Women’s Baseball - The Inside Pitch

SZN6 Audrey Cheung

What a 2024 for Audrey Cheung! 
Going yard at the world's first Little League Nationals in Lismore and then repping Team Australia at the U12 World Cup quallies in Guam.
In this episode, Amy McCann interviews Audrey Cheung from Victoria, Australia. Audrey shares her journey in baseball, starting from her early days playing t-ball to her experiences in the Australian Little League Championships and her recent selection for the Australian team. The conversation highlights the challenges and joys of being a female athlete in a male-dominated sport, her memorable moments on and off the field, and her aspirations for the future. Audrey's passion for baseball shines through as she discusses her training, favourite positions, and the support she receives from her family and coaches.
Remember to head to womensbaseball.me :) 

SZN6 Claire O'Sullivan

In Season 6, travel around Australia's diamonds to hear from the people, clubs, organisations and players doing great things down under for Aussie women's baseball. 
Episode 3 features dual World Cup Emerald Claire O'Sullivan, a legend of New South Wales Baseball. Hear about Claire's start in regional NSW, her time with Country NSW, her Emeralds debut and that seven year gap between time in the green and gold, plus her recent stint with the Kyushu Honeys in Japan.Also remember to head to womensbaseball.me :) 

SZN6 - Baseball NT - Kai Meuronen, Gemma Scales, Templar Murrell

In Season 6, we travel around Australia's diamonds chatting to the people, clubs, organisations and players doing great things down under for Aussie women's baseball. 
For episode 3, we hit the top end to hear about all things Northern Territory women's baseball, significantly the Darwin Women's League.
Listen to Kai Meuronen, Participation & Pathways Manager at Baseball NT, Head Coach of the Stingers Gemma Scales (16:50), and Cyclones player Templar Murrell (29:55). 

SZN6 - Baseball WA - Lachlan Dale, Ava Tyson, Chloe Atkinson

In Season 6, travel around Australia's diamonds chatting to the people, clubs, organisations and players doing great things down under for Aussie women's baseball. 
For episode 2, we travel to Perth, Western Australia, to speak with Baseball WA CEO Lachlan Dale about the new WA Elite Women's Series, and all things WA Women's Baseball. 
We also have a chat to rising stars Ava Tyson (23:46) and Chloe Atkinson (34:51)  who featured in the opening game for the Melville Braves and Wanneroo Giants. 

SZN6 - 2024 Barclay Cup

In Season 6, we travel around Australia's diamonds chatting to the people, clubs, organisations and players doing great things down under for Aussie women's baseball. 
For episode 2, we talk all things The Barclay Cup, which is an epic week of baseball honouring Jacinda Barclay, a standout Australian athlete, one heck of a ballplayer, and an even better person off the field, who sadly passed away in 2020.
The Cup brings together female ballers aged 13-16 for a week of fun on and off the field from September 29th to October 5th with teams from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and South Australia set to hit the diamond. 
After making its debut in Queensland in 2022, before heading to Perth in 2023, Sydney will host the third edition of the Cup.
But what does it all mean, what impact has the event had? A lot and huge is the answer I got when I chatted with three people who will be making it a trifecta of Barclay Cups this year. 
Laura Neads, one of Jacinda's best mates who also played alongside her at the highest level for Australia who will be coaching the NSW Ball-hers team. 
Kendra Rutgers, one of the country's most exciting young prospects, who will be repping it for the Victorian Dingoes. 
Dion Thiele, one of the amazing coaches giving their time to girls and women's baseball in Australia.
Enjoy!
 

SZN5 Firsts - Maddi Erwin (AUS)

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 8 of Women's Baseball the Inside Pitch.
 
Season 5 is all about 'Firsts' and in the eighth and final episode for the season, we chat with Maddi Erwin from Canberra who became the first Canberran female to play in a World Cup game for the Australian Emeralds. 

SZN5 Firsts - Emma Gainsford (AUS)

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 7 of Women's Baseball the Inside Pitch.
 
This season is all about 'Firsts' and in this episode we chat with 12-year-old Emma Gainsford from Sydney, Australia, who in July 2024 became the first Australian female to participate in the Little League World Series in the USA! 

SZN5 Firsts - Jean Fruth (USA)

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 6 of Women's Baseball the Inside Pitch.
 
This season is all about 'Firsts' and today's episode talks all things about the first major documentary on the modern-day international women's baseball community.  
 
In this episode, Amy McCann chats with acclaimed sports photographer Jean Fruth who with Jeff Idelson, former president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, has directed and produced See Her Be Her, a documentary on women’s baseball around the globe.
 
The story follows the lives of seven women baseball stars who are at the pinnacle of their game and represent the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, Cuba and Uganda. In the intense battle for the World Cup Championship, they want victory — for themselves, for their team, for their countries, and for the sheer love of the game — but their greatest triumph is the path they are blazing for future generations of female players.
See Her Be Her shatters a variety of stereotypes, as the seven players — through perseverance and resilience — push the boundaries of what’s possible both on and off the field. The film highlights their resolve to fight for gender equality for all female athletes.
The doco will make its debut on the MLB Network between Games 2 & 3 of the 2024 World Series.
 
Enjoy!

SZN5 Firsts - Amy Collins (AUS)

Welcome to Season 5 of Women's Baseball the Inside Pitch, “Firsts”, where a host of trailblazing players from around the world share their stories about how and when they became the first woman to…….
 
In Episode 5, I chat with Amy Collins, now Cannington, from Australia. 
 
One half of the first sister duo to play for Australia, Amy has won nationals with Victoria and NSW and has played three World Cups for Australia. Enjoy! 

SZN5 Firsts - Laura Hirai (Great Britain)

Welcome to Season 5 of Women's Baseball the Inside Pitch, “Firsts”, where a host of trailblazing players from around the world share their stories about how and when they became the first woman to…….
 
In Episode 4, I chat with Laura Hirai from London, England!
 
Laura has etched her name into the history books as the first women to play baseball for the Great Britain U16/U18 (boys) National teams, the first woman to represent both the Great Britain women's baseball and softball teams, the first ball girl for the New York Yankees, yes the Yankees, at the UK Series in London... and more.  If her middle name wasn't already 'Baseball' it would be 'Firsts'.