NETBALL IN PICTURES
PLUS JUNIOR SPORT: P42-43
THE Gold Coast Cougars created history on June 11 in Lismore, becoming the first team from Queensland to win an Australian Little League Baseball Championship.
The 11-0 win over the Adelaide Seahawks in the final not only secured the Aussie title but also booked an all-expenses paid trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series in August.
There, they will get to compete against regional winners from all over the world, and some of the best teams in the USA.
The Australian championships consisted of 20 teams from around the country, who each had to win their way through their respective state tournaments to gain entry to the national event.
Each state is allocated a select number of teams for the national tournament based on their participation numbers.
As opposed to traditional elite pathways, Little League International stipulate that teams are community (charter) based, and can only progress by winning their way through their respective regional qualifying events.
Baseball Australia have been involved in the Little League competition since 2007, but this is the first time that a team from Queensland has been successful at qualify- for the Little League World Series.
The World Series has been running since 1947 and is televised live on ESPN around the world, with games often attended by up to 30,000 fans.
Australia remains one of the fastest growing Little League countries in the world.
The World Series commences on August 16 with the championship game scheduled for 3pm on Sunday, August 26.
Pitcher Oscar Hyde was a key figure in securing the Cougars’ place at the tournament, with the Seahawks unable to land a single hit in his four innings on the mound in the final.
He punched out nine batters as he worked with an early 4-0 lead, while William Baker hit a home run and had four RBIs.
The Gold Coast Cougars finished the Lismore tournament with six wins and only one loss.
Good luck to the Cougars at the Little League World Series – go to the US and show them that the Gold Coast is not just a tourist destination.
GOOD LUCK TO THE COUGARS AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES — GO TO THE US AND SHOW THEM THAT THE GOLD COAST IS NOT JUST A TOURIST DESTINATION