Tons of fun at Timberjacks baseball carnival

LISMORE has received a major economic boost after nearly 400 junior baseballers and their families descended on the city for the annual Far North Coast Timberjacks carnival.

About 34 teams from across New South Wales and south-east Queensland took part in this year’s event, which showcased Lismore’s Albert Park baseball complex.

Tournament director Al Connors said the carnival focused on participation and gave Far North Coast juniors a chance to play in a major tournament at home.

“This is the best baseball facility in Australia — there’s nothing else like it — and we’re really lucky to have it in Lismore,” Mr Connors said. “People love coming here, and we encourage them to spend money around town at the shops and restaurants.”

Albert Park is one of the few venues in the country with the capacity to host games across four diamonds, with grandstand seating for spectators.

The Far North Coast Baseball Association has worked hard to rebuild the local competition and field representative teams after the 2022 floods caused widespread damage to the complex.

“We copped significant damage in the floods a few years ago, but we’re resilient people and we were always going to come back,” Mr Connors said.

The Timberjacks carnival returned last year and now includes an under-20s division, with the complex also hosting national junior and senior tournaments.

The FNC zone fielded two teams in each division this year, with squads selected to ensure evenly matched games.

A highlight of the weekend was the Banana Ball event — a lighthearted, music-filled game played under lights that proved a hit with players and families alike.

“We wanted the emphasis to be on participation and fun,” Mr Connors said. “It’s also a tournament where people might coach for the first time or learn how to do the scoring. There are a lot of elements to the carnival, and it’s something both kids and parents really get involved in.”