Boral, one of Australia’s leading suppliers of building and construction materials, has put pen-to-paper on a two-year partnership with Baseball Australia to secure the presenting rights of the Australian Emeralds Women’s Baseball Team.
Women’s baseball continues to grow in Australia and attracted significant attention recently when The Emeralds brought home a bronze medal at the 2014 IBAF Women’s World Cup in Miyazaki, Japan.
Boral is a great supporter of baseball in Australia and this new two-year agreement is in addition to their current support for the Australian Baseball League (ABL) as presenting partner of the ABL All Stars Game and the ABL Championship Series.
The Australian Emeralds presented by Boral, are currently ranked equal 3rd in the World and are currently preparing for the LG Presents WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup 2016 Gijang (Korea) to be hosted in Gijang City, South Korea, 3-11 September, 2016.
Boral’s support is a great boost to The Emeralds squad, ahead of team selection, according to Emeralds Coach Simone Wearne.
“Australia has a terrific women’s baseball program, and to receive this kind of recognition and support by a global leader like Boral, gives everyone involved in women’s baseball a really great boost,” said Wearne.
“The Boral support will go a long way to advancing our women’s World Cup program and will put us in the best position to focus on performance as we pursue a medal at this year’s IBAF World Cup.”
Currently there are 53,986 registered baseballers in Australia with participation growing at 10% per annum. Of that, women’s baseball makes up 13% of all participants (8,700) and is expected to eclipse 10,000 participants by 2019.
Boral’s CEO & Managing Director, Mike Kane, was pleased to confirm Boral’s support for The Australian Emeralds, and believes that they can achieve great things at the 2016 Women’s Baseball World Cup in South Korea.
“Boral is proud to support women’s baseball in Australia, and in particular support the Australian Emeralds’ bid for success at this year’s World Cup in South Korea. South Korea is an important market for Boral and I look forward to the Australian Emeralds making their mark in Gijang City in September,” said Mr Kane.
“The Australian Emeralds provides a great pathway for young women and girls who want to compete at the highest level in baseball, and Boral is delighted to be able to support that ambition.”
Baseball Australia Chief Executive Officer Brett Pickett has overseen significant growth in the women’s baseball program in his tenure and believes Boral’s further commitment to delivering elite baseball lays testament to their vision as a business, and their community foundations.
“Boral has become a global player in the building and construction materials industry but they have never forgotten their beginnings in grass-roots Australia,” said Pickett.
“Their backing of The Australian Emeralds presented by Boral, will provide extensive support not only to women’s baseball at the elite level, but from grass-roots women’s baseball all the way through to the national team.”
BACKGROUND: The Australian Emeralds presented by Boral
The National Women’s Team has been in existence since 2001, and has established itself as a global force in women’s baseball.
TEAM INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
2001 – Bronze medal at 1st Women’s Baseball World Series
2002 – Aussie Stars represent Australia to win a gold medal @ the 2nd Women’s Baseball World Series (Florida, USA)
2002 – Australia wins a gold medal @ the International Women’s Championship (Geelong, AUS)
2003 – Silver medal at 3rd Women’s Baseball World Series (Gold Coast, AUS)
2010 – Silver medal at 1st IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup (Venezuela)
2014 – Bronze Medal at IBAF Women's Baseball World Cup (Miyazaki, Japan)