Kicking off in the New Year, our NSW Under 16 Boys will hit the diamonds in Waverley, Victoria from Tuesday 2nd January to Sunday 7th January 2024 as they seek to defend their title from last year and claim NSW's 21st Arthur Allsopp Shield.

Over the past few months, the NSW Under 16 Boys have been preparing for this National Championship with dedication and hard work with the Under 16 Boys Head Coach Dale Smith providing insight into his team's preparation and players to watch out for at Nationals. Smith said, " I'm both proud and excited to be coaching the NSW Under 16 Boys Softball team and I look forward to them showcasing their incredible talent at the upcoming championships."

Buoyed with excitement about coaching our NSW Under 16 Boys Smith provides further comments. Smith said  " The team is made up of 16 exceptionally gifted young athletes, with two players returning Jonathon Fabar and Blaze Pus, to represent NSW for a second year in a row with 14 fresh new blue bloods. The entire team has demonstrated their relentless commitment to success over the last few months of training. Not only can the boys deliver powerful batting performances, precise pitching, and solid fielding, but their key strength lies in their sense of camaraderie. The team has forged a strong bond both on a off the diamond, which translates into seamless teamwork and the ability to adapt to different game situations. As the team sets its sights on national championships, they are sure to exhibit the sportsmanship and determination needed to make NSW proud."

Representing both NSW and the Waratah in softball can provide different meanings for individuals whether it is the start of their journey to represent their country in the future or a lifelong dream to be a Blue Blood, these moments are symbolic and a testament to the attitude, commitment and hard work our athletes undertake to ascertain these dreams. NSW Under 16 Boys Head Coach Dale Smith and the leadership group of Cameron Baxter and Jonathon Fabar will provide us with their insight into what representing NSW and the Waratah at Nationals means to them. Smith said "Representing NSW is a tremendous honour. It's a chance to not only play the sport we love, but also the sport we love, but also to share in the pride of representing our home state at a national level. Wearing the NSW colours and Waratah symbolises hard work, dedication, and the support of an incredible community. We are determined to make our state proud every step of the way."

From a coaching perspective, keywords that resonate with representing NSW and the Waratah include hard work, determination and honour which are the foundation for success at a national level in any sport, but what does representing NSW and the Waratah mean to the players? Cameron Baxter who is a part of the Under 16 Boys leadership team said " Representing NSW and the Waratah means a tremendous amount to me as an athlete. It gives me a sense of pride and honour to represent my state on a national stage. Being a part of this event allows me to compete against top talents from all over the country which will ultimately give me a new understanding of what I will need to work for in the future. Overall I can say on behalf of my team, we are all excited to showcase our ability to the country and play the sport we love, we will be demonstrating integrity as the true "Blue Bloods" we are." 

Following on from the comments from Cameron Baxter, NSW Under 16 Boys captain Jonathon Fabar provides his thoughts on what representing NSW and the Waratah means to him. Fabar said " Representing and playing for NSW is quite a big deal for me and such a big achievement as an athlete. When playing in the Waratah at a national stage, I feel proud and honoured to represent the sport I love. Being part of this nationals’ campaign gives me the opportunity to compete against the best of the best in the country. This allows me to push past my comfort zone whilst being able to showcase all my talents. On behalf of the team, I can say that we are excited to be given the chance to play in the Waratah on a national stage. We are a strong side and are looking forward to showcasing our skills, strengths, and abilities to the rest of the country. The team is ready to show Australia why we are the true-blue bloods." 

We wish our Under 16 Boys good luck and with every swing, catch and pitch everyone back home and at the grounds will be cheering you on as you make us all proud. 

NSW Under 16 Boys Draw 

Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Thursday 4th January 2024

Friday 5th January 2024

Saturday 6th January 2024

Finals Draw 

Sunday 7th January 2024

NSW Under 16 Boys Team List 

To stay updated and across all the action from our NSW Under 16 Boys at the 2024 Arthur Allsopp Shield check out the Softball NSW social media pages as well as the Softball Australia website and social media pages for scores and all information in support of our blue bloods.