Baseball NSW congratulates Lisa Nakashio for making Australian baseball history!
One of the top baseballers in the state, Nakashio was the first female in the history of the Petersham Leichhardt Baseball Club to play in the Sydney Winter Baseball (SWBL) First Grade last 9-10 May.
What makes Nakashio’s appearance even more special is that the Petersham club dates back 127 years, the longest-running club in New South Wales and only the second-oldest in Australia.
Petersham also produced several Australian national team players and professional players who then moved on to various major leagues.
Moreover, they have won nine of the last ten winter titles.
During her appearance, Nakashio played with ABL players such as Jake Burns, Josh Bishopp, Matt Trainor, Ben Cone, Koby Roberts, Harry Fullerton, Zak Levy, Solo Maguire, and Max Brennen.
ABL catcher Jake Burns also pointed out how comfortable she was on the field.
“She’s a stud, one of the best defensive infielders I’ve seen in a while,” he said, speaking to Baseball Australia.
Meanwhile, Petersham coach and president Max Brennen sang Nakashio’s praises as well.
“I have no doubt she will be a household name on Emeralds teams in the future and be a part of top women’s professional leagues,” he said. “Her work ethic and drive is amongst the best I’ve seen in a long while from any player. She has fit right into the culture and it was great to see everyone get around her on the weekend after making her debut in 1st grade.”
Nakashio herself recognized the weight of the moment when she played her first game with Petersham.
“This is my first season at Petersham, and I’m absolutely loving it so far,” she said. “The baseball, the people, and the culture are all so strong, and the club genuinely feels like a family. Being welcomed as the first female player in over 120 years has been incredibly special, and it’s a privilege to be part of such a historically rich club.”
Moreover, she expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to play for a historically significant club and at the field where Donald Bradman struck his first-ever test century.
“Having the opportunity to play across all three grades in my first two weeks was unreal,” Nakashio said. “Debuting in 1st Grade over the weekend was a moment I’ll never forget.”
There were some nerves still for the former MVP winner, but she said that the club’s support for her made her appearance “really special.”
Playing for Petersham continues on from Nakashio’s magnificent 2025, where she became one of the key contributors to the NSW Women’s team capturing gold at the Australian Women’s Championship.
In 2025, Nakashio also joined the Down Under Diamonds Tour along with other top female players from across the country. Her showing there earned her the nod from the coaches, who picked her as MVP of the tour. She also received the Player’s Player Award.
Besides her on-field brilliance, Nakashio has also excelled as coach. She coached the NSW Composite team that won the championship at the 2025 Little League Girls Nationals.
She was also part of the coaching staff of the two NSW squads that competed at the 2024 Barclay Cup, where her team won bronze, and the tournament’s 2025 iteration.
BNSW congratulates Lisa Nakashio for putting another feather in her cap, and we hope to see her continue to shine as a player and coach!
Photo credit: Petersham Leichhardt Baseball Club