About The Shootout

Our Mission

The Redlands Softball Association Inc (RSA) is one of the largest softball associations in Queensland with over 800 members, having been at its present location since 1975 and we can’t wait to continue to and share what Softball Macarthur supports and reflects.

We provide the opportunity for male and female players looking for a social and family-friendly activity aged 5+ years old through to masters competitions.

Affiliated with Softball Australia and Softball Queensland, Redlands Softball Association organises competitions for our clubs that cover the Bayside and Brisbane areas as well as selecting representative teams for QLD state championships.

Our male and female members have represented at State, National and International events (World Championships and Olympic Games) as well as competing professionally in a number of countries.

Over many decades, the facility has regularly hosted regional, state and national events and has welcomed national teams who have enjoyed our world class facilities.

HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN FASTPITCH SHOOTOUT

2024

In August 2024, Redlands Softball Association worked with Softball Australia, Softball Queensland and Shootout officials to host the event in April 2025. Long time softball supporter, Karla Cailotto stepped into the Tournament Director role and the longstanding team of technical officials were announced as returning as the event relocated to the home ballpark of both the men’s (Sharks) and women’s (Scorpions) defending champions.

2023

The 2023 Macarthur Shootout successfully saw the introduction of a women’s division for the first time as well as participation by Macarthur teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions. The event served as a qualifier for the Men’s World Club championships- the ISC World Tournament. Sydney based Tropics won the ISC II division after traveling to Softball City, Canada in August 2024.

The Shootout is one of a few, if not the only event internationally that has many of the world’s best male and female players competing at the same venue concurrently. Locally, the event ensured that the 2023 rebuild at Rotary Cowpasture Reserve Camden was completed after 3 significant flooding events. It also allowed softball to demonstrate that it can deliver an event that supports junior participation, community building and also deliver a significant economic impact for the local area with participants and spectators travelling from across Australia and overseas.

In the flood recovery process, significant work was done to re-connect with all 3 levels of local government, securing grants as well as working with sponsors to ensure softball across the Macarthur region is well positioned. Because of the NSW Government grant the clubhouse was updated and fitted out and will support the future of competitions at all levels.

The 2023 Shootout came in under budget and delivered a number of broader benefits for the association’s members and wider softball and local community.

2002

In 2002, the tournament was designated as an official qualifying event for the ISC World Tournament- the club world championships. The 2002 Shootout champions, Scorpions (Qld) became the first and to date, the only Australian team to participate in this event, by competing at the 2003 World Tournament at the legendary Sunset Park, Kimberly Wisconsin USA.

The 2002 Shootout also marked the first time the yellow ball was used instead of the traditional white ball in tournament play. Due to the shortage of yellow balls in Australia, white balls were used for all round robin and playoff games. The yellow ball was used in the Championship Game.

The previous 3 editions of the Macarthur Fastpitch Shootout (final event held in 2002) were an 8 team, 3 day men’s event played in a round robin format. Teams were guaranteed 7 games, plus finals. The venue had no lights at that time.

2001

In 2001, the tournament attracted our first international team, Christchurch United from New Zealand.

Original Logo

2000

The funds raised from the 2000 and 2001 Shootouts funded permanent home run fencing on diamonds 2 and 3. The home run fence on diamond 1 was only finished 2 days before the 2000 event started thanks to the generous support of sponsor, Peter Keir from Accurate Fencing.

The Shootout’s were run as a men’s only event because of how the national women’s team operated after the Atlanta Olympics and leading up to Sydney and Athens, the players were not available for a women’s event.

1999

In 1999, a decision was made to conduct a large scale national event for Australian club teams. The Macarthur District Softball Association had moved from our original grounds at Hilder Reserve, Elderslie to Rotary Cowpasture Reserve in 1994 due to a large growth in teams. The large plot of land was secured by Brian Long, who then developed the masterplan for the site. Many individuals and families have made significant contributions to growing the association and sport over many years.

A large group of volunteers tirelessly took a paddock covered with Patterson’s Curse weed and engaged the Australian Army to complete a training course onsite that doubled as a major earthworks program. Permanent nets were installed, including 4 donated from Georges River Softball Association (their original Diamond 1, 2, 7 and 8 backnets). The association raised funds, applied for grants and secured loans to build the amenities block and clubhouse.

Redlands Softball Association
(Hilliards Creek Park)

Currently Redlands Softball has four lit fields and in August 2024, a collaboration between three government levels announce Redlands Softball will be getting an upgrade to the lighting of the fields.

Facility Upgrade

In August 2024 an announcement was made by the Redlands Mayor Jos Mitchell that over $5 Million Dollars under City Deals which is a collaboration between three levels of government, that there will be upgrades to sporting fields lighting in the Redlands area. Redlands Softball is lucky to be one of three to have this update. This upgrade means we will be able to hold future open Men’s and Women’s Nationals and future World Cups if they were to come to Australia.

After extensive consultation, the 2025 event aims to have 8 women’s teams and 8-12 men’s team with a desire to grow both divisions and quickly reach parity.

8 – 12

Team Competition

$10,000

$5000 both divisions

Various clubs from Redlands will field teams in both the men’s and women’s events and we hope to expand the event with more international teams.

The prize money for 2025 has been set at $5000 for each division and there will a very small entry fee for teams.

2025 Teams

Preferred & Optimal Team Distribution

Team Number	Men	Women
Team Number: 1.	Men: QLD – Team 1	Women: QLD – Team 1
Team Number: 2.	Men: QLD – Team 2	Women: QLD – Team 2
Team Number: 3.	Men: QLD – Team 3	Women: QLD – Team 3
Team Number: 4.	Men: NSW – Team 1	Women: NSW – Team 1
Team Number: 5.	Men: NAMSA – Northern Areas Men’s Softball Association (Adelaide, South Australia)	Women: South Australia
Team Number: 6.	Men: ACT	Women: ACT
Team Number: 7.	Men: Western Australia	Women: Western Australia
Team Number: 8.	Men: Victoria	Women: Victoria
Team Number: 9.	Men: NSW – Team 2	Women: NSW – Team 2
Team Number: 10.	Men: New Zealand – Club Team	Women: New Zealand – Club Team
Team Number: 11.	Men: Asia – Team 1	Women: Asia – Team 1
Team Number: 12.	Men: TBA	Women: TBA
Team Number: 13.	Men: USA / Canada Club Team	Women: USA / Canada Club or College Team

Key Philosophies

1.

The 2025 Australian Fastpitch Shootout at Redlands is underpinned by the concept that it is an event and not just a tournament. This is a fundamental principle.

2.

The Australian Fastpitch Shootout is known, seen and valued as a driver of tourism to the local area. As a result, it drives significant economic activity and concurrently optimises political and community support for the growth of the sport

3.

The Australian Fastpitch Shootout showcases Australia’s best athletes and aims to drive an engagement/recruitment strategy in local and other Queensland schools to enhance the current junior registrations at an association level.

4.

The event also operates “Softball’s Annual Reunion” and strives to attracts a large number of former players and their families from across the state and country in pursuit of the goal to have 3-4k spectators attend over 3 days of the event.

5.

Clear partnerships have been established between the Australian Fastpitch Shootout, Softball Australia, Softball QLD and Redlands Softball Association so that there is a visible, strategic alignment and support for elite pathways for players and officials.

6.

The event is for elite club teams, not state teams in club uniforms and does not endeavour to diminish the status of the Australian National Championship program.