SOUTH AUSTRALIA CLAIM SILVER AT 2026 AYWC NATIONALS
South Australia’s AYWC team has delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Australian Youth Women’s Championships, finishing with a well-earned silver medal in Melbourne.
Held from April 14–18, the tournament brought together the best young talent from across the country, with South Australia showcasing resilience, growth, and strong team spirit throughout the week.
Despite falling short in the gold medal game against Western Australia, the result marks a significant achievement for the group — particularly considering the squad featured 13 rookies competing at their first-ever National Championships.
The team continued to improve with each game, building confidence and cohesion as the tournament progressed, ultimately earning their place in the championship decider.
Head Coach Julie Wadham reflected on the team’s performance:
“As a coaching staff, Kym, Bec and I couldn’t be prouder of our incredible Under 16 Girls baseball team after their outstanding silver‑medal finish at the Australian Youth Women's National Championships. This team was the youngest squad in the tournament with 13 rookies and only 3 returning players from last year's Gold Medal team, yet they played with the maturity, grit and unity of a far more experienced lineup. Over the past few months, the team’s growth has been impressive and watching the girls at the end of the tournament they were a completely different group to the one we started with back in January. They have grown remarkably in skill, confidence and teamwork and that drove their performances at the championships.
Lillian Sterry and Olivia George were standout performers on the mound, delivering big moments and shutting down the opposition in crucial games - including the 2 of them combining for a massive win against NSW that pushed the SA team into the Gold Medal game. But tournament baseball requires a team effort and 12 of the team's 16 players pitched at some point during the week - including some who were on the mound for their very first time! At the plate, Olivia and Lillian were joined by Marley Fridd and Makenzie Wigmore, who combined to help drive the offence and keep SA competitive against the strongest teams in the country. Isla Scott worked tirelessly as the team's primary catcher, and Evie Jennings ran down more than her share of balls in the outfield over the week.
What truly defined this young group though, was everyone's team‑first mindset. The players committed to the team approach, supported each other relentlessly, and had plenty of fun along the way. Walking away with a silver against an incredibly strong WA team is a phenomenal achievement. I am incredibly proud of every player in this team. Their performance is a glimpse of what’s possible when they work hard, support each other and trust the process. I can’t wait to see how far this talented group will go in the years ahead”.
AYWC PLAYING GROUP
Kylah Ding
Marley Fridd
Olivia George
Evie Jennings
Amelia Manson
Brooke McKechnie
Lilly Ruskin
Grace Sands
Isla Scott
Lillian Sterry
Cara Sykes
Grace Thompson
Kaia Weeks
Makenzie Wigmore
Bella Qualmann
Juno Bromley
COACHING STAFF
Julie Wadham
Kym Ashworth
Rebecca Murdoch
Janine Fedorchuk-Weeks
South Australia can take great pride in this result, with the silver medal performance reflecting the hard work of players, coaches, and support staff throughout the campaign.
With a young and developing squad, the future of the program looks incredibly bright.