Rain won't dampen Qld spirits
- connierowe17
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
With less than a week to go until the Australian Women’s Baseball Championships, players from Queensland’s north have been forced to approach training differently this year as a monsoonal trough has continued to sit above Townsville for most of 2025.
Cathy Rowe (Townsville Taipans), Emma Reid (Townsville Mustangs) and Assistant Coach Peter Riggs (Townsville Taipans) have been selected to represent Queensland White at this year’s tournament. Located some 1300 kilometres from the rest of the squad, the three along with Daniel White (Townsville Mustangs), Queensland Youth’s Assistant Coach, have not let the weather put a dampener on their preparations.
As the third consecutive year that these four have been part of the Queensland program, they are well versed in the intensity and discipline required to prepare for a week-long tournament such as these Championships.
But best lay plans, however, don’t always work and as they have found this year, the ability to adapt and modify on the fly is a skill often taken for granted.
Peter Riggs says that part of living in North Queensland is working with the weather, although 2025 has been particularly difficult.
“Between heatwaves, torrential rain and lack of light at our diamonds, it has certainly made training for this tournament challenging,” says Riggs.
“We have been fortunate to be able to hire an indoor court at Wildcatz Indoor Sports for the most part and have access to a small clinic gym at PhysioCare when they’re not available.”
Inside the confounds of four walls, Riggs has been forced to think outside the box to come up with training sessions for his squad that are relevant, engaging and will get the most out of each player.
“I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone, trying new things. Sometimes successfully, and others that need adjustments.
“What has been incredible is the trust and support I have received from the players. Their
willingness to buy in and take a chance on my choices is something I am grateful for.”
Always prepared, enthusiastic and determined to make the most out of every session, Emma and Cathy continue to show up week in, week out.
“Despite the odds, these players have not missed a training session. I could not be prouder of their commitment and determination in the face of every inconvenience thrown their way.” remarks Riggs.
Despite these challenges, the squad have turned their attention to the areas of the game they can replicate.
While not ideal, the lack of field time has not phased Emma and Cathy giving them time to focus in on core fundamentals and endurance.
The Australian Women’s Baseball Championships is a week-long tournament played out in
Melbourne against some of the best ball players from around the country. In a test of both the body and the mind, the teams will play up to 8 games of 9 innings, in some cases playing for up to 3 hours.
Pitcher and shortstop Cathy Rowe says that having the chance to focus in and break down
fundamentals of her game means that when things get tough at Melbourne Ball Park, she knows she’ll have a strong base to fall back on.
“There’s not much space to focus on other areas of the game but that’s okay. You can’t
underestimate the value of having a strong foundation, trusting your glovework and footwork to get you through," she says.
And through the heat and intense humidity that goes hand in hand training in a warehouse, it has also brought another aspect to their game. One that is rarely ever trained for.
“Knowing that you can push through adversity and build your resilience is such an important part of our game," says Cathy.
“When you’re in a tough spot in a game, being able to dig deep and just keep going could be the difference between giving your team that extra chance or not. You never know what might happen next.”
Armed with litres of water and hydrolyte, lollies, snacks, icepacks, towels and several changes of training shirts, training in trying conditions has become second nature with their end goal enough fuel to push them through.
As the countdown begins, the excitement for the tournament is building around the country. For Emma Reid preparing for her third appearance in the white and maroon, the anticipation is as real as the first time.
“It’s such an honour to be selected as one of the top players in your state,” says Emma.
Mum of three and businesswoman, the juggle between life and pro-ball has not always been easy.
“To pull on the Queensland jersey brings me a great sense of pride and makes the many sacrifices I’ve made along the way worth it.
“I hope that I can inspire young female players of the future by showing them what you can achieve if you’re willing to put in the hard work and dedication.”
For Emma, stepping out into Melbourne Ballpark is a feeling of complete awe every time.
From the dugouts to the scoreboards sitting upon the homerun fence, the sheer magnitude of the stadium alone is enough to put the paddock players from the north in disbelief.
“It’s a feeling many only dream of experiencing – especially growing up in a regional town,
“You don’t need much motivation to play at your best on that diamond. It’s something that gets the heart pumping and brings me sheer joy.”
So, with a little bit of imagination, a spark of creativity and the vision of what they will be stepping out for, the Queensland contingent in Townsville is making lemonade out lemons as they put the final touches on this year's preparations.
The Australian Women's Baseball Championships will be played alongside the Australian Women's Youth Championships from 13-19 April 2025. Full coverage can be found here: HUB | 2025 Australian Women's and Youth Women's Championships | Baseball.com.au
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