Celebrating a Season of Resilience, Growth and Achievement

2025–26 State Teams Dinner

Softball Victoria proudly celebrated the achievements of its representative program at the 2025–26 State Teams Dinner, held at the Manningham Hotel on 18 April. The evening brought together athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and special guests to reflect on a season defined by both challenge and success.

A Season of Challenge and Progress

The past 12 months have tested our program in many ways—from participation pressures and athlete injuries to the realities of competing in high-performance environments. Despite this, the resilience of our community has been evident, with a number of significant milestones achieved:

• The introduction of our first all-Victorian Over 35 Men’s team
• A second consecutive silver medal for our Over 35 Women’s team
• 16 Victorian athletes selected in Australian squads
• The successful launch of the inaugural Women’s State League
• Strong growth in participation across U14 and U17 State Championships

These outcomes reflect not only performance on the diamond, but the strength of the system being built across Victoria.

Recognising Our People

At the heart of every successful program are the people who make it happen.

Our coaches continue to shape not just athletes, but young people—investing countless hours into development, mentorship and team culture. Our team managers take on immense responsibility, ensuring the wellbeing and organisation of each team. Our statisticians provide the critical insights that inform performance, while our high-performance support staff—trainers, physios and specialists—ensure athletes are cared for at every stage of their journey.

Their collective contribution is what makes the Victorian representative experience so meaningful.

Emerging Talent and Pathway Success

This season also highlighted the strength of our development pathway, with several athletes receiving recognition at both state and national levels.

Notably, Madison Dakin-Telford and Leo Li were awarded the School Sport Victoria Blue Award, while a number of players across multiple age groups were selected in Australian squads following strong national championship performances.

These achievements reinforce the importance of continued investment in athlete and coach pathways.

Team Highlights Across the Program

From our youngest representatives to our senior teams, each group demonstrated commitment, growth and pride in wearing the Victorian uniform:

• U14 Boys & Girls embraced their first state team experience with enthusiasm and energy
• U16 teams showed resilience competing interstate at national level
• U18 and U23 programs continued to build depth and competitive strength
• Open Women rose to the occasion on home soil at Waverley
• Over 35 programs delivered both historic milestones and sustained success

Each team contributed to the broader success and culture of the program. 

Congratulations to our Team Award Winers

Under 14 Girls
MVP - Audrey Cheung
Most Improved Player - Hayley Brown
Best Team Player - Ebony Tobias

Under 14 Boys
MVP - Leo Li
Breakthrough Award - Owen Joynson
Game Changer - Asher Jayasooriya

Under 16 Girls
MVP - Gemma Shumack
Best Team Player - Lexie Nuroo

Under 16 Boys
MVP - Jason Papadopoulos
Most Improved - Nathan Bray
Coaches Award - Reuben Williams

Under 18 Men
MVP - Ethan Scott
Best Batter - Dylan Evans

Under 23 Women
MVP (Defense) - Rachel Miller
MVP (Offense) - Brodie Hendy
Team Spirit - Lily McKenner

Under 23 Men
Rising Star Award - Ethan Scott
Best Batter - Noah McMahon

Titans / Open Women
Best Batter - Kasey Smith
Best Team Player - Milli Mercuri and Hannah Scott
MVP - Sarah Beales

Over 35 Men
Players player - George Ironside
Best and Fairest - Andras Baranyay

Over 35 Women
Most Valuable Player - Kim Quince
Best Team Player - Dannielle Ramadan

Celebrating Community Impact

The Community Spirit Award recognised athletes who give back to the game beyond their own performance. This year’s nominees demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and contribution across coaching, volunteering and club development.

Congratulations to Nate Brunning, whose dedication and impact across multiple programs saw him named the 2025–26 recipient.

A Special Recognition

The inaugural State Teams MVP Award was presented to Jenny Miles, whose behind-the-scenes contribution to the program is immeasurable. Her leadership, organisation and unwavering support continue to be instrumental in the success of our state teams.

Australian Squad Selections

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Victorian athletes and officials who have recently earned selection in Australian squads, following outstanding performances at National Championships.

These selections are a testament to the strength of our high-performance pathway and the dedication of our athletes, coaches and support staff. We congratulate the following individuals on their achievements:

U14 & U16 Girls  - Allira D’Auria, Madeleine Saunders and Mia Wang were recognised for their selection, while Audrey Cheung was named in the U16 Girls Squad. (Several athletes attending an AIS camp and were unable to be present on the night.)

U18 Girls - Elise Haggerty

Future Women’s Squad - Genevieve Beacom, Hannah Scott, Lili Cavanagh and Rachel Miller

U14 Boys - Ethan Simmons and Leo Li

U16 Boys - Baden Vandenberg and Jason Papadopoulos

U18 Boys - Dylan Evans, Wyatt Shannahan and Ethan Scott, with a special mention to Ethan who was selected to compete at the U18 Men’s World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand

U23 Men’s Squad - Noah McMahon and Matt Bedwell

Open Men - Joel Goodall, Cody Smith and Henry Mullan

In addition, we acknowledge the contribution of Victorian officials on the international stage. Joel Goodall (Battery Coach) and Andrea Mansfield (Team Manager) who travelled to Colombia with the Australian U23 Men’s Team, preparing for the WBSC U23 Men’s Softball World Cup Finals.

These achievements reflect the continued growth and success of Victorian softball on the national and international stage, and we look forward to following their journeys ahead.

Our Culture, Our Future

Feedback from the Representative Player Survey painted a powerful picture of team culture across the program, with words such as:

Trust. Identity. Togetherness. Respect. Passion. Community.

While there is always work to do, these reflections highlight a strong and evolving culture that athletes and officials are proud to be part of.

Looking Ahead

With momentum building, attention now turns to the 2026–27 season. Early interest has already been strong, with athlete nominations underway and academy programs set to commence shortly.

Softball Victoria remains committed to growing participation, strengthening pathways and delivering a high-quality representative experience for all involved. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to an outstanding 2025–26 season. We look forward to seeing you around the diamonds soon.

View the gallery of photos from the evening on our Facebook page

Jo Schutts
Softball Victoria
State Operations Manager