South African Baseball’s senior women’s team has written a new chapter in the country’s baseball history after being crowned champions of the 2026 PONY International Women’s Baseball World Series in Shanghai, China, following a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Hong Kong Lions.
The final brought together two evenly matched teams, with Hong Kong fielding a side that included four to five players who had recently represented their country at the Baseball For All tournament in Rockford, USA.
Gena Poulton was given the start in the circle for South Africa and immediately set the tone with an outstanding pitching performance. Neither side was able to score during the opening two innings as both teams produced disciplined baseball in a tense championship encounter.
South Africa eventually broke the deadlock in the third inning, scoring two runs before Hong Kong replied with one of their own. Both teams crossed the plate once again in the fourth inning, leaving South Africa holding a narrow 3-2 advantage.
The score remained unchanged for the remainder of the game as both sides produced excellent defensive baseball.
Nikki Grobler came on in relief and did an excellent job closing out the contest, helping South Africa secure the victory after the full seven innings.
Hong Kong’s shortstop was one of the standout performers in the final, producing an exceptional display in the field. She recorded numerous put-outs and repeatedly denied the South African batters with outstanding defensive plays behind third base, keeping Hong Kong in the contest until the very end.
Despite the pressure, the South African women remained composed, trusted one another in the field and held their nerve to claim a memorable 3-2 victory and the championship title.
The South African Under-23 women also finished their tournament on a high after defeating Shenzhen 16-6 to secure third place.
The playoff encounter started evenly, with both teams tied at 2-2 through the opening three innings. South Africa then took control by scoring five runs before Shenzhen responded with three of their own to reduce the deficit to 6-5.
The South Africans answered emphatically in the fifth inning, producing an excellent batting display to pull away and complete a convincing 16-6 victory.
Juanic Beukman provided South Africa with a solid start in the circle before Kirame Kleber came on to close out the game with another composed pitching performance.
The tournament proved to be a demanding one, with both South African teams having to contend with extreme heat, high humidity and unfamiliar conditions throughout the week. Despite the challenges, the players showed determination and character to produce performances they can be proud of.
South African Baseball President Dr Marc Moreau was among the first to congratulate the teams following the final, recognising the significance of the achievement for South African Baseball.
Behind the scenes, Head of Delegation Aziez Boomgard worked tirelessly throughout the tournament to keep supporters back home updated on the team’s progress. The successful tour was also made possible through the sacrifices and commitment of many people working behind the scenes. Despite the significant challenges faced in getting both teams to China, the dedication of players, coaches, administrators, families and supporters ensured South Africa could proudly compete on the international stage.
The victory marks the first time a South African women’s baseball team has won an international series title, firmly placing the country on the international women’s baseball map.
As South Africa prepares to celebrate National Women’s Day on Monday, there could hardly be a more fitting achievement. The success in Shanghai is a proud moment not only for South African Baseball but for women’s sport across the country, recognising the dedication, resilience and commitment of a group of athletes who have made history while wearing the green and gold.
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