WA U16 and U18 Teams Named for 2027 Australian Youth Championships

Baseball WA is proud to announce the U16 and U18 State Teams that will represent Western Australia at the 2027 Australian Youth Championships (AYC) in Melbourne this January.

Australia’s premier youth baseball tournament returns to Essendon, Preston and Port Melbourne Baseball Clubs in 2027, bringing together 14 teams across the U16 and U18 divisions.

The U16 Australian Youth Championships will run from 6–12 January, followed by the U18 competition from 8–14 January, with Essendon serving as the primary venue and hosting the medal round games.

The championships form an important part of Australia’s performance pathway, providing the country’s emerging players with the opportunity to compete at national level in front of professional and college scouts.

Western Australia’s teams will again be led by Managers Aaron Ottoway at U16 level and Kurt Russell at U18 level, with both head coaches returning following the 2026 championships.

WA U16 State Team

Aaron Ottoway returns for his second campaign as U16 head coach after WA finished sixth at the 2026 Australian Youth Championships.

A former Perth Heat player, Ottoway has extensive experience across WA’s junior pathways, including the U16, U18, U23 and State Schoolboys programs, alongside roles within Baseball WA’s Pathways and High Performance programs.

Joining Ottoway on the U16 coaching staff are Shane Smith, Arnie Noel and Kent Fitzgibbons.

U16 Players

WA U18 State Team

Kurt Russell will again lead WA’s U18 State Team as the program looks to build on consecutive silver medals at the 2025 and 2026 Australian Youth Championships.

Russell moved into the U18 head coaching role ahead of the 2026 campaign after previously leading WA at U16 level. His broader coaching experience includes Baseball WA’s High Performance and Women’s programs, the Perth Heat, national junior programs and time coaching in the United States.

WA will head to Melbourne looking to take the next step after its back-to-back silver medals and pursue its first U18 national championship since 2020.

Russell will be joined on the coaching staff by Brandon Migro, David Elzig and Guillaume Duguay.

U18 Players

Baseball WA congratulates all selected players and coaches and thanks the clubs, families and volunteers supporting both teams as they prepare to represent Western Australia on the national stage.