The South African Under-16 and Under-18 girls’ baseball teams enjoyed another memorable day on tour on 19 July 2026, spending time in Rockford—the home of the original Rockford Peaches.
The teams checked into Beloit College, where they will be staying for the week, before making their way to the Mercyhealth Sportscore One grounds, one of several venues hosting the BFA Nationals.
Their allocated training session introduced the players to hot and humid conditions, dusty infields and a different bounce of the ball. The unfamiliar conditions provided a valuable opportunity for the teams to adjust ahead of the tournament.
Training was followed by the official kick-off and pin-trading event. The South African players enjoyed meeting fellow participants from across the United States, as well as teams and players from Canada, Brazil and Australia.
The event gave the girls their first taste of the international atmosphere surrounding the BFA Nationals before the competition got underway.
The Under-18 team played Perfect Catch from Chicago at 15:30, while the Under-16 team faced Texas Lonestar at 19:30, giving both teams another opportunity to test themselves against American opposition.
