After a two-year break, the Open Men’s National Championship kicks off a month-long festival of representative softball.

Softball ACT are hosting the premier men’s event at Hawker International Softball Complex from 7-10 April, where some of the very best athletes in the game and up and coming talent will vie for the John Reid Shield in 24 games across four days.

The absence of traditional powerhouse Western Australia Blaze has opened the competition up, with all five teams projected to be in contention for the championship game.

Since the competition was first held in 1984, the ACT have won a remarkable 17 titles, including 12 of the last 15 championships, with only NSW and the Western Blaze also winning titles in that time.

The dominant force in men’s softball over recent years and always difficult to beat at home, the 89ers are also on the verge of another threepeat, an achievement only ever matched by Western Blaze.

ACT’s dominance starts on the mound, with Adam Folkard and Andrew Kirkpatrick bringing world class pitching to the defence. Between them, Folkard and Kirkpatrick have won 11 Best Pitcher awards since arriving on the Nationals stage in 2004. Littered with Aussie Steelers, the 89ers will be hard to beat.

However, NSW potentially have the right balance of youth and experience that could see them reclaim the title they last won in 2018. Callum Beashel, Lachlan Hay, Bradley Kilpatrick, James Todhunter and Peter Wards will no doubt be raring to go after such a long absence of National Championship action.

Kiwi international, Zane Van Leishout may well be an X-factor for the NSW team. The 2017 Black Sox World Champion will be eager to perform well for the ‘Blue Bloods’ in his first John Reid Shield.

Queensland also can’t be ruled out from medal contention. The Patriots come into the championship with five rookies, but who could forget their heroic come-from-behind victory to defeat NSW in the 2020 U18 Men’s championship final.

James Purcell, Julian Jemmott and Josh Wagner will lead from the front, but all eyes will be on Keenan Smith and Caleb Vandergriendt – the 2020 U18 Men’s tournament MVP – to make an impact.

While New South Wales, ACT, and Queensland are the top contenders, don’t expect them have it all their own way, with Victoria and South Australia also predicted to cause upsets throughout the tournament.

Aside from the National Championship, the John Reid Shield is also a selection event for both the WBSC World Cup in Auckland in December and the U23 World Cup in Argentina later this year, so for all teams involved there is plenty to play for.

Softball Australia wishes all players, officials, and tournament staff the best of luck for a successful tournament.

For more information about the John Reid Shield click here