This region has produced a lot of talented softballers who have reached the top of the game.
The latest are Mia Gilmore (pictured) and Blake Hunter, who have been selected in the Australian teams for the women’s and men’s under 18 softball World Cups.
The women’s 2020 softball World Cup will be held in Lima, Peru, August 23-30.
The men didn’t have to go as far, with their 2020 World Cup being held this week in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Joining Gilmore and Hunter were two other South West Sydney Academy of Sport softball program athletes, Jack Davies and Madi Baker, named as reserves.
Madi Baker has also been invited to participate in the Canada
Cup, to be held in Vancouver during July 4-14 as part of the Aussie Diamonds
pathway program.
Academy CEO Gerry Knights says the softball
program is “an amazing part of the NSW and Australian Softball pathway’’.
“The standard of local talent is highly evident when you look at the large number of athletes who have gained representative honours via the South West Sydney Academy of Sport softball program,’’ he says.
Knights said the excellent outcomes were the result of hard work on the part of the athletes, combined with astute coaching.
“With the sponsorship support of Elderton Homes, the academy’s softball program is currently leading the way in terms of Australian representative athletes for 2020,’’ Knights said.
He pointed out that Mia Gilmore and Blake Hunter’s three years as academy scholarship holders were highlighted by their high work ethic and above average game day contributions.
“These fine young athletes deserve everything that sport can offer them,’’ Knights said.
“Their academy coaches, Peter Doherty, Fiona Ioannou, Brayden Schouten and Dale Smith, who supported them along their individual development pathway journey, also deserve some of the credit.
“But after all, developing quality representative standard athletes across the widest range of sports possible is the main focus of the academy.’’
For information, regarding academy sports scholarships
visit www.swsas.org.au<http://www.swsas.org.au> or phone the
academy on 4627 7622.
