Despite being played here for almost a century, America’s national pastime is still something of a local secret and the leaders of Baseball Illawarra would like to encourage more children to pick up a bat.

“For me it’s just about growing the game of baseball in the Illawarra,” said Robert Cauduro, coach for the Wollongong Cardinals, chairman of baseball Illawarra’s winter committee and lifelong Wollongong local.

“The game, I just love the game and the way it gets everyone involved,” Rob said.

“I love the time, it’s a short sharp game, you get to focus, have fun, there's a lot of good aspects of the game.”

Baseball in the Illawarra has had a rich history, despite not being one of Australia’s top sports.

Starting in 1928 as the Illawarra District Baseball Association, its popularity grew in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. In its early days, organisations like Commonwealth Rolling Mill, Lysaght’s and other local businesses fielded teams.

The league grew and changed its name to Baseball Illawarra. Today there are seven teams but in its heyday Baseball Illawarra fielded more than 10 teams from Kiama to Wollongong and even participated in the NSW major league.

“The joys have been that Illawarra have produced some great players that have reached national levels and a few that have gone on the play in the United States,” said Brett Shipp, chairman of the board of directors for Baseball Illawarra.

“Some of those clubs have folded over the years, but with most of them having 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades at their height, the competition is strong and busy,” Brett said.

Much of the league's success can be attributed to the strong role models that have worked hard to grow the sport’s popularity and develop talent.

Rob has been working hard to teach the game since he picked up a bat at age 8. A family friend introduced him to the game and initially baseball was simply a sport to play when cricket wasn’t on.

In the absence of nationally televised baseball in Australia, Rob, like many other baseball enthusiasts, tuned in to the international baseball league.

"The game globally, I got fascinated based off the 2004 Red Sox when they came back from 3 nil down, that was a big aspect of my life in terms of my baseball knowledge," Rob said.

Now he’s eager to spread his love of the game.

“Locally, growing up in Wollongong it was good for me and convenient that the league here was still strong and how competitive it was,” he said.

“A lot of coaches try and hone players in on one specific talent like a lot of coaches do, I liked the full round game.

“I would give my points, I didn’t want to change anything about some people’s techniques because that was what they were comfortable with, I just adjusted to try to get them to succeed a little more than they were.”

Attracting players has always been a challenge due to the sport's low profile in Australia. Despite this, Baseball Illawarra continues to urge people to give it a go.

“The ever-existent challenge of attracting new players to our sport at all ages, due to the large variety of sports available to everyone in the area,” Brett said.

“Altering competition types and times, promotions throughout schools have helped with attracting children to play.”

For more information on league history, registration to play and everything Baseball Illawarra, check out their website, Instagram and Facebook