Ahead of this year’s Women’s State Titles, we look at the pathway for women and girls in baseball, and the new steps and opportunities being added to it.
The Women’s and Youth Women’s State Titles tournaments have been a fixture of the Baseball Queensland calendar for years, and are always a highlight to top off the year.
They are also a chance for selectors to see players in action and identify talent for the Australian Women’s and Australian Youth Women’s Championships held in April each year.
This year, there’s a new addition: trials before the tournament, a chance to show your skills before putting them to work ion the games at State Titles.
A new step: the 20u women’s team
In 2027, the 20U Women’s State team replaces the Women’s Development State Team (the group many will remember in the white uniform). Part of our Performance Pathway, the program culiminates in a team tour to Japan in May 2027.
It sits alongside the Women’s Open Sate Team (born 2011 and earlier) and the Youth Women’s State Team (born 2011 to 2013), which head to the Australian Women’s Championships (4-10 April 2027) and the Australian Youth Women’s Championships (6-10 April 2027).
The 20U team is open to players born 2007 to 2013.
Why go to Japan?
Our friends at Kobe Koryo Gallen High School offer one of the most successful female baseball programs in Japan. As back-to-back winners of the Girls’ Koshien Tournament, they provide high quality competition for our Queensland Women’s program.
Your chance to show up
In a new model, athletes now have an additional opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities to selectors.
The open tryout runs prior to State Titles, giving more opportunities to see and be seen.
Selectors will watch players at both the open tryout and state titles, before releasing team lists in January, for the upcoming Australian Championships.
Trial dates
Women’s Open and 20U: Friday 4 December, 6pm-9pm, Banister Park, Hendra
Youth Women’s (born 2011-2013): Sunday 6 December, 2pm-5pm, Banister park, Hendra
The standard you bring to every training and every game counts. Come dressed in full baseball kit (white pants), with both cleats and turf shoes (for batting cages) and don’t forget your water.
You only need to attend the tryout that you’re eligible for and trials are completely free, just ensure you’re registered for the full 2026-27 season in GameDay first.
Can’t make it, or not planning on being at the State Titles? That’s okay. Simply let us know you’d like to be considered by emailing development@baseballqld.asn.au.
For those in North Queensland, regional tryouts will be arranged with more details to follow.
Where it all comes together | State Titles
State Titles is not just for those looking to take the next step into our performance pathways. There are opportunities for all with both Division 1 and Division 2 women’s competitions running side by side, while the Youth Women’s and Little League Girls follow on immediately after.
With all divisions playing in the space of a week, it’s a great chance to mingle with players from all over the state and watch others in action.
Women’s Division 1 & 2: 11-13 December, Indians Baseball Club, Runcorn
Youth Women’s & Little League Girls: 14-16 December, Demons Baseball Club, Narangba
Whether you’re cheering from the sidelines or the team’s starting pticher, every role on a team matters. These three days are full of moments that decide games. Be ready to make yours count.
Where the pathway leads
Queensland’s pathway runs all the way to the Australian Emeralds, who will be competing in the Women’s World Cup in Rockford in 2027 after punching their ticket in a thrilling pool round earlier this year.
Week to week, Rio Bradley and Molly Paddison are fixtures in the Greater Brisbane League.
But for one vital week in July 2026, the pair stepped out to represent the nation and helped secure Australia’s place amongst the greatest baseball countries of the world.
"Being able to stand on that field and know that all my hard work has paid off, and standing alongside this team is a dream come true," said Bradley.
Their pathway to the Green and Gold didn’t happen overnight. It's the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and a genuine love for the game.
It took years of commitment to their craft and started by putting themselves out there and pushing themselves in tournaments like these.
Bradley’s advice to others looking to pursue this pathway is simple.
"Be coachable," she said.
"Take on any advice your coaches give you and apply it when you can. At the end of the day, your coach wants to see you get better for the sake of the team.
"You don't have to take it on permanently, but be open to trying new things and new ways to improve your game."
Where it begins
It’s the age old tale of being able to see what you want to be. Now in women’s baseball that is possible.
Sandlot T-ball is a first for Queensland, and as a curtain raiser to the Youth Women’s State Titles on Monday 14 December, young girls now have the chance to not only play on the same diamond as our older players, they have the chance to be surrounded by athletes pushing to play at the next level.
With almost 200 t-ball aged girls across the state, our next generation of women’s baseball’s starts here - with a simple love of the game.