Pitch perfect for "baseball heaven"

Above: Brisbane North celebrate their victory at the Australian Championships. Picture: Hugh Whittle / Baseball Australia

A "once-in-a-lifetime experience" awaits 12 Little League baseballers from Moreton Bay who are off to the World Series showpiece.

As Brisbane North Region, they won the Australian Little League Championship on Friday with commanding performances in Blacktown, NSW.

Now, the 10-12-year-olds will represent the Australian Region at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania from August 13-24.

The tournament, for 10 US and 10 international teams, attracts crowds of more than 25,000 and TV audiences (on ESPN) of over one million.

Brisbane North will open against Vacamonte, from the Panama Region, on August 13, 5pm US Eastern time, in Volunteer Stadium.

“It’s baseball heaven,” said Keith Land, a founding member of Redcliffe Padres and head coach of Brisbane North.

“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players. They have no idea what’s coming at them.

“The media attention is huge, the street parade will have 20,000 people and each team on its own flatbed truck.

“I said ensure you have your passport, you can sign autographs and talk with an Aussie accent … they love Aussie accents over there!"

Brisbane North is Monica Arcuir, Braxton Black, Josh Campbell-Manfield, Porter Cox, Averey Griffin, Issei Hamano, Cameron Holden, Harper Lokeni, Preston Reid, Xander Reid, Ryder Smith and Floyd Staines. Coaches: Keith Land, Eli Jones, Darren Holden, Sally Reid.

For the Australian Championships, it was selected from Division One teams playing at Redcliffe Padres and Narangba Demons.

In Pool A, they beat Melbourne Rangers 11-0, NT Buffaloes 14-0, Eastern Phantoms 5-3, Ryde Red 7-3 and lost to Macarthur 9-5.

However, Brisbane North finished second in the Pool behind Ryde and beat Pool B winners Manly 5-0 in the semi-finals.

Brisbane’s pitchers lead the way again in the final, as Ryde Red were despatched 6-0 - which punched the World Series ticket.

“I told the players do the little things right and you’ll be fine,” said Keith, who was with the first Brisbane North team to reach the World Series in 2022.

“We had one bad game (against Macarthur), but otherwise the players were great. We didn’t concede a run in the semi-finals or final! I'm delighted for them.”

The squad was given a week off training, after lifting the Australian title, but will then return and leave for the US in early August.

“This will be a step-up in standard,” Keith said, “but we’ll give it everything and make sure we enjoy it.”

More pictures by Hugh Whittle/Baseball Australia