Steph retires to put sons ahead of runs
AFTER five years on top, Stephanie Baldwin was determined to go out on her own terms.
And it was exactly what she did. The Townsville cricket star called time on her representative career at the end of the Australian Country Cricket Championships.
While the ever-elusive championship slipped through Queensland’s grasp again, Baldwin was not letting go of a baggy green, named in the Australian Merit squad for the second time in her career.
It was the perfect tournament for the opening batter, scoring a careerhigh 190 runs for the tournament including a maiden half-century against rivals Victoria.
Those runs came in the opening fixture, in what was a grand final rematch from last season. It was a statement innings from the 30-year-old.
“It is the most runs I have scored in a national carnival, it is definitely the best I have ever batted,” she said. “I did raise the bat (for the half-century), it was very special. The fact it was against Victoria in a grand final rematch, it made it even more special to come back like that.
“To go out and score a 50 and share a 130-run partnership with the other opening bat. It really was a statement.
“We didn’t do as well as what we did want (in the tournament), we went down in the semi-final in the last over. But the games that we did lose, they were down to the wire.”
It was still the perfect swan song for the proud mum of two, who had decided before the carnival that it would be her last.
While she achieved plenty on the cricket field, Baldwin decided it was time to step away from the middle, and focus on her sons Finn, 8, and Austin, 5.
“I just felt like it was time to end one chapter and continue focusing on being with my family,” Baldwin said. “I will still definitely be involved in country cricket and women’s cricket at a mentor level and maybe one day as a coach.
“This is something I have been thinking about for a few years, but knowing it was in Toowoomba, on home turf, it was planned that this would be my last. It was nice to get a green cap to close that chapter.
“Now is time to focus on my family and my two children and their sporting events.”
Baldwin amassed more than 1300 runs from 100 games, a century in the
Queensland Premier Cricket’s Katherine Raymont Shield, trial matches with the Brisbane Heat and four years as the Queensland Country skipper.
But her greatest achievement at the crease had been her ability to blaze a trail for the exciting female cricketers rising through the ranks in North Queensland.
She was the inaugural skipper of the North Queensland open women’s side, and has helped several young cricketers through the Northern Flames junior squads.
“I am still passionate about women’s cricket and country cricket,” she said. “I would like to inspire young girls and women to play cricket and show they don’t have to live in a big city to play at the highest levels.
“It is really emotional walking away, but the time comes when you have to hang up the boots.”