Saturday, 10 January, 2015 - 13:25

The top three baseball programs in the Oceania region and a number of the most highly-recruited players in the Pacific will be in New Zealand this 175th Auckland Anniversary weekend to compete for the 18U Oceania Baseball Championship at Te Atatu South’s McLeod Park.

The tournament winner will qualify for the prestigious International Baseball Federation (IBAF) 18U Baseball World Cup to be held in Japan at the end of August.

The New Zealand 18U baseball team will compete in what is being called a challenging triple round robin schedule as announced by the Baseball Confederation of Oceania (BCO) today. The 18U Diamondblacks face Australia, ranked 14th in the world rankings overall, and Guam, currently ranked 44th.

The 18U Diamondblacks, part of a New Zealand program ranked 26th in the world at the end of 2014, will play three home and three away games at McLeod Park, Te Atatu South, in this triple round tournament, including two televised games against United States territory Guam followed by a key matchup against trans-Tasman rival Australia on SKY TV on Saturday, 24 January.

Opening day serves up a double header treat for baseball fans as New Zealand kick off this important qualifier on 23 January against both Guam and Australia, making their home debut at the newly completed McLeod Park baseball diamond and christening this important baseball facility in West Auckland.

With two games under their belts, the 18U Diamondblacks will face a tough task the following day, with another double header, first as the away team against Guam in the morning game at 11:30am, followed by a home game against Australia in the afternoon game that is slated to start at 3:30pm.

The back-to-back schedule continues as New Zealand head back to the diamond the following afternoon on Sunday, 25 January to play Australia at 3:30pm

New Zealand closes out its four-day schedule on Monday, 26 January when they face off against Guam for the third and final time. The compact tournament will have nine games, no medal rounds, and the tournament rankings will be determined by overall win/loss records.

New Zealand’s team will feature four players who recently represented New Zealand in the IBAF 21U World Championships in Taichung, Taiwan, including former MLB Academy veterans Sam Harvey, Ben Thompson and Cooper Hutchinson, along with former Sacred Heart student and current Seattle resident Jimmy Boyce who shut down Korea on one hit over eight complete innings. Korea is currently ranked no. 8 in the world.

Admission to the tournament is free of charge to all nine games and food and New Zealand Baseball gear will be on sale throughout.

2015 18U Oceania Baseball Championship Schedule

All games at McLeod Park, Te Atatu South

Friday, Jan. 23

9:00 a.m. - New Zealand vs. Guam

1:00 p.m. - Australia vs. New Zealand

3:30 p.m. - Guam vs. Australia

Saturday, Jan. 24

11:30 a.m. - Guam vs. New Zealand

3:30 p.m. - New Zealand vs. Australia

Sunday, Jan. 25

11:30 a.m. - Australia vs. Guam

3:30 p.m. - New Zealand vs. Australia

Monday, Jan. 26

11:30 a.m. - Guam vs. New Zealand

3:30 p.m. - Australia vs. Guam