Mackay’s Softball Star Defends World Title In Canada

Mackay’s own Riley James was in Canada from July 8 to 14, where he helped defend Australia’s 2022 softball championship title at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Finals in Prince Albert.

Starting his softball journey as a junior with the Angels in 2004, Riley has since represented Mackay, Queensland, and Australia on numerous occasions.

Riley James is a pure product of Australia’s highly successful Men's National Team programme. He joined the programme at a young age, and at just 23 years old, he had already played in two WBSC U-18 World Cups, a WBSC U-23 World Cup, and now finds himself in his second senior-level global competition.

Even more impressively, along with teammate Matt Harrow, James is one of only two players in the history of the sport to win world titles in three different age categories. He captured gold at the U-18 World Cup in 2018, the U-23 World Cup in 2023, and the senior World Cup in 2022.

"It's pretty honourable to be able to be part of those World Cups, especially playing in age groups and then coming back into the men's team," he said after helping his team clinch the first win at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 in Prince Albert.

"It's always something I look forward to. As Australians, we strive for a great environment, and once you're in that environment, it's kind of like a family. So I'm pretty happy to be a part of it."

This is James’ second World Cup in Prince Albert. In 2018, he was one of the youngest players on the U-18 Australian team that lifted the trophy.

"It was a different experience, obviously, being so young. I probably still hadn't matured enough. Obviously, now I'm a bit older, but being around all the 18-year-olds in that age group, it kind of helped me grow my mentality a lot faster and just learning the plays a bit quicker and just a bit more faster pace of the game," he remembered.

With his wealth of experience on the international stage, James believes Australia’s system is second to none. "We work really hard on our culture and being there for everyone because, it takes 16 people to win a World Cup. So all the coaches and us all band together and we work really hard in that culture aspect," he added.

Softball has taken the third baseman around the world - but never alone. His family has been present at every World Cup he’s played. His parents, Alan and Antoninette, and his sister Kiera, are in Prince Albert cheering him on.

"It's really good to have them in the crowd. It's just a friendly face. You see up there, kind of helps calm the nerves, but they've been supportive since I was a little kid, so I can take my hat off to them."

Antoninette, Riley’s mother, remembers the very beginning.

“He started playing when he was two years old. I had signed my daughter up, and Riley wanted to play too,” she recalled.

“At first they weren’t taking kids that young, but they said, ‘Oh well, might as well sign him up.’ So he started playing t-ball.”

“He was actually left-handed. He wanted his own glove, for a left-handed throw, but all the gloves were right-handed. So now he throws right-handed - and still bats lefty.”

Talking about Wednesday's game against the Dominican Republic, Riley said it was good to bounce back after Tuesday's loss to USA.

"It took a lot of us to group together and it showed today when we put the runs on the board. We got the sticks moving and that's what we kind of needed as a team, so it was good."

He delivered a clutch hit to put Australia ahead. What was his approach at that key moment?

"Kind of just there for the team," he said.

"Everything that we can all do, we just band together. It takes 16 people to win a World Cup, so it's just doing our small jobs, banding together, trying to put the ball in play and move runners around," he added.

He also had high praise for teammate and star pitcher Jack Besgrove, who bounced back with a strong performance on the mound.

"I've been with Bezzy for a while now. I've watched him grow into the person he is now. He's obviously great on the mound, but as a team person, he's always there for you. He puts pretty much his heart on the line and that's kind of what you want from your pitcher.

“Personally, I wouldn't want anyone else on the mound. He's unreal,” Riley said.

Supplied by Mackay Softball

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Mackay’s Riley James has cemented his place as a standout softball talent, helping Australia defend their 2022 world title in Canada and becoming one of the few players to win championships across three age levels. Photo supplied

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