It’s Sunday morning at Unsworth Heights’ Caribbean Drive sports field, and the sound of leather hitting timber echoes across the diamond. Kids are running bases, parents are cheering from the sidelines, and the smell of freshly mown grass hangs in the air. For the North Shore City Baseball Club, this vibrant scene has become an important part of life on the North Shore.
“Our new facility at Unsworth Heights has made such a difference,” says Club President Camryn Brown.
“It gives players of all ages a high-quality space to train, learn and enjoy baseball. More than that, it’s brought our community together in ways we hadn’t imagined.”
With hundreds of members ranging from five-year-old T-Ball beginners to senior men and women competing in premier and social grades, the club is one of Auckland’s largest and fastest-growing.
The Unsworth Heights facility, complete with a full-size turf-infield baseball diamond and sheltered dugouts, has hosted winter ball programmes from July to October, summer trainings and games from October onwards, adult social pick-up games, umpire training days and even elite coaching clinics.
In September, the Youth Development Series brought coaches from Baseball Queensland, Auckland Baseball, and Baseball New Zealand to the field, giving young players expert tips and inspiration. November saw the San Diego Padres Roadshow Clinic, offering professional-level coaching in a fun, community setting.
Parents are noticing the difference too. “My kids have grown so much this year, not just in skill but in confidence,” says Christen Peters, whose children attend T-Ball and junior sessions.
“Having a proper field and all the facilities right here makes it easy for families to get involved. It’s more than a sport - it’s part of our community.”
While competitive season games are also held across other Upper Harbour locations, the Unsworth facility is becoming a central hub for training, winter ball, youth development, and community events. T-Ball sessions for ages 5-8 years old run here during the summer terms, alongside pre-season ‘have a go’ days that invite anyone curious about baseball to join in for free.
The Unsworth facility cost $3.5 million, developed by the Upper Harbour Local Board with funding from the Northern Corridor Improvements Project, features a modern baseball diamond with artificial turf, backstops, dugouts, seating, and LED lighting for after-dark play. Upgraded fields, drainage, and a footpath network make the site easier to use and maintain, while the carpark, bike stands, and other facilities ensure safe, convenient access for players and families.
Anyone interested in baseball or wanting to know more about the club, can find information and updates at the NSC Baseball website.
“With everything we’ve done this year from winter ball to youth clinics, umpire training, and adult social games; the Unsworth facility is a place where our players and community come together,” says Brown.
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