Cape Town girls set the tone for SA women’s baseball future

The South African women’s under-15 baseball side returned from a historic trip to Uganda this week with high spirits and a renewed sense of belief about what the future holds for the game.

While the results did not go their way on paper, the real victory lay in the experience gained.

The Cape Town contingent, who formed the backbone of the squad, gained an experience that may shape their careers for years to come.

Eight Capetonians were part of the travelling group, nine when including head coach Zuifah Stellenboom, making the trip particularly special for the Western Cape baseball. It was the first time an SA women’s under-15 team made an international trip, marking a major milestone for women’s baseball.

This was also the first women's under-15 international tournament on African soil. Uganda won the six-match series 5–1, but the focus of the tour was never purely about wins and losses -development, exposure, and opportunity were at the forefront.

Stellenboom could hardly contain her enthusiasm when reflecting on what the tour meant for the girls who are still early in their baseball journeys.

Facing a Ugandan side that has benefited from support from leading baseball nations such as the USA and Japan, provided valuable game experience and highlighted areas for growth for the locals.

“It was the first under-15 international tournament ever in Africa. It was a big milestone because it was the first of its kind. Our girls experienced a cultural shift, and they enjoyed every moment of it,” said Stellenboom.

“It was a learning and teaching experience across the board. It was not about tough competition, but about building relationships and transferring knowledge and skills of the game.”

One of the standout performers was Ziah Baartman from Mitchells Plain, who was named MVP of the series despite the SA side falling short in results.

Baartman’s influence went beyond her on-field contributions, with her ability to lift team spirits proving vital in keeping the side competitive throughout the tour.

The focus now shifts to what comes next. A follow-up tour is planned for July, where the under-14 and possibly under-16 teams are expected to travel to the USA.

That tournament in the US is regarded as the biggest girls’ baseball event in the world and will offer invaluable exposure, particularly for the Cape Town players who continue to drive development locally.

With the launch of a professional women’s league in the USA this year, the pathway to elite baseball is becoming clearer. For the girls currently in the under-15 setup, the experience gained now could shape a far more competitive national side in the years to come and pave the way to the pro level.

"The under-15s girls are the future. They are gaining the experience now and in five years' time, they will be the most competitive group ever," said Stellenboom.