The South African Baseball Women’s U15 team will shortly be on their way to Uganda to take part in the Rising Stars Friendly Baseball Series against Uganda at The National Friendship Stadium, Gayaza, Uganda, from 7 to 10 January 2026.
The tour follows the recent success of the South Africa’s women’s U18 and senior teams against Zimbabwe, as well as the boys’ U15 team’s participation in the WBSC Africa qualifier in Kenya.
The Rising Stars Friendly Baseball Series is scheduled to start on Wednesday including the opening ceremony and then daily double-headers over the four days, with only the final day featuring a single match followed by the prize-giving ceremony. This means the teams will play no fewer than seven matches during their time in Gayaza.
The Western Cape contingent will conduct a local capping ceremony at Goodwood Baseball Club before flying to Johannesburg to join their teammates for the final national capping in Boksburg, which will take place the night before departure on Tuesday, 6 January.
President of South African Baseball, Dr Marc Moreau, said the tour forms part of the federation’s broader development framework. “The continued growth of women’s baseball is a priority for South African Baseball. Tours such as this provide young players with early exposure to international competition and support the long-term development structures in place,” he said.
Dr Moreau also noted the importance of continental engagement. “Maintaining and strengthening relationships with other African baseball nations is important for the development of the sport across the continent. These fixtures contribute to shared learning and sustainable competition,” he added.
The Uganda tour forms part of South African Baseball’s ongoing U15 programme and its broader efforts to expand structured international participation for women’s baseball.
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 from the Western Cape; Madison Botha, Amoray Clark, Shayla-Mae de Jager, Kimberley Dowling, Razaanah du Preez, Emma Lake, Lucy Miller, Persephone Schoeman, Cailyn Smit and Peyton Watkins from Gauteng;
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.
