2023 John Reid Shield - Open Men

On behalf of Softball Australia, I’d like to welcome you to the Open Men’s National Softball Championship here at Hawker International Softball Centre.

This is the first Open Men's National Championships after the Steelers World Cup win, and with many Steelers participating in this year's John Reid Shield the quality on show will be sure to satisfy softball fans.

To all our coaches, volunteers, and staff from across the country and Softball ACT, thank you for your hard work in making this week happen.

On the diamond, we can expect another strong showing by defending champions NSW, with Steelers representatives Callum Beashel, Jack Besgrove, Hayden Mathews and James Todhunter in the lineup.

Many athletes at the Open Championships will also be age-eligible for the Australian team that will compete at the rescheduled U23 Men’s World Cup in Argentina in April this year.

With plenty to play for, expect nothing short of world class competition at Hawker over the next four days, and I look forward to seeing who hoists the John Reid Shield at the end of the tournament.

Best of luck again to all,

Rosie Williams
Chief Executive Officer, Softball Australia
 

On behalf of the Board of Softball ACT I am extremely proud and pleased to welcome to the ACT all players, team officials, umpires, statisticians, spectators and everyone else involved in or contributing to the presentation of the John Reid Open Men’s National Softball Championship.

On behalf of Softball ACT, I wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which these championships will be played, the Ngunnawal people. I wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.  I would also like to acknowledge and welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be attending this event.

To all participants and officials best of luck with all your games and I trust you will have a successful and enjoyable week here in the Nation’s Capital.  These Championships provide you with the opportunity to exhibit the excellence which is in each one of you as a competitor and through the manner in which you conduct yourself both on and off the diamond.  

It is with pride that Softball ACT hosts these prestigious events on behalf of Softball Australia, but we could not do so without the outstanding effort of our office staff and the volunteers who have already contributed significant time together with the numerous volunteers who will contribute their time throughout the Championships.  My sincere gratitude and thanks to all who have assisted prior to and who will assist throughout the Championships.

Many thanks also to the ACT Government for their support of softball in the ACT and in particular for ensuring the Hawker facility meets the standards required for a National Softball Championship.

Softball ACT has a proud history in hosting National Championships and I have no doubt that tradition will continue and we will see another successful and enjoyable week for all.

Frank Curcio
President
Softball ACT
 

Officials

Officials

Officials

Officials

Event Officials

Umpires

Statisticians

Click here to view Softball ACT Contacts.

Walhallow St, Hawker ACT 2614
georgia.carpenter@softball.org.au
(02) 6278 3000

Ticket Pricing

Venue Map

Click on map to expand.

In addition to Softball Australia’s values and general Code of Conduct, as a spectator involved with Softball Australia, a Member State or an affiliated association or club activity must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during that activity:

1. Applaud good performance and efforts from all players and teams. Congratulate all players on their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
2. Respect the decisions of officials and coaches and teach young people to do the same.
3. Never ridicule or scold a young player for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.
4. Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by other spectators, coaches, officials or players.
5. Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
6. Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
7. Do not use violence, harassment or abuse in any form (ie do not use foul language, sledge or harass players, coaches, umpires, officials or other spectators).
8. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.