Baseball is becoming one of Auckland’s fastest growing sports according to Auckland Baseball, and the trend is reflected nationally, with over 4000 players now registered across the country.
In the last year alone the number of players in Auckland has steadily increased, with the sport attracting international competitions and players.
In a classic case of “If you build it, they will come”, Auckland Baseball president Gareth McCloughen says one of the key drivers of Aucklanders embracing the sport is the development of world-class baseball facilities, with diamonds popping up around the region, thanks to funding and prioritisation from local boards plans.
“For example, two new baseball facilities in Upper Harbour have given representative teams a place to train, creating more opportunities for Aucklanders to get involved in the sport, and helping clubs grow,” Mr McCloughen says.
The facilities, at Unsworth Reserve and Te Kori Scott Point in Hobsonville, both grew out of feedback through the Upper Harbour Local Board Plan process. Together, they have expanded the region's baseball facilities, and are supporting clubs and representative programmes.
Mr McCloughen says Unsworth has quickly become one of the game's key venues.
“It's rewarding to see the grounds being used by local clubs, representative teams and players from right across Auckland. Unsworth has probably been the most utilised baseball diamond in Auckland since it became available," he says.
"It's hosted representative training, premier competitions, pre-season games against Queensland teams and has been critical in preparing our Little League team for international competition in Korea."
Mr McCloughen says Auckland's 12-and-under competition has grown from five teams to nine teams over the past three years, and facilities like Unsworth and Te Kori Scott Point are helping provide the capacity needed to support that growth.
Upper Harbour Local Board chair Anna Atkinson says the projects grew out of strong support for better baseball facilities.
"And that's exactly what these projects have delivered. Seeing the clubs grow and more people getting involved shows the value of listening to what matters locally."
At North Shore Baseball Club, the difference has been immediate; Club president Camryn Brown says the new Unsworth facilities have changed what the Club is able to offer.
"The growth has been incredible. We now have players right through from T-ball to adults, and for the first time we've been able to enter teams in every grade available."
The $3.5 million Unsworth Reserve facility was developed through a partnership between the Upper Harbour Local Board and the Northern Corridor Improvements Project. It includes a full-sized baseball diamond, dugouts, lighting, seating, pathways and parking.
Before the new facility opened, the club had outgrown its existing grounds.
"Our top teams couldn't host home games because we didn't have a regulation-sized baseball diamond. We were constantly trying to make things work with the space we had available."
The club now uses the grounds throughout the year for training, competitions, development programmes and coaching clinics, including a San Diego Padres development clinic and visits from coaches across Australasia.
For parent Christen Peters, the investment has made a difference for local families.
"My kids have grown so much this year, not just in skill but in confidence. Having a proper facility close to home has made a huge difference."
Projects like these are guided by local board plans, which help shape investment in parks, sports facilities and community spaces across Auckland.