BASEBALL SA INSIDER

Momentum Into 2026!!

As we wrap up another huge year for baseball in South Australia, the final months of 2025 have delivered big moments on and off the diamond. From thrilling State League action and national success to pathway announcements and major plans for the future, there’s plenty to celebrate as we head into the holiday season.

MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

As we head into the Christmas and New Year period, I wanted to share a quick update and say a sincere thank you to everyone involved in baseball across South Australia. The SABL season is now well underway and, almost overnight, we have gone from early-season washouts to 40-degree days, which is a real reminder of the adaptability and commitment shown by clubs, players, coaches, umpires, scorers and volunteers each week. Over the holiday period, both of our AYC teams will head to Victoria for their first look at the AYC tournament environment, competing in a Boxing Day tournament against their Victorian counterparts, which is an exciting step in their preparation. As the SABL continues to build momentum into the new year, we remain focused on supporting clubs and ensuring a safe and enjoyable season for everyone involved. On behalf of Baseball SA, I hope you and your family have a safe and relaxing holiday break, and I look forward to seeing everyone back at the diamond in the new year.

BASEBALL SA OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED FROM 23RD DECEMBER 2025 - 5TH JANUARY 2026

SABL COMPETITIONS UPDATE

We have reached the Christmas break, marking the halfway point of the 2025/26 season, and last year’s Minor Premiers, Henley and Grange, once again find themselves setting the pace. Sitting one game clear at the top of the ladder, they also boast the league’s strongest run differential at +80. Former Capps Medallist Wilson Lee has been central to that dominance, leading all pitchers with a competition-best 0.761 ERA.

Close behind, Southern Districts, Adelaide, and Port Adelaide remain firmly in contention and continue to apply pressure on the top spot. All three clubs feature a pitcher ranked inside the league’s top five for ERA: Garry Grosjean (Southern Districts) at 1.954, Sammy Steigert (Port Adelaide) at 1.992, and Hugh Batchelor (Adelaide) at an even 2.00.

Offensively, the race for RBIs is just as competitive. Adelaide’s Ian Heck (20), Port Adelaide’s Jacob Tobias (19), Henley and Grange’s Jose Paula (19), and Southern Districts’ Brett Hattersley are all chasing league leader Dylan Child (Gawler), who tops the table with 24 RBIs.

In the Belgravia Apparel Women’s League Division 1, Woodville has been the standout story of the season so far. They remain undefeated heading into the Christmas break and are off to an absolutely outstanding start, showcasing consistency, depth, and strong performances across the diamond. Their form has firmly established them as the team to beat as the season progresses.

With finals positions up for grabs across both competitions, the race for the top six is shaping up to be another tight and highly competitive finish. The question remains: is this the year Henley and Grange convert their dominance into a premiership, and can anyone halt Woodville’s perfect run in Women’s Division 1?

LIFTING PATHWAYS TO NEW HEIGHTS

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Whether it’s lifting people or programs, JPS Lifts are committed to moving South Australians upward and onward. Welcome aboard to the leading name in vertical transport!

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PERFORMANCE PATHWAYS

As we close out the year, December has been a busy and productive month across our programs, with significant progress made in athlete identification, team preparation, and event planning. We’re pleased to share a snapshot of what has been happening across our pathways and representative programs as we build momentum into 2026.

AYWC & AWC Trials – Finalised

December marked the completion of trials for both the Australian Youth Women’s Championships (AYWC) and the Australian Women’s Championships (AWC) programs. These sessions showcased the continued growth of women’s baseball in South Australia, with a strong level of skill, competitiveness, and commitment on display across all age groups.

Final selections are now being confirmed, and we look forward to formally announcing squads in the coming weeks. We thank all athletes who participated in the trial process and commend them for their professionalism and effort throughout.

AYC Preparation Underway

Preparation for the 2026 Australian Youth Championships (AYC) has continued throughout December, with squads progressing through structured training blocks focused on skill development, game understanding, and team cohesion.

Coaching staff have been working closely with athletes to set expectations and standards early, ensuring a strong foundation is in place as we move into the new year. The focus remains on long-term athlete development, accountability, and creating a high-performance environment that supports both individual and team success.

SA vs VIC Boxing Day Showdown

One of the highlights of this month is the South Australia vs Victoria Boxing Day Showdown, which once again provides an excellent opportunity for our athletes to compete against strong opposition in a high-intensity environment.

The event will look to be continued as a valuable fixture in the calendar, offering meaningful game exposure while reinforcing state pride and competitive resilience. We thank all athletes, coaches, officials, Baseball Victoria, and volunteers who contributed to the success of making this pre-tournament possible.

With trials completed and preparations well underway, we now turn our focus to the new year. January will bring increased training intensity, squad announcements, and further opportunities for athletes to test themselves in competitive environments.

We thank our athletes, families, coaches, clubs, and volunteers for their continued support throughout 2025 and look forward to an exciting year ahead for baseball in South Australia.

SA Players Part of ACT ROOS

The Roos are ready! We’ve been able to get in some quality work over the last couple of weeks, with a strong focus on the fundamentals that prepare players for tournament-style baseball.

The group has really bought in, applied themselves, and is excited to represent the Roos. They’ve been great to work with and will be a real asset to their teams when they arrive in Victoria.

In total, nine South Australian players have been selected across both teams, which is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the talent coming through our state. Each player has an exciting opportunity ahead to play high-quality baseball and compete on the national stage.

UMPIRING UPDATES

As we approach the halfway point of the season, it has become increasingly clear across the baseball community that umpiring numbers within the league have reached a long-anticipated critical point. In some weeks, we have as few as 10 league umpires available, significantly impacting clubs and our higher-grade competitions.

Baseball SA previously asked each club to assist by identifying at least one person willing to step into a league umpiring role and be available for senior competitions on Saturdays. All training and ongoing support are provided at no cost. This has included an online umpiring course available via the Baseball SA website, designed to help club umpires upskill on the fundamentals and, in turn, lift the overall standard of games across the league.

Unfortunately, the response to these initiatives has been very limited. As a result, we are again calling on anyone with an interest in umpiring whether as a league umpire or a club umpire to join us on Wednesday 14 January for our second open intensive training session. This session aims to fast-track the development of as many new umpires as possible.

The session will run from 5:00pm–6:00pm for underage juniors interested in officiating junior grades, followed by 6:30pm–8:30pm for adults. Full use of the West Beach facilities will be available, along with the support of our senior umpiring group, led by Umpiring Director Andrew Bell, who will guide participants through practical and game-based scenarios.

There is no cost to attend, and all participants will leave with their Community Umpire Accreditation.

No registration is required simply turn up and take part in what will be a fun, engaging, and valuable learning experience.