WITH a place on the international stage up for grabs, stakes were high for two baseball teams at the Aerodrome Ovals in Mildura this week.

In what was a thrilling atmosphere, Brisbane North and Ryde Hawks (Sydney) battled it out at the Australian Intermediate Baseball Championships (13 and under). In the seven-innings game, Brisbane North won 7-3 and will now advance to the World Series event to be held in America in July.

Held for the fourth year in a row in Mildura, the championships drew a good-sized crowd to see some of the country's best young baseballers compete.