October 2025
Building Capacity in the North: Baseball Queensland Development Team Gathers in Townsville
Baseball Queensland’s Game Development Manager, Sam Cawdron, and Baseball5 Coordinator, Joe Surrentino, recently travelled to Townsville to support and oversee two days of professional development led by Development Officers Luke Ardill (Townsville) and Mila Bender (Cairns).
Luke and Mila took the reins in organising and running the sessions, showcasing their leadership as Baseball Queensland’s North Queensland Development Officers. The event brought together the growing northern team at Country Bank Stadium, with Mila joined by her Cairns casual staff Mia Bender and Owen Macpherson, and Luke supported by Michael Mount and Paris Bastow.
Strengthening the North Queensland Delivery Network
The goal of the visit was to continue building the capacity of Baseball Queensland’s expanding North Queensland workforce. With part-time Development Officers now established in both Townsville and Cairns – supported by a growing team of casual deliverers – the region is now better equipped to deliver quality programs across schools, clubs, and community spaces.
“Having local Development Officers supported by a casual team means they don’t have to do it all themselves. It helps us reach more schools, deliver more sessions, and maintain the professional standards that represent Baseball Queensland.”– Sam Cawdron, Game Development Manager
Professional Development at Country Bank Stadium
The two-day PD event, held on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October, focused on upskilling new staff and aligning delivery standards across the region. The program covered:
- BQ policies, procedures, and workplace expectations
- Pay scales and administration processes
- Coaching practices, teaching styles, and session structure
- Interactive icebreakers, team-building games, and hands-on activities
- Emerging initiatives, including childcare centre programs, after-school sessions, female participation programs, and Sporting Schools delivery
The sessions balanced theory with practice – avoiding “death-by-PowerPoint” and instead getting participants active, coaching, and learning from one another in a supportive environment.
“This was a great learning opportunity not just for our new Development Officers, but for everyone involved,” said Cawdron. “We all learn from each other, and that was exactly the environment we wanted to create.”
Championing Diversity and Inclusion
A highlight of the PD days was a session with Matthias Graepel, Inclusion Coach for Sport4All in North Queensland. Matthias shared his own inclusion journey and provided valuable insights on how Baseball Queensland’s Development Officers can create welcoming environments in schools and community programs.
He offered practical examples and coaching tips around inclusive communication, adaptability, and understanding that inclusion is a journey, not a destination. His contribution added an important layer to the team’s professional development and will no doubt influence how staff engage with participants across all programs.
Spotlight on Baseball5 and B5 Development
The PD also featured Baseball5 Head Coach Adrian Medina and Team Australia athlete Jonah, who introduced the group to the sport’s rules, coaching techniques, and participation potential.
Their passion and experience were infectious, inspiring the regional staff and strengthening Baseball Queensland’s commitment to using Baseball5 as a tool to grow participation across the state.
First North Queensland Baseball5 Come & Try Day
Following the PD days, Sam and Joe joined Luke and the Townsville team, along with Baseball5 Head Coach Adrian Medina and Team Australia player Jonah, to run North Queensland’s first Baseball5 Come & Try Day at Calvary Christian College.
Adrian and Jonah were heavily involved throughout the session – sharing their expertise, guiding participants through the fundamentals, and bringing great energy to the day. Their passion for the game helped create an engaging, high-energy environment that perfectly showcased what Baseball5 is all about.
It was also a great opportunity for Adrian to help upskill and work with our new BQ’s Baseball5 umpires. Our BQ casual staff, along with new B5 umpire Tara Cocks, had the chance to umpire live games, learn the calls, and gain confidence in the gameplay ahead of the new social Baseball5 competition kicking off on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.
Around 15 participants took part in the fast-paced, energetic format – a preview of what’s to come when Townsville hosts Australia’s first Baseball5 competition.
“Baseball5 is a great opportunity for everyone, it’s perfect for current baseball players wanting to stay active over the off-season, but also a fun and welcoming way for new players to try the sport for the first time. It’s fast, social, and something the whole community can enjoy together.”– Luke Ardill, Game Development Officer (Townsville)
For more information about Baseball5 and how to get involved, visit www.baseballqueensland.com.au/b5.
Opportunities for Players:
Townsville’s Baseball5 Competition is coming fast, and is now open for registrations! Find out more here:
Opportunities for Schools:
Sporting Schools applications are open until November 14, apply to host a Baseball or Baseball5 schools session in Term 1!