2016 has been a pretty good year for Australian Baseball.
From getting some much needed time together in beautiful Holland for the 2016
Honkbalweek, the incredible feat of claiming a silver medal at the U23 World
Cup and finishing 2016 as the 11th ranked baseball nation in the
world, there’s plenty to be excited about.
After beginning the year as the 13th ranked
nation in world baseball, following the silver medal at the U23 World Cup,
Australia has moved into Premier12 territory for the first time effort, after
narrowly missing out one the 2015 edition of the tournament.
As well as the U23 Team’s successes, the National Team also
is aiming high come the 2017 World Baseball Classic in Japan. Having dramatically defeatedthe World All-Stars in the annual Australian Baseball League All-Star Game
recently, Australia’s focus now shifts to Cuba, China and #1 ranked nation in
the world Japan as their opponents at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
The 28-man team for the World Baseball Classic will be
finalised in early 2017, and will feature the best talent Australia has to
offer in a bid to move on to the second round of the World Baseball Classic for
the first time ever.
As well as the World Baseball Classic quickly approaching,
one eye of Australian baseball must turn to maintaining a world ranking of 12
or greater to secure qualification for the next Premier12 tournament in 2019.
As well as the 2019 tournament, the next Olympics shapes as a historic moment
in baseball history, as baseball/softball return for the first time since 2008.
As one very successful chapter closes in Australian
Baseball, every single baseball fan in the country will be hoping 2017 takes it
to the next level.