South African Baseball will proudly host the 2024 Youth Baseball5 WBSC Africa Championship in Cape Town, Western Cape, from 7 to 12 January 2025. This prestigious event, serving as a qualifier for the Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025 in Mexico, will be held at the Western Cape Sport School. The Local Organising Committee (LOC), comprising members from the Baseball5 commissions in the Western Cape and Cape Town regions, is working diligently to ensure the success of this important tournament.
Building on the momentum from the WBSC Africa Southern Region Championships recently held in Polokwane, this championship will bring together the continent’s top teams, all vying for two spots in the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025.
Tournament Schedule:
– Tuesday, 07 January 2025: Team arrivals in Cape Town.
– Wednesday, 08 January 2025: Practice day.
– Thursday, 09 January – Saturday, 11 January (morning): Round-robin games.
– Saturday, 11 January (afternoon): Major League game viewing and a Cape Town tour.
– Sunday, 12 January 2025: Play-offs and Final matches.
Each team will comprise 10 members: four boys, four girls, one coach, and one team manager.
South African Baseball President, Mr. Marc Moreau, stated, “With the Youth Olympics 2026 approaching, set to take place in Dakar, Senegal, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is observing Baseball5’s growth closely. The success of this event will be instrumental in supporting Baseball5’s case for continued inclusion in future Youth Olympics and potentially even the main Olympic Games. But I have no doubt that our local organising committee, already with a successful track record of hosting international events, will deliver with flying colours.”
The stakes are high for South African Baseball as coaches nationwide begin the process of high-performance testing and coaching to select players capable of meeting international standards for this pivotal competition. This rigorous selection process aims to ensure that only the most skilled and prepared players represent South Africa at the Youth Baseball5 WBSC Africa Championship, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2025 Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico.
This championship not only offers an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talent on an international stage but also strengthens South Africa’s position in the global Baseball5 community. The dedication from coaches and players alike highlights the country’s commitment to excellence and sets a promising tone for South African Baseball’s future in international competitions.
