FROM COACHING THE DIAMONDS TO WATCHING MEN'S SOFTBALL'S STAR RECRUIT PLAY BASEBALL WAS ONE OF MIXED EMOTIONS

After the ladies awards dinner in Sydney, my selector and I headed to Canberra to watch our talented Aaron Whitefield try his hand at the u/19 Men's Baseball Championships. Aaron has been scouted and tested by the National Baseball League and excelled in all the tests. This was no surprise to the softball fraternity as he is rated the player with the best manner off and on the field showing the greatest potential of any young player.
He has only played in 20 baseball games, so it would be a test to see if he could stand up and be counted with boy's that have played baseball all their life. With all the Pro Scouts in attendance and myself as chairman of selectors for softball what opinion would i have. Softballs opinions were justified as he led his home state of Queensland to be National Champions. In the grand finals he made some unbelievable defensive plays and was rewarded with the Golden Glove award of the tournament. His father who is a selector for me in softball was all smiles as 5 teams contacted him to say they were interested in signing him to a Pro Contract. This is when money talks.
Back to reality in 2 days he's off to play softball in the u/19 National Championships which will be held at the Hawker International Softball Complex also in Canberra. He will be trying to cement his position to play in the World u/19 Championships for Australia which will be held in Canada this year in July.
There is one big big difference softball will not be offering any money to play instead they will ask you for money to play for Australia. The last cost i heard was $8800.00 as the tournament is in the Yukon which is the far north of Canada.
WANT A CHALLENGE?
Join me as i have consented to help Tasmania in the u/19 Championships. Tasmania is our smallest state and has the least number of players. There passion for the sport of softball is undeniable, but being so isolated they do not experience the competition, in there first game i was proud of them as the tournament favorites New South Wales only scored 7 runs. Tassie boys could not believe the speed of pitch's but still managed to get 2 hits. I am trying to work with their coach's who are just first year and for them its a big curve. In our next 4 games we have managed to score 6 runs and are starting to learn our positions, but pitchers lack the experience and are walking 10 batters per game. There desire has never been in doubt and today proved very exciting for them as they scored 6 runs in one game stole 4 bases and the pitchers issued only 3 walks. I was very proud of the team and the improvement they have shown. They may of lost 13 to 7 but they felt as if they had won. I was very proud of them.
I will have a further report on Friday as the champions will be declared and will let you know the outcome of my never say die Tassie boys.
In the meantime I hope you enjoy my post and please rate and categorize it.
Hope you enjoy the photos and see if you see the difference in the Softball and the Baseball Fields.
Aaron Whitefield and his proud dad John after receiving his golden glove award in u/19 National Baseball Championships. In 2 days time he will play in u/19 Softball Championships.
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