Gold for Youth, Silver for Women to Close Championship Campaign
Western Australia has capped off a remarkable campaign at the 2026 Australian Women’s Championships, claiming Gold in the Youth Women’s division and Silver in the Women’s competition on a thrilling final day in Melbourne.
Youth Women’s: WA Crowned Champions in Dominant Display
WA’s Youth Women’s team delivered a commanding performance in the Gold Medal Game, defeating South Australia 24-4 to secure the state’s first U16 Girls title since 2016.
WA’s offence was relentless from the outset, piling on runs across every inning to take control of the contest and never look back. The team finished with 21 hits in the game, highlighting the depth and consistency of the lineup.
After a tight opening, WA broke the game open through the middle innings, putting together multiple big scoring frames to blow the margin out. Their ability to apply pressure across the bases and capitalise on opportunities proved too much for South Australia to contain.
On the mound, WA combined effectively to close out the game, maintaining control and limiting any chance of a comeback as they secured the Gold Medal in emphatic fashion.
The result capped an undefeated tournament run, with the team showcasing a complete brand of baseball built on strong hitting, aggressive baserunning and composed pitching.
Youth Women’s Manager Gus Golding led the group throughout the week and continues to play a pivotal role in the development of junior baseball in Western Australia. A passionate advocate for the women’s program, Golding has also coached the U16s at Braves for the past two years, and lead multiple club teams across Intermediate League and Junior League age groups.
Golding praised the group’s performance and the broader program behind it.
“The WA AYWC team’s performance this week is a definitive statement on the talent and work ethic within our WA women’s program,” Golding said.
“Success like this doesn’t happen overnight. The foundation of this team was laid through years of development and opportunities created for these athletes.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of those supporting the program. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Beyanka, whose vision and tenacity have been the driving force in creating opportunities for this group,” he said. “The addition of Luke Hulbert to our coaching staff has been a turning point. His ability to connect with and mentor these athletes has elevated their performance to a championship level.”
Women’s: WA Fight to the Finish in Gold Medal Game
WA’s Women’s team fell just short in their Gold Medal Game, going down 8–5 to Victoria in a hard-fought contest.
Victoria jumped out to an early lead, capitalising on a fast start at the plate to build scoreboard pressure in the opening innings. Despite the deficit, WA showed resilience, continuing to compete and working their way back into the game late.
Reliever Caitlin Eynon played a key role in keeping WA within reach, delivering a strong outing from the bullpen to limit further damage and give the team a chance to respond.
WA’s offence began to find momentum in the later innings, stringing together hits to close the gap to three runs and bring the tying run to the plate in the final stages of the game.
Despite the late push, Victoria were able to hold on, but the fight shown by WA underlined the competitiveness and growth of the program at the senior level.
Individual Honours
Western Australia’s impact on the tournament was also reflected in the individual awards, with four players recognised for their outstanding performances across the week.
Jemma Golding was named MVP and Golden Glove winner in the Youth Women’s division, capping off a dominant all-round campaign.
Lily Duckworth claimed the Golden Bat Award, recognising her exceptional offensive output throughout the tournament.
At the Women’s level, Caitlin Eynon was awarded MVP, and Chloe Atkinson was awarded the Golden Bat Award.
The quad delivered elite performances:
• Jemma Golding – 22 at bats, 13 hits, 18 RBI, 15 runs, 5 home runs, 5 walks | Pitching: 5.2 innings pitched, 5 hits, 4 runs across 3 starts
• Lily Duckworth – 21 at bats, 12 hits, 21 RBI, 13 runs, 4 home runs, 4 walks
• Caitlin Eynon – 22 at bats, 12 hits, 12 RBI, 13 runs, 2 home runs, 6 walks
• Chloe Atkinson – 30 at bats, 17 hits, 16 RBI, 11 runs, 1 home runs, 1 walk
A Program on the Rise
With both teams reaching Gold Medal Games, Western Australia’s performance across the week reflects a program continuing to build depth, consistency and belief.
From dominant youth performances to a resilient showing at the women’s level, the 2026 Championships mark another step forward for women’s baseball in WA and a strong platform to build from into the future.
Photography: Erin Honsa
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