Baseball SA Insider March 2026
Introduction
As the SABL 2025–26 season comes to a close, March has been a time to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead to what’s next for baseball in South Australia.
From an exciting Grand Final weekend at West Beach to recognising our standout performers at the Capps Medal, it’s been a month that showcased the passion, talent, and strength of our community.
With Nationals approaching and key programs continuing to build, there is plenty to look forward to as we transition into the next phase of the season.
Message from the GM
As another regular season comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the season and acknowledge the many people who helped make it such a success.
Firstly, thank you to all of our umpires, scorers, volunteers and parents who give so much of their time throughout the season. Week in and week out, and especially during finals, our sport relies on people behind the scenes who keep things running. That contribution does not go unnoticed, and we are very grateful for everything you do for our players, clubs and the wider baseball community.
Our Finals Weekend at West Beach was a great reminder of what baseball in South Australia can look like at its best. It was fantastic to see so many people down at the venue from Friday through to Sunday, with a really strong atmosphere right across the weekend. The energy around the precinct was impressive and it made for a fitting setting for some of our biggest games of the season.
Congratulations to Henley & Grange on winning the Aethelon State League Division 1 Championship, taking the best of three Grand Final Series in two straight games. It was great to see the club celebrate such a significant achievement, claiming its first Division 1 title since 1997.
Congratulations also to the Woodville Women on an outstanding season in the Belgravia Apparel Women’s Division 1 competition. To go through the regular season undefeated and then carry that form through the finals was a remarkable effort and a credit to the players, coaches and everyone involved.
It was also great to see the continued energy across our junior competitions throughout the season. The number of young players, families, coaches and clubs contributing each week says a lot about the work being done across the sport. Congratulations also to Adelaide on being recognised as both Junior Club of the Year and Senior Club of the Year, which is a terrific reflection of the strength of their club across all levels.
We were also proud to celebrate the best of our game at this year’s Capps Medal Presentation. Thank you once again to the Capps family for their continued support of this important event and for helping us recognise the achievements of players across our sport each year. Congratulations to Harry Deliyannis from East Torrens on winning the Capps Medal, the premier individual honour in our league. Congratulations also to Alice Brown from Woodville on taking home the Women’s League Division One MVP award. I would also like to acknowledge all of this year’s medal winners and award recipients.
While the regular season has now wrapped up, there is still plenty happening across the game. With Winterball just around the corner, along with off-season training, planning and preparation for next season, there is already a lot of work going into what comes next.
Thank you again to everyone who played a part in the season just gone, and I look forward to seeing that continue in the months ahead.
SABL 2025–26 SEASON WRAP
The SABL 2025–26 season has officially come to an end and what a spectacular finish it was, with a huge weekend of Grand Finals at West Beach
From unforgettable moments to historic achievements, the finals showcased the very best of baseball in South Australia.
Aethelon State League Division 1 AT LAST, A RAMS’ PREMIERSHIP
Henley & Grange have broken through, claiming their first Division 1 premiership since 1997 with a thrilling 6–4 victory over Southern Districts to complete a two-game sweep.
After falling short in recent seasons, the Rams delivered when it mattered most. Behind standout pitching from Wilson Lee and key moments from Liam Bull, Koki Yonezawa, and Jose Paula, Henley built a lead that proved just enough to hold off a late Southern Districts surge.
A 30-year wait is finally over a well-deserved premiership for the Rams.
Belgravia Apparel Women’s Division 1 WOODVILLE – UNDEFEATED PREMIERS
Woodville capped off a dominant season in style, defeating Adelaide 12–1 to secure back-to-back premierships finishing the season undefeated.
With a powerful lineup and elite pitching led by Alice Brown, the Senators controlled the game and the season from start to finish. Their consistency, depth, and dominance were unmatched, cementing their place at the top of the competition.
An incredible achievement for Woodville and a season to remember.
Capps Medal 2026
In an exciting count, Harry Deliyannis (East Torrens) claimed the 2026 Capps Medal with 34 votes, finishing ahead of Wilson Lee (Henley & Grange) on 32, and Brett Hattersley (Southern Districts) on 30.
Deliyannis’ outstanding season both on the mound and at the plate played a key role in East Torrens’ finals campaign, becoming just the third player from the club to win the prestigious award.
In the Women’s count, Alice Brown (Woodville) confirmed her dominance, taking out the medal with 33 votes, ahead of Angela Mourtzios (Adelaide) and Peyton Daniels (Woodville).
The night also celebrated standout performers across all grades, along with the announcement of the Teams of the Year, recognising excellence across the competition.
Performance Pathways
March has been a month of reflection and reset following a busy national championship period. Our focus has shifted toward reviewing performances, supporting athlete development, and planning for the next phase of the pathway.
The introduction of our High Performance Maintenance Program has provided valuable training continuity for athletes, bridging the gap from the commencement of the Australian Youth Championships through to the conclusion of the club season. This has included both on-field baseball development and structured strength and conditioning, positioning athletes strongly as they transition into their offseason programs.
Athletes have now moved into individual development plans, with a focus on strength and conditioning, arm care and pitching progression, hitting consistency, and defensive skills. During this phase, athletes are encouraged to remain disciplined, stay engaged, and take ownership of their development.
Our Youth and Open Women’s State Teams are currently finalising preparations for the upcoming April national championships. Both squads feature a strong balance of returning athletes and emerging talent, highlighting the continued growth of the women’s pathway.
Looking ahead, key priorities for April include the Australian Women’s Championships and Australian Youth Women’s Championships, ongoing athlete development tracking, continued planning for the 2026–27 pathway cycle, and sustained engagement with athletes and coaches.
Overall, March has established a strong foundation for the next phase of our programs. The focus remains on continuous improvement, athlete development, and building a clear, sustainable pathway for baseball in South Australia.
LIFTING PATHWAYS TO NEW HEIGHTS
In case you missed it, JPS Lifts are now the official partners of our Pathways Programs and we couldn't ask for a better team to help us elevate our future stars.
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Known for sky-high standards in reliability and customer service, JPS Lifts offer round-the-clock peace of mind with 24/7 support from local, qualified Adelaide technicians.
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!
Baseball South Australia is pleased to announce that player registrations and coaches Expressions of Interest for the 2026 Adelaide Seahorses Little League Girls Team are now open.
This program provides young athletes with the opportunity to represent South Australia on the national stage, develop their skills in a high-performance environment, and be part of a positive and supportive team culture.
For more information visit: 2026 Adelaide Seahorses Little League Girls Team Registrations Now Open — Baseball South Australia
Baseball SA is recruiting 14 new Division 1 umpires for the 2026/27 season through a fully structured, funded development program.
If you’ve played the game and want a role in it that can take you further than playing ever could, this program is for you.
What the program includes:
• 52 hours of paid training across the season
•24 weekly online theory sessions (1 hour, from home)
6 two-hour practical sessions at West Beach (April–September)
•Integration with the existing league umpire training group
•Annual Umpire Seminar
•Full uniform and equipment supplied (~$800 value, recovered through pay)
•AABU and BUASA membership paid by Baseball SA
•Season-long mentoring from ABL panel umpires
•$875 paid before Christmas upon completing the first 3 months
•Average season earnings of $4,000 paid fortnightly
Who we are looking for:
• Aged 20–30
•Played State League baseball at any level
•Available Saturdays
•Willing to commit 1 hour per week online plus 2 hours per month practical
Training commences April 2026.
Submit your expression of interest via email:
neil.poulton@baseballsa.org.au OR CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE NOW!