Lismore has solidified itself as the premier sporting venue for the Northern Rivers with the announcement of two major championship baseball events at the newly upgraded Albert Park Baseball complex in East Lismore.

The Junior League (Under 15) and the Intermediate League (Under 14) will fight it out at the Northern Rivers premier baseball ground from May 27-31 next year. In the lead-up, Albert Park will also host the State Championships from April 24-27 2024.

Albert Park has come a long way from the devastating effects of last year's big flood when fences were flattened, equipment was lost and the grounds lay under inches of thick mud.

Twenty-one months later and after the first full season of baseball, Albert Park looks every bit like a premier sporting complex ready to host another national Championship.

Mayor Steve Krieg was enthused to welcome the championships back to Lismore and the money it will bring to our city.

"To have resources like this and to gain major events is a real plus. Not only to get the facilities used but it's a real economic boost for the community as well."

"Over 350 people are expected in town generating over a million dollars in revenue while they're here."

Craig Schiebel is the Commissioner of Far North Coast Baseball, he too was looking forward to hosting major baseball events at Albert Park once again.

"Our journey has been heartbreaking, to see where it was, but it is heartening to see where we are back to now with the facility at full strength," Craig said.

"We're really excited to have both the NSW State Titles and the National Championships for the Little League pathways back in Lismore."

"We had a history of hosting the Little League nationals prior to COVID and the floods and now we've got the junior league and intermediate titles back at a state and national level which is great for us and the community."

One of the reasons Albert Park can host events of such prestige is because of the number of fields that can be used at the same time.

"We've got four fields but there's multiple diamonds on each field. There's the main diamond but then there's three diamonds on Field 2, there's two on Field 3 and we've got capacity for three or four on Field 4," Craig explained.

As for how the competition works? Each of the regions, including Far North Coast Baseball, will run trials to put together a representative team to play in Lismore for the State Titles in April.

The winner of the State Titles then comes to Lismore for the National Titles for the Junior and Intermediate age groups in May. The winner of the National Title then goes to the U.S.A. to play in the Little League World Series in August/September 2024.

Far North Coast Baseball has a history of producing some talented baseballers and that will be on display in the State Titles for juniors held here as well as sending a Little League team to Sydney to compete in the Little League State Titles.

"You never know in tournament baseball where you end up but we're certainly competitive in those two age groups. We've got several players competing in the Australian Youth Championships in January which is a slightly different pathway to the Little League ones. They're part of a NSW Country Representative team," Craig explained.

Baseball is a winter sport in Lismore running from March to September. However, Far North Coast Baseball runs a kids twilight program for those interested in baseball.

"We have another week or so for this year and then we will run another next year. It's all about getting kids in, playing and interested. We will run that into the start of next season. It's a come and try it thing," Craig said.

"So for $20 kids can come along and have four weeks of baseball in the afternoons. They are held Monday night's from 5:30pm."