International Women’s Day

– Story by Connie Rowe

Isn’t That a Boy’s Sport?

“Oh, you mean softball?”

If you’re a female baseballer, you’ve probably heard these comments more times than you can count. But over the years, tides have shifted. Women’s sport is breaking barriers, with cricket, soccer, rugby, and AFL leading the charge on national broadcasts. Yet, for sports like baseball, the battle against bias is still very real.

And yet, if you look through Baseball Queensland’s history, you’ll find incredible women—pioneers who paved the way, not for recognition, but for the love of the game. Little did they know that their passion would change the lives of young girls and women across our state.

For me, one of the greatest things about the ballpark is the camaraderie and competition. Once you step onto the diamond, everything else fades away—including gender. Out there, we are all ballplayers, united by the jerseys on our backs.

But it’s more than that. Because while we play, a whole spectrum of eyes are watching—fans, family, scouts, coaches, and most importantly, young girls and boys, hanging on every pitch and every swing.

There’s no feeling like when a young player comes up to you and asks, “How do I play for Queensland like you?” or “Can you show me how to do that?”

In less than a decade, women’s baseball in Queensland has more than doubled. From just four teams in the first Greater Brisbane Women’s League to 23 teams across three divisions, the game is thriving. In North Queensland, dedicated women’s teams in Cairns and Townsville are proving their place by competing in men’s competitions.

With such interest across the game, knowing and being able to see a pathway to continue through the game as far as you want to take it has been instrumental, with role models showing what can be done across all levels of the game, both on and off the field. From coaches to tournament directors, umpires, administrators, players, volunteers, parents, and supporters, women are taking this great game to the next level.

At Baseball Queensland, we couldn’t be more proud to be part of the movement towards equality, and we know our work doesn’t stop here. With dedicated grants and positions focused specifically on the challenges the women’s game faces, we are excited to embrace the legacy that has gotten us to this point and continue pushing the boundaries.

But at the end of the day, what really matters? The smile on that young girl’s face. The confidence she will gain, and the lifetime friendships, life skills, and memories she will make along the way.

What we do today, we do for them.