THERE will be a fresh look to the Tamworth Baseball Association's 2019 season with a new team set to join the ranks.
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For the first time in the association's history, an all women's team will take the field in the competition's B grade.
The Tamworth Pandas will feature a variety of experienced local baseballers as well as some trying the sport for the first time.
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Inaugural Tamworth Pandas player Natalie Crittle told the Leader the team's formation had been several years in the making.
"The idea came from our experiences at the Country Championships," Crittle said.
"Our first trip away was in 2016 and we have been every year since.
"Every time we went away all of us local girls would get together and talk about getting a women's team happening and slowly but surely here we are."
The Pandas will battle it out with fellow local clubs Warriors and Cougars, as well as Armidale during the season.
"A lot of us have played for the other teams in the past and now we are branching off for ourselves," Crittle said.
"This year will be a lot of fun and hopefully we can see the sport develop in our region. Our goal is to have two squads next season so hopefully we can lay the ground work for that."
Crittle said any potential players were welcome to join the team.
"The friends I have made through baseball have been the best part about it for me," she said.
"There's a lot of benefits and it would be great to see more girls get involved."
The long-time player said playing together would help the region's chances at the annual country championships.
"We have been to the country championships three years in a row and have come fourth, third and second last year," she said.
"There's no doubt we want to come first and playing together should hopefully help us do that."
The Tamworth Baseball Association will host a come and try day at Carter Street playing fields from 12.30pm, ahead of the opening game of the season on April 13.
The come and try day will feature a free sausage sizzle, jumping castle and hands on baseball training.
Anyone interested in playing baseball this season is encouraged to get in touch via the association's Facebook page.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
