SOUTH AUSTRALIA AT WOMENS & YOUTH WOMENS NATIONALS

South Australian state representative teams have come a long way since its inception; two decades of growth, achievement, and perseverance. The journey began in 2004 when South Australia fielded its first-ever women’s team at the Australian Women’s Baseball Championships in Tamworth, NSW. That historic moment paved the way for generations of female athletes to compete on the national stage, with 2024 marking the 20th anniversary of that milestone.

Over the years, South Australia has developed a strong presence in both the Women’s and Youth Women’s competitions, producing elite-level talent and fostering a culture of excellence. While the early years were a learning experience, the dedication of players, coaches, and supporters led to significant breakthroughs, most notably the state’s first-ever medal at the Australian Women’s Baseball Championships in 2019

Long time player, coach and supporter Julie Wadham reminisced on this when we caught up with her about her journey starting back in the first year South Australia entered a state team, “There have been way too many wonderful memories in the last 10 seasons… one of which SA’s first ever medal at the Australian Women’s Baseball Champs (Bronze in 2019).” The successful Championship campaign, which were played in Canberra, was topped off with a decisive 13-1 victory over New South Wales in the playoff game. Jessica Maslin was the first to cross the plate on Carly Moore’s line drive double, and then Moore following on Nicky Bacon’s single. Ash George had a day with the bat scoring three runs, while Bacon, Jenny Dunn and Belinda Stansfield all ran in two each. SA finished off the game with eight runs in the sixth and seventh innings, hitting home their advantage. This triumph was a testament to the team's dedication and growth over the years, marking a significant moment in South Australian women's baseball history.

SA continued to build on this success, winning another bronze medal at the 2023 Australian Women’s Baseball Championships, further cemented our reputation as a strong competitor on the national stage. The decider for the bronze medal was another convincing win over Queensland Maroon 12-4 led by Taylor McKay on the bump.

2023 was an iconic year for another reason, as SA sent an Under-16 girls’ state team to the Australian Youth Women’s Championships for the first time, laying the foundation for future triumphs. Just a year later, in 2024, the young squad made history by capturing the gold medal, an extraordinary feat in only their second year at the tournament.

The 2024 Australian Youth Women’s Championship game saw South Australia take a convincing win, 14-1, over Queensland with Alice Brown delivery an outstanding performance with a complete game on the mound and going 4-fo-5 in the box to help the team seal the deal. Her efforts earnt her Tournament MVP and Golden Arm.

“Watching the younger girls coming through playing baseball now is probably my favourite part of the journey so far. When we first started playing women’s baseball in SA 20 years ago there were only a handful of us and no young girls playing. Over the past 10 years we have seen players like the Davis sisters and others  move from tiny little leaguers into State players shining on the national stage. It’s exciting to see those 11-17 year olds coming through now too and to know they have such a bright future ahead, full of opportunities,” Wadham added.

These milestones are not just victories on the field, but symbols of the progress South Australian women’s baseball has made over the past two decades. As the sport continues to grow, the next generation of female athletes will undoubtedly build upon this rich history, striving for even greater success on the national and international stage.

The first South Australian Women’s Team in Tamworth, NSW 2004