin leading a dominant effort against Cronulla Black.

• Porter Cox’s 11-strikeout masterpiece against NT Buffaloes.

• Evan Grobler’s record-setting 14-strikeout no-hit performance against Melbourne Athletics.

Offensively, Avery Griffin was a standout performer, producing key hits throughout the tournament and finishing with seven RBIs across Brisbane North’s final two games. His two-home-run performance against the NT Buffaloes was one of the signature moments of the week.

While results didn’t always fall Brisbane North’s way, the team consistently competed with determination, represented their region with pride and finished the tournament on a high note. The experience gained, friendships formed and resilience shown throughout the week will provide a strong foundation for the future of Brisbane North Little League.

Brisbane Metro’s 2026 Little League Championship campaign has come to a close, but not before showing the nation their resilience, determination and talent. Through a strong pool, every game was close and they pushed some of the nation’s best proving they’re not a team to be taken lightly. 

After opening the tournament against eventual finalists Adelaide Marlins, Metro proved they belonged on the national stage throughout the week, producing dominant victories, outstanding pitching performances and several thrilling contests.

A Tough Opening Test

Metro’s tournament began with a hard-fought 2-0 loss to Adelaide Marlins. Despite the result, the pitching staff showed its quality early, with Anderson Wild striking out nine batters across three innings before Noah Akahoshi added three more strikeouts in relief. Adelaide managed just four hits as Metro pushed one of the tournament’s strongest teams all the way.

Bounce Back Victory

Brisbane Metro responded in style the following morning with a commanding 9-1 win over Melbourne Athletics. Four pitchers combined to allow just two hits while striking out 12 batters, led by Lincoln Wood’s perfect three-inning relief appearance. Offensively, Kai McKenna collected three hits while Anderson Wild’s bases-clearing triple highlighted a five-run fifth inning that put the game beyond doubt.

Metro then faced Adelaide for a second time later that day, again pushing the Marlins in a low-scoring contest before falling 2-0. Wild once again starred on the mound, striking out nine batters in another impressive display.

Keeping Finals Hopes Alive

Facing a must-win situation on Day Three, Brisbane Metro delivered their most explosive performance of the tournament, defeating the Northern Territory Buffaloes 18-3.

A remarkable 13-run second inning broke the game open, with Lars Van Der Hoek driving in four runs and Noah Akahoshi contributing an inside-the-park home run as part of a three-RBI performance. Metro’s offense piled up 15 hits while Benji Robertson and Axel Holmstrom combined for six strikeouts on the mound.

Playing Spoiler

Entering the final day of pool play needing a win to stay alive, Brisbane Metro again rose to the occasion with a 6-3 victory over Ryde Black.

Metro scored four runs in the opening inning and never surrendered the lead. Benji Robertson collected two RBIs, Axel Holmstrom added an insurance double, and Lincoln Wood threw a complete game, striking out six batters without issuing a walk.

The result left Metro with a 3-2 pool-play record and demonstrated the team’s ability to perform under pressure.

A Heartbreaking Finals Miss

Metro’s final pool game was one of the most thrilling contests of the championship, an extra-innings battle against Melbourne Rangers.

After falling behind 3-2, Metro fought back to level the score in the sixth inning and force extras. Kai McKenna and Noah Akahoshi each collected two hits, while Axel Holmstrom delivered a strong relief outing with four strikeouts.

The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh when Melbourne Rangers secured a walk-off 4-3 victory, ending Metro’s hopes of reaching the championship finals.

Finishing on a High

Brisbane Metro ensured their tournament finished on a positive note, claiming a dramatic 5-4 extra-innings victory over Cronulla Black in the consolation game.

Metro appeared in complete control after Axel Holmstrom, Toby Sheeran and Anderson Wild drove in runs to establish a 4-0 lead through four innings. However, Cronulla Black mounted a determined comeback in the sixth, capitalising on walks and errors to level the scores at 4-4.

With the game heading to extra innings, Metro found one final response. Toby Sheeran delivered the decisive blow, singling home the go-ahead run in the top of the extra frame before Ari Holmstrom shut the door on the mound to secure a hard-fought 5-4 victory.

Tournament Highlights

Across seven games, Brisbane Metro showcased depth throughout the roster and received standout contributions from several players.

Noah Akahoshi starred both offensively and on the mound, while Kai McKenna consistently produced at the plate. Lars Van Der Hoek’s four-RBI performance against Northern Territory was one of the offensive highlights of the week, while Anderson Wild delivered two dominant pitching performances against Adelaide, striking out 18 batters across just six innings.

The pitching staff as a whole was a major strength throughout the tournament, with Lincoln Wood, Ari Holmstrom, Axel Holmstrom, Benji Robertson, Noah Akahoshi and Anderson Wild all delivering key innings when called upon.

Most importantly, the team showed tremendous resilience throughout the week. Whether responding to early setbacks, keeping finals hopes alive, or bouncing back from heartbreak to finish with a win, Brisbane Metro represented Queensland with pride and finished their national campaign with plenty to celebrate.

In baseball, success comes from everyone playing their part. Every player in the lineup, every coach in the dugout, every volunteer, official and supporter contributes to the strength of the team.

That same mindset sits at the heart of National Reconciliation Week 2026 and this year’s theme: All In.

The theme reminds us that reconciliation is not something we watch from the sidelines. Like baseball, it requires participation, commitment and a willingness to work together toward a common goal.

At Baseball Queensland, we recognise and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live, work and play. 

We acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Meanjin, where our office is located, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Baseball has always been more than a game. Across Queensland, our diamonds are places where friendships are built, communities connect and people from all backgrounds come together through a shared love of sport. 

We also recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can face unique barriers to participation in sport, including financial, social, cultural and access challenges.

As an organisation, Baseball Queensland is committed to helping remove those barriers and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to step up to the plate and feel welcome within our sport.

Through the development of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), Baseball Queensland is continuing its reconciliation journey by listening, learning and building meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and communities.

Our commitment includes:

• Building genuine and mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations;

• Promoting cultural awareness, understanding and respect throughout baseball;

• Supporting inclusive participation pathways and opportunities;

• Encouraging diversity across our workforce, leadership and volunteer networks; and

• Creating safe, welcoming and culturally respectful environments at every level of the game.

Baseball Queensland is proud to support initiatives including NAIDOC celebrations, community sport and education programs, and partnerships with organisations such as the South West Indigenous Network.

Just as every run scored starts with someone taking the first step toward the plate, reconciliation is built through action — through conversations, relationships and a shared commitment to positive change.

This National Reconciliation Week, Baseball Queensland encourages our entire baseball community to be All In — to keep learning, listening and working together to build a stronger, more inclusive future for our game and our communities.

To find out more about Baseball Queensland’s Reconciliation journey, take a look at our Action Plan. https://www.baseballqueensland.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BQ-RAP-document.pdf

Baseball Queensland is seeking an enthusiastic and community-minded Events Coordinator & Little League Administrator to join the team and help deliver some of the state’s premier baseball events and competitions.

Based at the Baseball Queensland office at Sportshouse in Milton, this permanent part-time position (20 hours per week) will play an important role in supporting and growing baseball opportunities across Queensland.

The successful applicant will work closely with Baseball Queensland staff, league committees, regional members and local clubs to coordinate engaging tournaments, competitions and events that strengthen participation pathways and promote the sport throughout the state.

The role includes overseeing the organisation and growth of Baseball Queensland’s Little League compliant tournament suite, Women’s, Youth Women’s and Girls tournaments, the annual Masters tournament, and the Hall of Fame & Awards Dinner. The position will also support the delivery of the Baseball Queensland Showcase and assist in developing new participation opportunities for emerging and underserved demographics.

In addition to event delivery, the role will support seasonal competition administration across the state and work collaboratively with committees and stakeholders to improve competition management systems and experiences for participants.

Baseball Queensland is looking for someone who is organised, energetic and passionate about grassroots sport and community engagement. Strong communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team are essential.

Applicants with experience in event management, sports administration or sports development — particularly within baseball or similar sporting environments — are encouraged to apply.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of baseball in Queensland while helping create memorable experiences for players, clubs, volunteers and families across the baseball community.

Position Details

Position: Events Coordinator & Little League Administrator
Location: Milton, Queensland
Employment Type: Permanent Part-Time (20 hours per week)
Remuneration: Sporting Organisations Award 2020 – Clerical and Administrative Staff Grade 3 ($28.12/hour)

Applications

Applications should include a resume and cover letter outlining your experience and passion for delivering and growing baseball events and competitions.

Applications close Friday 5 June 2026. Click below to apply via Seek.