Photo Credit: Matt Ridley / Surefire Creative & Baseball.com.au.
Two Western Australian pitchers will wear the green and gold on the world stage next month, with Tyson Noel and Jesse Neretlis selected for Team Australia for the 2026 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua.
Noel, from Swan Districts, and Rockingham Rams product Neretlis have been named in the Australian squad set to compete against the world’s leading U23 baseball nations from 6–15 November 2026.
Australia qualified for the World Cup after winning the 2025 U23 Oceania Championships and heads to Nicaragua with another opportunity to earn valuable World Ranking points.
The Australians have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Nicaragua, Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico, Panama and Czechia, with the tournament featuring 12 nations.
Australia opens its campaign against host nation Nicaragua, with first pitch scheduled for 9:30am AWST on Saturday 7 November.
Australian fans will be able to follow the tournament live and free through Baseball+. Learn more here.
Tyson Noel – Swan Districts
For 22-year-old left-hander Tyson Noel, selection continues a baseball journey that has taken him from Western Australia’s junior pathways to US college baseball and now back home ahead of his first professional Australian Baseball League season.
Noel came through WA’s junior high performance pathway, representing Western Australia at both the U16 and U18 Australian Youth Championships. His progression into the squad for the Team Australia U18 World Cup squad also saw him work under WA coach, Andy Kyle.
He then spent four years playing college baseball in the United States, pitching for Cochise College in Arizona and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Across 53 collegiate appearances, including 46 starts, Noel recorded 209 strikeouts. He also earned Sooner Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honours on 30 March 2026 while playing for Science and Arts.
Noel has since returned to WA and signed with the Perth Heat for the 2026/27 Australian Baseball League season, which will mark his first professional campaign.
He has already made an impact back home with Swan Districts in the 2026/27 Harcher State League. In a recent start against South Perth, Noel threw six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Jesse Neretlis – Rockingham Rams
Joining Noel in the Australian squad is 20-year-old Rockingham Rams right-hander Jesse Neretlis.
Neretlis developed as a versatile junior at Rockingham, spending time in the middle infield, behind the plate and on the mound. At just 17, he took on catching duties for the Rams throughout the 2023/24 State League season.
His development also included the baseball program at Darling Range Sports College from Years 9 to 12, along with the Perth Heat Futures program in 2021 and 2022, where he caught and pitched. He has also represented Western Australia across several state teams.
Neretlis continued his baseball journey in the United States with Pima Community College in Arizona.
His performances on the mound earned him NJCAA Division II All-Region Second Team honours in 2026 after recording a 3.69 ERA across 46.1 innings.
He added further experience during the US summer with the Eau Claire Express in the Northwoods League, recording a 3.53 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 35.2 innings and seven starts.
When announcing his commitment to Pima in 2024, Neretlis spoke about his ambition to use junior college baseball as another step towards a four-year college opportunity and, ultimately, professional baseball.
Now, his progression takes him onto the international stage with Team Australia.
Baseball WA congratulates Tyson and Jesse on their selection and wishes them, their teammates and the Australian coaching staff every success in Nicaragua.
To have two Western Australian players selected for a Baseball World Cup is another exciting reflection of the talent progressing through WA clubs, state programs and development pathways onto the international stage.