The South African Senior Women’s and U23 Women’s Baseball teams are now just days away from departing for Shanghai, China, where they will compete in the 2026 PONY International Women’s Baseball World Series Championships.
The past few months have seen players, management and administrators working tirelessly, not only on the field but also behind the scenes to make the tour possible. On Friday, both squads will depart from Johannesburg and Cape Town to begin their international campaign.
Preparation on the field has included numerous training sessions in both Gauteng and Cape Town, complemented by online team meetings and technical sessions to ensure the squads are as prepared as possible. Away from the diamond, an enormous amount of work has gone into securing visas, booking international travel, arranging accommodation, coordinating logistics and, perhaps most importantly, raising the funds needed to make the tour a reality.
Regardless of the results in Shanghai, South African Baseball is immensely proud of the commitment shown by every player, coach, manager and volunteer who has contributed towards this historic campaign. Their dedication both on and off the field reflects the continued growth and professionalism of women’s baseball in South Africa.
In addition to this week’s Women in Baseball Golf Day at Pebble Rock, the teams continue to appeal for public and corporate support. Anyone wishing to contribute, whether through a large corporate sponsorship or a small individual donation, is encouraged to support the official BackaBuddy fundraising campaign. Every contribution goes directly towards covering the team’s tour costs and helping South Africa’s women proudly represent the country on the international stage.
