Two current and three former South West Sydney Academy of Sport softball athletes have returned home from the Softball Australia U16 National championships in Victoria with a little extra bling around their necks.
Current academy squad member Jordan McSavaney, along with alumni softballers Carter Shears, Blaze Pus and Harrison McDonald were a part of the gold-medal winning NSW U16 State team that defeated Queensland 17-10 in a high scoring grand final.
Academy softball squad member Markayla Butler also shone as a member of the silver medal winning NSW U16 girls team.
After progressing through the round-robin series undefeated, NSW were narrowly held out 3-2 by Queensland in the grand final.
Back on the home front, the 2022-2023 academy softball squad program is in full swing.
Supported by RBI Australia and Softball NSW, the academy squad hosted a successful “come and try’’ day at the Campbelltown Softball Grounds in late November, where the squad took a large and enthusiastic group of young aspiring community softballers through their paces, pictured above.
With the clinic targeting local association 12-14 year athletes, the academy squad mirrored what would be a typical training session that included skill development in throwing, catching, fielding, hitting, and pitching.
“Members of the academy squad displayed true leadership as they honed the skills of our region’s budding young athletes,’’ says academy CEO Gerry Knights.
“And with those in attendance eligible for future academy representation, there are many encouraging signs for the future as softball continues to regain traction in our community,” he said.
The academy is planning to host a further two “come and try’’ clinics in the next few months.
The Southern Districts Softball Association clinic will be held on February 26 and Macarthur Softball Association on March 16.
“We are glad to see Macarthur Softball Association is getting back on its feet, as we look forward to having our squad work with its up-and-coming athletes in the very near future,” Knights said.
“The association’s grounds were heavily impacted by the Camden floods not once, but twice in 2022.’’
For enquiries or more information go to www.swsas.org.au or by following the link to www.swsas.org.au/softballclinic
