We are so excited to watch our Victorian State Teams at the upcoming Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships in Melbourne from 13-19 April. We are very proud and wish everyone the best of luck!
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Victorian Women's State Team
Victoria was the team to beat at the 2024 Australian Women’s Championship, going undefeated to claim the gold medal.
Now, they’re tasked with defending a title with some new faces on the squad. The Victorian ‘rookies’ are: Narumi Kametami, Eden Neave, and Kendra Rutgers. Mackenzie Prentice-Evans and Paula Doherty debut for Victoria, but played AWC for other states in 2024.
Still, although young, there are 11 national champions on the roster.
“They might be new to the team, but they’ve been around this level,” said Allie Bebbere on the Girls are Players Too Podcast. “They are players we see every five weeks. We know how they play. We get to be friends with them in a small community. So it might be the first time we are pulling a Victoria uniform with them but we’ve played with them enough.”
We asked our players and officials to share a little more about themselves, and here's what they had to say!
#28 Belinda Cannington
Bel Cannington, a long-time Doncaster Dragon, is celebrating 20 years in baseball, and hoping to win gold again. Winning nationals is her favourite baseball memory, and the infielder says the best thing about baseball is “developing each time you step on the field and playing with friends”. Her baseball role model is Samantha Hamilton.
#13 Jessica Brown
Jessica Brown, or “Brownie” as she is known to teammates, has played for 11 years at local clubs Bonbeach, Berwick, and Essendon. The catcher loves the thrill of throwing someone out and is on a mission to come home with gold. She says her favourite baseball memory is “getting selected for Victoria for the first time”. Her fun fact: she loves grapes (a healthy gameday snack!)
#22 Kira Jansen
The versatile outfielder made her Victorian AWC debut last year and joined tournament MVP Lili Cavanagh as the team’s equal RBI leader. Now, she’s back, fresh off Newport’s premiership, and eager to play hard and have fun. Kira has played for nine years and credits Aaron Judge as her baseball role model. Her favourite baseball memory is hitting her first home run, which makes sense given she says the best thing about baseball is “hitting bombs”. Her fun fact: “my hair is the length of half of my height”.
#33 Kira Kuwamoto
Kira Kuwamoto, or “KK” is on her 14th year of baseball, and was part of Newport’s epic premiership run in Summer League, batting .500 on the season. The utility player looks up to Kelsie Whitmore, an American pro pitcher and outfielder in the Pioneer League. Kira’s favourite baseball memory is playing Indy ball in America, and she loves that baseball is a team sport with individual roles. Her top goal for #AWC2025? “Bring the vibes.”
#53 Lilly Simpson
Lilly, a standout from the 2024 AYC, has enjoyed six years with Doncaster Baseball Club. The outfielder credits LBT (Lily Bell-Tanner) as her baseball role model, and lists training and playing with her friends every week as the best thing about the game. As for her AWC 2025 goals? “To be the best I can be.”
#10 Paula Doherty
Paula Doherty, nicknamed L1/Doc, is coming up on 10 years of baseball, and made an impressive impact for Newport Rams this summer. The Far North Queensland product is now living in Victoria and looks up to fellow pitcher Allie Bebbere (Paula also plays first and third base). When asked about her favourite baseball memory, she says “winning Golden Arm in the U16 youth women's nationals my last year”. Her goals for this AWC are to have a really good pitching tournament with strong hitting, too. Paula, who outside of baseball enjoys music and can play two instruments, is just happy to be on the field. “The best thing about baseball is playing with a good bunch of people and creating a really good bond while playing a great game.”
#99 Ruby Dale
Ruby Dale, or “Ruboss” as teammates call her, had another standout year with Newport as the Rams won it all in Women’s Premier League. The utility player batted 0.525 and is in fine form coming into this year’s AWC with 10 years of baseball under her belt. Winning a Division 1 Women’s Premiership is her favourite baseball memory, and now, she wants to do the same on the national stage. David Wright of the New York Mets is her baseball role model, and as for the best thing about baseball? It’s simple: “being able to play with and against my mates”. P.S. – her fun fact is she doesn’t like watermelon.
#17 Saeko Suzuki
Saeko “Sue” Suzuki has spent the past two years playing with Newport Rams, and is coming into the 2025 AWC fresh off a VSBL Women’s Premier League Grand Final victory. The pitcher and outfielder looks up to all her teammates and embraces all the fun moments of the game. For the tournament, she wants to have more fun with no injuries. Her fun fact comes in handy for gameday prep: “I can sleep anywhere”.
Assistant Coach Jarryd Rogers
Jarryd hails from Essendon and Watsonia Baseball Clubs, where he’s been involved in the grassroots sport for 17 years. His best baseball memory is winning his first A Grade Premiership with Essendon, and when it comes to on-field advice, he keeps it simple: “enjoy the game”. After last year’s success, he would love to see women’s back-to-back gold medals. Jarryd’s fun fact? “My wife (Jess Johnson) and I won ABL championships in the same year.”
Pitching Coach Stephen Black
The 2024 Baseball Victoria Life Member returns as pitching coach of the Victorian Women’s State Team. From Doncaster Baseball Club, Stephen brings 55 years of involvement in the game, offering great advice to those stepping up on the mound. When in doubt, his best tip? “Win the next pitch.”
EO Ursula Howard
The long-time women’s baseball champion has spent 34 years in baseball. The Doncaster Dragon offers players a key piece of advice to want the ball, and hopes VIC scores runs, not goals at the 2025 AWC. Ursula’s fun fact? “I had a front tooth broken by a baseball warming up before what was supposed to be my first game.”
Victorian Youth Women's State Team
There are eight new players and seven returning from last year, when the team finished fifth.
New players: Hannah Wilson-Powell, Paige Anders, Ayla McCallum, Vivien Turner, Tabitha Pitt, Paiquin Robertson, Emily Mills, Lucy Gale
Return players: Charlotte Jansen, Isy Zurawel, Alyssa Jamieson, Andie Torcasio, Maddy Haynes, Ally Egan, Molly Lewis.
“We have focused on setting a culture where the girls will take ownership of their performances,” Head Coach Richard Elton said. “Some of the principles we’ve talked about [include] play hard, but be respectful, being a good teammate, playing with confidence but remaining humble and being accountable to each other [among others]. I can’t wait to see the girls own this on the field!”
We asked our players and officials to share a little more about themselves, and here's what they had to say!
#39 Ally Egan
Returning rep Ally Egan has three years of baseball in the books, playing third base and pitching with Research and Essendon Baseball Clubs. She lists Allie Bebbere as a baseball role model and credits the 2024 winter season as her favourite memory with a fantastic team. A fun fact of hers is that she has bunted two triples, and she loves that baseball has so many different positions to learn. Her goal for AYWC? “To play to my best and have fun with my team.”
#8 Alyssa Jamieson
Alyssa “Lyss” Jamieson is a shortstop with Port Melbourne who has played baseball for six years. 2024 nationals was an eye-opening and memorable experience for Alyssa, who credits her dad as her baseball role model. “The best thing about baseball is my teammates, and my goals for this year are to enjoy my last year in the youth tournament.”
#12 Andie Torcasio
Another return player is Andie Torcasio, who has played for three years with Essendon and Melbourne Uni. The catcher/infielder credits Abbey Kelly and Lily Bell-Tanner as inspiring role models, and says catching her first women’s game is a top memory. For Andie, the best thing about baseball is “hitting the sweet spot on the bat” and her AYWC goal is “to be consistent all around”.
#2 Charlotte Jansen
Charlotte “CJ” Jansen, younger sister to Kira, has enjoyed 10 years of baseball and plays for Doncaster Dragons and South East Warriors. The utility player credits Jess Johnson as a key baseball role model, and lists hitting a triple at the 2024 AYWC as her best baseball memory. Her goal this year is to play her part for the team. As for her favourite thing about baseball? “Meeting new people at tournaments.”
#48 Emily Mills
Emily Mills, nicknamed “Millsy”, hails from Research Lower Plenty Baseball Club and started playing in September 2023. Since then, she had a breakout Belles tournament at the historic All-Girls Little League Nationals in May 2024, and pitched in the winning U13 game at the All-Girls Winter Invitational in Bendigo. Playing on the national stage is one of her favourite memories, and now she will get to make more with her AYWC debut. Emily pitches and plays shortstop and second base, with Allie Bebbere serving as her baseball role model. She says her journey all started when golfing with her dad, and now the best thing about baseball is having fun with her team and learning new skills. Her focus for AYWC? “Do my best and have fun doing it.”
#0 Hannah Wilson-Powell
Hannah is a seven-year player and first-time Victorian Youth Women’s player. She plays winter juniors with Ringwood, summer juniors with Blackburn, and summer and winter women’s with Waverley. As third base and catcher, she says the best thing about baseball is getting runners out on overthrows and the friends she’s made. Jenna Basse, Waverley Women’s Summer Head Coach, is her role model, and she also learned a lot from being in the Belles and playing at the first-ever All-Girls Nationals in Lismore. “My fun fact is I always get hit by the ball and my goals for AYWC 2025 is to hit a double.”
#7 Isy Zurawel
The returning AYWC representative enjoyed a great summer with Newport, continuing to strengthen her skills after three years in the game. A utility player, Isy looks up to Aussie Major Leaguer Aaron Whitefield, and says her first home run is her favourite memory. For Isy, the best thing about baseball is “making new memories and friends” and at this year’s nationals, she most wants to “enjoy the tournament and have fun”.
#20 Maddy Haynes
Maddy Haynes, who goes by the nicknames Mads and Twinkle Toes, has enjoyed three years of baseball, playing at the Barclay Cup and last year’s AYWC. A utility player with Research Lower Plenty, Maddy’s best memories come from a stellar 2024 winter season, and she aspires to follow in the footsteps of Vic Women’s Head Coach Sam Hamilton. “My goal is to play as well as I can and leave everything on the field,” Maddy said. “I love how complex the game is, and how everyone is always involved.” Besides baseball, she also does ballet.
#88 Molly Lewis
Molly Lewis is a catcher, shortstop, and third base return player who has played four years, based at Springvale in the summer and Heathmont in the winter. Molly lists Bronwyn Gell as a baseball role model, and has great memories of winning the Women’s Premier League Reserves Grand Final with Springvale back in March. “Baseball is my passion, and the best thing is playing competition sport with my friends and making new friends,” Molly said. “My goal for AYWC 2025 is having fun while winning.”
#13 Vivien Turner
Making her AYWC debut is Viv Turner, a Berwick Cougars pitcher and infielder who has played for three years. Baseball is a family activity, as she made her men’s debut with her brother and dad. Viv says Aaron Whitefield is her baseball role model and her favourite memory is making finals with her teammates in her very first season. Viv says the best thing about baseball is “the ongoing enjoyment it brings you every day”, and for AYWC, she wants to “learn new skills and go for gold”.
Head Coach Richard Elton
The returning youth head coach comes from Sandringham Baseball Club and brings 40 years of baseball experience to the table. Baseball is a family affair for him, with a core memory being when his son was selected to play for Australia. His best piece of baseball advice is to “be present and enjoy the moment”. During the tournament, he’s looking forward to supporting all players and helping them find moments on the AYWC stage which all their hard work and commitment deserves.
He also had a couple of fun facts to share with us. “Baseball: I was lucky enough to get to work with Leah and the Belles the last two years and attend the first-ever All-Girls Little League Nationals. Non-baseball: I’ve been completely addicted to Duolingo for the last 2+ years, my streak is up to 970 days.”
Assistant Coach Daniel Bebbere
With 20 years of baseball experience under his belt, Daniel is thrilled to be part of this year’s AYWC. The player and coach from Latrobe Uni Baseball Club hopes to learn something every day and share this wisdom with a bright and talented young group. He loves playing golf when he’s not at baseball, but otherwise, he focuses on his favourite piece of baseball advice: be the teammate you want to have in your dugout. As for his best baseball memory? It’s “introducing my now wife to baseball and having the opportunity to play alongside her.”
EO Carla Jamieson
Carla, who is involved with Port Melbourne Baseball Club, says baseball has been part of her life for 40 years despite never playing herself. Her best baseball memory is a walk-off win during the U14s Metro Grand Final in 2023. Now, she’s eager to support the youth women’s team to help them perform to the best of their abilities. Her favourite baseball advice is “always try your hardest but have fun and smile even in difficult situations - it makes you breathe and reset”.