Last weekend, Newcastle & District Softball Association played host to this year's Under 14 State Championships. The championship featured outstanding softball talent across both the boys' and girls' competitions with fantastic weather on display as the backdrop for an action-packed weekend of softball. 

The Under 14 State Championships featured a round-robin format in the boys' competition, while in the girls' competition teams were separated into two pools. The following teams were represented across the weekend: 

Boys 

Campbelltown / Central Coast 

Cumberland Nepean 

Georges River / Southern Districts 

Macarthur 

Newcastle 

Orange 

Penrith City 

Pool A - Girls 

Georges River 

Hornsby 

Manly Warringah 

Orange 

Sutherland 

Tamworth 

Pool B - Girls 

Central Coast 

Cumberland Nepean 

Macarthur 

North Shore 

Penrith City 

Grand Finals 

The 2023 Under 14 Boys Grand Final featured both Cumberland Nepean and Orange with both teams feeling confident of victory after producing excellent softball across the opening day of the championship to set the early pace atop of the standings after Day 1. The momentum continued with both teams producing another strong performance defeating both Campbelltown / Central Coast and Newcastle respectively in the semi-finals. The Grand Final was a tightly contested affair with both teams playing competitive and fast-paced softball with momentum swings regularly featuring throughout the opening innings. In the end, Cumberland Nepean managed to just pull away from Orange in a fantastic game of softball prevailing 3-2 in a great Grand Final to take the honours. 

Watch the full highlights of the Grand Final here: 2023 Under 14 State Championships Boys Grand Final - Cumberland Nepean vs. Orange - YouTube

Furthermore, the 2023 Under 14 Girls Grand Final featured both North Shore and Manly Warringah with both teams brimming with confidence and excitement knowing victory was within reach after building strong momentum into the Final via excellent all-around team performances throughout the pool stage and semi-finals. The Grand Final was a one-sided affair with Manly Warringah laying the foundations towards victory with ten runs in the first inning. North Shore tried to mount a spirited comeback through some good batting and pitching, however, Manly Warringah halted their momentum swiftly putting on another nine runs in the second inning proving too strong for North Shore prevailing 19-0. 

Watch the full highlights of the Grand Final here: 2023 Under 14 State Championships Girls Grand Final - North Shore vs. Manly Warringah - YouTube

Grand Final Umpires - Boys 

Plate - Kylie Diaz 

First Base - Jennie McKenny 

Third Base - Gregory Rusack 

Grand Final Umpires - Girls 

Plate - Timothy Walker 

First Base - Rebekah Edwards 

Third Base - Karin Ursino 

Level 2 Umpire Accreditation

Softball NSW congratulates the following umpires who received their Level 2 Umpiring Accreditation across the weekend: 

Tyler Barclay 

Liam Cameron 

Darren Keed 

Jocelyn Lockyer 

Kevyn Lockyer 

Joshua Sarantakos 

Andrew Walker 

Final Placings - Boys 

Champions: Cumberland Nepean 

Runners Up: Orange & District 

3rd Place - Campbelltown / Central Coast

4th Place - Newcastle & District 

5th Place - Softball Macarthur 

6th Place - Georges River / Southern Districts 

7th Place - Penrith City 

Final Placings - Girls 

Champions: Manly Warringah 

Runners Up: North Shore District 

3rd Place - Cumberland Nepan 

4th Place - Georges River 

5th Place - Hornsby District 

6th Place - Softball Macarthur 

7th Place - Penrith City 

8th Place - Central Coast 

= 9th Place - Sutherland Shire and Tamworth 

11th Place - Orange and District 

Players Player Awards - Boys 

Campbelltown / Central Coast - Michael Faint, Ziggy Paratainga & Tyrese Saunders 

Cumberland Nepean - Jack Matthews 

Georges River / Southern Districts - Jett Pus & Dieter Warren 

Macarthur - Riley Armstrong, Ashley Gibbons & Zac Gilbey 

Newcastle - Teni Kavanagh & Oliver Slee 

Orange - Toby Williamson 

Penrith City - Aaron Jessup & Brayden Kelly 

Players Player Awards - Girls 

Central Coast - Eden Lowrie Jones 

Cumberland Nepean - Jessica Middleton 

Georges River - Chantelle Wooden 

Hornsby - Emily Puckey 

Macarthur - Storm Jeffs & Rose Santana 

Manly Warringah - Jamie Lau & Lauren Rolfe 

North Shore - Lexi Brak & Madeleine Kunce 

Orange - Emily Williamson 

Penrith City - Jessica McCarthy 

Sutherland - Livia Copelin & Ella Fretton 

Tamworth - Melody Jones 

Softball NSW would like to thank Newcastle & District Softball Association and all of the volunteers, athletes, team management and attendees who made the 2023 Under 14 State Championships a great success. 

For any further information relating to the event, please contact Softball NSW Events & Facilities Coordinator Aimee Sutton at events@softballnsw.org.au or Softball NSW Media Marketing and Content Officer Angus Hewitt at media@softballnsw.org.au.