2 May 2019

By Tate Papworth

Catholic Regional College St Albans, St Albans, student Kira Jansen is hitting home runs – literally.

The 15-year-old represented Victoria at the Australian Women’s Baseball Championships last month and had a tournament to remember.

The Victorian side won a bronze medal, but Kira starred, finishing with a batting average of 0.471, which included a massive home run.

‘It was really exciting to hit a home run’, she said. ‘It was the first home run I’ve hit over the fence. But the day before against New South Wales, I hit one over centre field and it just kept on rolling.’

It’s the second time Kira has represented Victoria. Last year she was a member of the side which claimed gold at the championships.

Just three years into her baseball journey, Kira has compiled a list of achievements even seasoned players would be proud of and she hopes to add to it. ‘I’d love to play for Australia’, she said.

‘Next year I want to make the Victorian White side for open women’s – that’s a development team and hopefully one day I’ll be able to make Victorian Blue, which is the open women’s team.’

Kira credits the Essendon Baseball Club, her home side, with much of her development. ‘I started playing at Sunshine three years ago, but I moved to Essendon Baseball Club because they have a women’s program’, she said.

‘I was playing with girls who already played for Victoria and Australia and I really wanted to be like them. The coaches, Rob and Bronwyn Gell – starting shortstop for Australia – have helped me so much.’

This article was originally published in the Brimbank & North West Star Weekly on 30 April 2019.