South African Baseball proudly celebrates the return of Free State to the National Baseball Championships, as the province not only made its presence felt but also rose to the occasion with spirit and determination.
Under the leadership of Free State Baseball President, Clifton Barnes, the province fielded teams in both the U15 and U18 divisions at the Junior NBC 2025. This marks an important milestone in the continued revival of baseball in the Free State, with young players stepping up to represent their province on the national stage.
Despite facing logistical and financial challenges, the teams travelled to Cape Town to compete—demonstrating real resilience, passion, and provincial pride. Over the past five days, both teams have shown that hard work is happening behind the scenes to rebuild baseball structures and talent in the region.
This achievement was made possible through the support of the Free State Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, as well as the Free State Sports Confederation, both of whom played a key role in making the trip and participation a reality.
Spectators were visibly thrilled to witness the joy and passion of the Free State players. After the umpires called the games, the fields came alive—not just with applause, but with scenes of young athletes running around the diamond, sprawling in the baseball dust, and laughing together with pure enthusiasm. Win or lose, these moments reminded everyone why we love the game.
South African Baseball commends the efforts of Free State’s leadership, coaches, and players. Their return to the NBC is not just a sporting achievement—it’s a story of dedication, development, and a shared belief in the future of the sport. We look forward to seeing Free State grow stronger in seasons to come and to welcoming them back again next year.
