Eight teams from across the state competed last weekend at the 2023 Under 16 Girls State Championship, featuring overcast conditions as the backdrop for competitive softball. Held at Georges River Softball Association, the Under 16 Girls State Championship highlighted outstanding talent within this age category, which was on display across the weekend. 

The championship featured eight teams across two pools: 

Pool A - Cumberland Nepean, Manly Warringah, Newcastle and Penrith City. 

Pool B -  Georges River, Hornsby, Macarthur and North Shore. 

Grand Final 

Heading into the Under 16 Girls Grand Final between Manly Warringah and North Shore, both teams were full of confidence after producing outstanding softball throughout the pool stage and semi-finals to remain undefeated. The Grand Final was competitive and tight throughout the early innings with Manly Warringah laying the foundation towards victory with five unanswered runs at the top of the second inning. North Shore charged back into the contest with three runs in the bottom of the second inning, making the score 5-3 heading into the third. The momentum continued to swing between both teams as the match went on but Manly Warringah proved too strong triumphing over North Shore 10-6. 

Watch the full highlights of the Grand Final here: 2023 Under 16 Girls' State Championship Grand Final - Manly Warringah vs. North Shore - YouTube

Grand Final Umpires 

Plate - Anthony Moncaster 

First Base - Shane McIntosh 

Third Base - Craig Hemphill 

Final Placings 

Champions - Manly Warringah 

Runners Up - North Shore District 

3rd Place - Cumberland Nepean 

4th Place - Softball Macarthur 

5th Place - Newcastle & District 

6th Place - Georges River 

7th Place - Hornsby & District 

8th Place - Penrith City 

Players Player Awards 

Cumberland Nepean - Amelia Manks & Mckenzie Newson 

Georges River - Natalia Dean & Chantelle Wooden 

Hornsby - Elyssa Eisermann 

Macarthur - Markayla Butler & Jamie Lau 

Manly Warringah - Tahlia Kennedy 

Newcastle - Ella Bridle, Teysharn Giusti & Arwen Kavanagh 

North Shore - Ruby Allison & Tayla Moore 

Penrith City - Jessica McCarthy 

Softball NSW would like to thank Georges River Softball Association and all of the volunteers, athletes, team management and attendees who made the 2023 Under 16 Girls State Championship 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.