The South Africa U15 Women’s baseball team’s recent tour to Uganda marked the final chapter of the 2025 national women’s touring programme, following earlier tours by the South Africa Women seniors and U18 teams to Zimbabwe. It was a fitting way to close out the year — and a tour so rich in moments, lessons and unexpected stories that it simply cannot be told in one sitting.
This article is the first of a four-part series. From the outset, it’s important to say that this tour was so special that it deserves to be unpacked over time. Over the next few days, we’ll share each chapter of a journey that went far beyond results, scorecards or schedules. Fans are encouraged to come back and follow every part of this remarkable story as it unfolds.
Long before the team boarded a plane, the journey had already begun. The squad was selected as an Elite Training Squad, bringing together players from various parts of the country. Training followed in Gauteng and the Western Cape, where the foundations of team culture were laid. These sessions weren’t only about baseball skills — they were about learning how to train together, adapt to different environments and start thinking as a team rather than as individuals.
The team ethos was clear and consistent throughout this process, led on the field by Head Coach Zulfah Stellenboom and managed steadily behind the scenes by Head of Delegation Natalie Campbell. From the outset, the focus extended beyond performance, with player welfare, safety and accountability forming the backbone of the tour.
That sense of unity was cemented at a meaningful capping ceremony held at Boksburg Cardinals Baseball Club. It was here that the true bond of the team began to form. Barriers disappeared, provinces faded into the background, and it became clear that these junior girls knew no boundaries. In that moment, the team became one. The ceremony was made even more special as senior and U18 South Africa Women players were present to see the squad off, sharing powerful and emotional words of encouragement and farewell that resonated deeply with the group.
Just hours later, the team departed late into the night, stepping into an experience that would challenge and shape them in ways few expected.
An added bonus for the travelling group was that the Head of South Africa Women’s baseball, Hayley Scott-Maree, decided to join the team on tour. For many of the players, this was a familiar and reassuring presence, having already been coached by her in previous environments. The value she added became clearer as the tour progressed — though her impact is a story that deserves its own space and will be shared later in this series.
Landing in Uganda brought immediate perspective. A new country, a different pace of life, and surroundings that shifted the focus away from attention and towards shared experience. There was no rush for the spotlight — instead, the emphasis was on bonding, learning and embracing what the game of baseball could offer beyond the field.
Day one set the tone. The management group gathered under a shady tree for the first pre-tournament meeting, setting expectations in a simple, grounded environment that reflected the reality of where they were. Soon after, the players gathered in the same space, beginning to understand that this tour would ask as much of them off the field as it would on it.
That preparation led directly into competition, with the South Africa Women’s U15 team taking to the field at the National Friendship Stadium as the Rising Stars Friendly Series got underway against the host nation. It was a powerful moment, particularly for players experiencing international baseball for the first time.
As the days unfolded, small but meaningful moments shaped the experience. Some players had to share equipment for the first time, learning adaptability and trust. The contrast was striking when they realised that some of their Ugandan opponents didn’t even own cellphones — a quiet but powerful lesson in perspective and gratitude.
The warmth of the hosts stood out immediately. The Ugandan baseball community welcomed the South African coaches and management with open arms, with some travelling hundreds of kilometres simply to greet old friends and reconnect through the sport. It was a reminder that baseball, particularly in developing regions, is driven by relationships, commitment and passion more than resources.
South African Baseball noted the venue as the “Field of Dreams” — a name that captured what this tour represented for the young group. Since returning home, perhaps the strongest reflection of the tour’s success has come from the parents. Many have reached out to thank the coaches and management — not for results, but for ensuring that every child returned home safely. No players were injured, and player welfare remained central throughout, something parents have described as more important than any scoreboard.
And this was only the beginning.
In the coming parts of this series, we’ll tell you more of the rest of the team management, and we’ll share how this group truly bonded, the unforgettable stories of big birds and on-field cows, how to do a weather forecast without an app, and the deeper leadership moments that shaped this Field of Dreams tour.
The Team
The South Africa Women U15 squad consists of Ziah Baartman, Onwabile Gxalaba, Jemma Jonathan, Zara Kariem, Hanim Mosaval, Emily Samuels, Eden Stellenboom and Gia Beukes, Madison Botha, Amoray Clark, Shayla-Mae de Jager, Kimberley Dowling, Razaanah du Preez, Emma Lake, Lucy Miller, Persephone Schoeman, Cailyn Smit and Peyton Watkins.
The Leadership
The team management and coaching staff are led by head coach Zulfah Stellenboom of the Western Cape, supported by assistant coach Jamie Cooper, pitching coach John White, head of delegation and team manager Natalie Campbell, and development coach Dave Lake from Gauteng, along with development coach Alistair Louw from the Western Cape.
