Future softball stars take to the pitch at the U19 Men’s and U18 Women’s State Championships
The U19 Men’s and U18 Women’s Softball State Championships will feature some of the best young talents going around so we have revealed 45 top guns to watch at this year’s event. SEE WHO MADE IT
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Some future softball stars will be on show at the Under 19 Men’s and Under 18 Women’s State Championships on Friday, and we have revealed the top talents to watch.
Eight men’s teams will be hosted by Redlands Softball Association in Ormiston and 10 women teams by Suncoast Hinterland Softball in Mooloolah.
Talent from all around Queensland and even New Zealand will be glimpsed, with youngsters coming to develop their game and make their case for why they should be at an Australian Championship representing Queensland.
So, who are some of the young guns taking part in this year’s State Champs?
TOP 45 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Under 19 Men’s State Championship
Tom Halt (Coral Coast)
Halt will bring great running speed which allows him to take extra bases or run down tough fly balls in the outfield. If required, he can also get on the pitcher’s mound and make life difficult for opposition hitters.
He’s a member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Connor Pashley (Coral Coast)
Pashley will play a big role securing up Coral Coast’s infield defence with clean glove work and communication. His team will need him to get on base to help generate runs at the top of the order.
He’s a member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Tom McCarroll (Coral Coast)
While only young, McCarroll has tremendous athletic ability highlighted by his elite running speed. He is a player of the future and will gain terrific experience competing against older and more established players.
Corie List (Ipswich)
He can pitch, he can hit and he can play defence all at a high level. Corie List is one to watch off the back of an outstanding 2022 National Championships campaign for Queensland, where he made an immense contribution towards that team being crowned the winners.
List will have strong support from his teammates but no doubt his performances will go a long way to the success the Ipswich team will want over the three days.
Connor Doyle (Ipswich)
Doyle is the quiet achiever who brings stability and confidence with his catching and a powerful bat into the Ipswich line up. He’s another key player for the Ipswich team and his positional versatility will be important.
He is a member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Dane Spann (Ipswich)
Spann brings a strong presence to the pitcher’s mound and competes from the first pitch to the last. He also has no problems hitting the ball a long way and will provide Ipswich with a strong 1-2 pitching combination alongside List.
He is also a member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Ethan Munro (Logan/Caboolture)
Munro brings tremendous versatility to every team he plays for. He can play multiple defensive positions as well as provide quality pitching. His speed on the bases and overall experience will add great value to the Logan/Caboolture line up.
Brandon Bristowe (Logan/Caboolture)
Bristowe is immensely talented and no doubt will provide some highlight reel moments over the course of the three day event. Whether it’s pitching, batting or on defence he will make life difficult for opposition teams.
Luke Smith (Logan/Caboolture)
Smith is a quality athlete who can impact games with his athletic defensive skills and power hitting. His running speed is a great weapon and Smith will continually be looking for extra bases if available, and the defence is napping. A player to watch over the three days.
Blake Turner (Redcliffe)
Turner will be an important player for the Redcliffe team with his ability to play a variety of positions. He can swing the bat well too.
His leadership skills will be needed to help drive a young team around the diamond and handle the tough moments.
Kaden Civoniceva (Redcliffe)
Civoniceva brings natural power when he bats and if he gets on a roll could drive in some key runs for his team. He’s the ultimate team player who will play any role to help out his team and give them the best chance for success.
Eli Jones (Redcliffe)
Jones will mostly play catcher but can contribute nicely in other positions if required. He’s a reliable hitter who can spread the ball to all parts of the diamond and will be a key contributor for his team.
Haydan Dobe (Redlands)
Dobe goes into the State Championships as one of the premier power hitters in the tournament. Pitchers will need to be accurate and crafty as Dobe has the ability to do damage and drive in multiple runs.
A member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Ayden Champneys (Redlands)
An extremely reliable player who can change a game and result with one swing of the bat. Champneys can play both first and third base at a high level and is another member of the winning 2022 U18 Queensland team where he was awarded the title of top hitter of the tournament.
Tipene Harkness (Redlands)
Harkness will play a key role for the Redlands team mixing between infield defence and pitching. If Harkness has a solid tournament with the bat and with the power hitters around him he could be scoring some key runs for his team.
Harkness is a member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
James Allan (Rockhampton)
Allan will come to the State Championships with confidence following his MVP performance at the 2022 U16 National Championships earlier in the year.
A strong hitter with natural power who will also provide defensive stability at first and third base for his team.
Chad Charlesworth (Rockhampton)
Charlesworth is a solid catcher with strong fundamentals for a young developing player. He is a tough out in the batters box who does the little things well to contribute to his team’s offence.
He will be an important player for Rockhampton.
Elisha Orr (Rockhampton)
Orr brings an impressive skillset of competitiveness, pitch control and ability to mix speeds. He knows what it takes to get hitters out and brings a maturity on the mound beyond his young years.
Callum Gordon (Toowoomba)
Gordon will play an important role as Toowoomba navigates its way through the State Championships. His running speed will challenge defences especially with his ability to mix up his left handed batting game.
He can play multiple positions as well as compete on the pitching mound if required.
Gordon is member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Eli Schmidt (Toowoomba)
Schmidt played for ACT at the 2022 U18 National Championships earlier this year. That experience will hold him up well for the three day tournament.
He will be a leader for the Toowoomba team and his ability to hit well and dominate in the outfield will be keys to his team performances.
Thomas Howard (Toowoomba)
Thomas comes into the tournament with great form having recently been selected to the U16 State Squad. Despite his young age Thomas brings solid fundamentals and decision making skills to the catching position as well as being a tough hitter at the plate with running speed.
A young player to keep an eye on over the three days.
Under 18 Women’s State Championship
Niamh Jerrard (Brisbane)
Jerrard was a starting player for the 2022 U18 Queensland National Championship winning team, bringing great leadership and composure to her team.
She consistently produces quality at bats and has a knack for delivering in key moments. A very reliable outfielder who will be a key player for the Brisbane team.
Rhiannon Smith (Brisbane)
Having just recently been selected to the Australian Schoolgirls Team Smith comes into the tournament in great form.
Smith brings a combination of aggression, athleticism and a strong desire to compete. Brisbane will need that from her this weekend.
She will tear up the base paths if defences aren’t ready.
Isabelle Mezger (Brisbane)
Mezger will ask tough questions of opposition hitters with her ability to change pitch speeds and good location. She has great maturity for a young pitcher and understands how to get hitters out.
Tarah Staines (Coral Coast)
A natural power hitter who has one approach to batting and that’s hit the ball long and hard. Staines plays a very aggressive style of game both offensively and defensively and will tear the bases up every opportunity she gets.
Tiarna Law (Coral Coast)
Law is a solid and reliable player who will hold down the Coral Coast infield defence. Law is a tough out in the batter’s box who can mix her short and long game up to create confusion in opposition defences.
Charli-Anne Trace (Coral Coast)
Trace is a young player making big strides very quickly. A catcher with strong fundamentals and a hitter that just keeps getting better.
Don’t be surprised if this young player positively influences her team’s performances.
Sasha-May Flegler (FNQ/Gold Coast)
Flegler is an exciting young talent who was named MVP at the 2022 U16 National Championships earlier in the year. She’s an athletic player who has the ability to hit pitchers hard and is by no means afraid of the big moments.
Julia Fulton FNQ/Gold Coast)
Fulton will likely carry the bulk of the pitching workload for her team which is nothing new for her and a role she embraces. She will compete on every pitch and if she can get some solid defence behind her, she can make life tough for opposition batters.
Jeorjah Minniecon (FNQ/Gold Coast)
A smooth working shortstop who can make tough outs look easy. Minniecon’s team will rely on her to set the standard for them both offensively and defensively but it’s a role she can handle and won’t shy away from.
Brooke Needham (Ipswich)
Needham has the pitching ability to contain opposition hitting line ups and give her team chances to win. If she can locate her pitches well and mix speeds Ipswich will be a tough team for their rivals.
She is more than capable of hitting the ball as well.
Lianna Doyle (Ipswich)
Doyle is an exciting young catcher with solid catching skills that continue to develop and get better. Her combination with Needham will be important as they look to close opposition offences down. She will be an important hitter for her team.
Kelsee Walker (Ipswich)
Walker is an integral part of the Ipswich team and will be a key contributor to the team’s best performances. She has solid skill sets in all areas of the game and competes on every play.
Keeva Mohan (Mackay/Townsville)
Mohan brings athleticism and quality defensive skills to the positions of catcher, middle infield and all three outfield positions. Her ability to get on base with quality turns at bat and running speed will be a challenge for opposition defences.
Kacee Shultz (Mackay/Townsville)
Shultz will be an important player for her team playing across multiple positions including the critical position of pitcher. She brings extra base batting power and will punish opposition pitchers if they don’t locate their pitches well.
Lucy Roberts (Mackay/Townsville)
Roberts will play the positions of pitcher, first and second base which highlights the utility value she brings to her team.
This will be Roberts’ fourth U18 State Championships, experience that will be valuable to her and her teammates in big moments of games.
Leah Bertram (Redcliffe)
Bertram will likely carry the bulk of the catching duties for the Redcliffe team which will provide a solid base for their defence to work from.
A good hitter who can spray the ball to all parts of the field and a batter Redcliffe will rely on over the three days.
Ruby Civoniceva (Redcliffe)
Civoniceva is very athletic and will contribute heavily to the success Redcliffe will be seeking at the tournament. Whether it’s on the mound pitching or in the batter’s box, Civoniceva will make an impact.
Deija Perkinson (Redcliffe)
Perkinson will be relied upon to provide solid pitching performances that her defence can support and allow her team’s offence to relax and get runs. If she can hit the corners and force opposition hitters into ground balls she could be very effective.
Caitlin Hosking (Redlands)
Hosking is an athletic player who has strong fundamentals both defensively and offensively, and was a member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Hosking will be a key performer for Redlands and a player to watch.
Sophie Coster (Redlands)
Coster will play multiple and important roles for her team over the weekend. She will be required to pitch, play infield defence as well as be a key hitter and will embrace the challenges that come with all of them.
She is member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Bianca Markham (Redlands)
Having represented Australia at the Canada Cup earlier in the year, Markham will enter the tournament with confidence.
A strong powerful hitter and rock solid catcher. Markham will lead from the front for this Redlands team. She is another member of the 2022 U18 National Championship winning team.
Bridie Nicol (Toowoomba)
Nicol is a young developing pitcher who will be up for the challenge of pitching against older age hitters. She’s a genuine all round player who can cover numerous positions, bats very well and will be a key contributor to Toowoomba’s performances.
Eve Radke (Toowoomba)
Radke will play a key utility role for her Toowoomba team which will include time on the pitching mound. Her solid defensive skills combined with her batting ability will see her impact positively on her team’s performances.
Georgia Clay (Toowoomba)
Clay has the ability and defensive skillsets to cover both first and third base at a high level. She will be a key member of the teams hitting line-up and will look to do damage on any opposition pitching mistakes.
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