Taking on the world

12 BAYCATS BOUND FOR JAPAN, USA

TOP quality baseball may be headed Geelong’s way but some young guns just can’t wait and are headed overseas to broaden their horizons.

Japan and the US are the destinations for 12 lucky Baycats products this month, taking up an invaluable opportunity to build their skills and knowledge.

Tanner Stack, Will Cavanagh and Brayden Barker will be immersed in Japan’s biggest sport at the IBA International U12 Baseball World Championship, Ch while the remaining nine will represent Victoria Kookaburras at the ‘home’ of baseball.

Baycats treasurer Adam Renouf said the eye-opening experience would help players strive for the next level.

“It’s a fantastic experience. The players in the rubberball side get billeted out and live with and get spoilt by the other families, so it’s fantastic,” he said.

“It gives them an international experience, but it also gives them a bit of understanding. Even in the US, you immerse yourself with families over there and they form lifetime relationships.”

The players will take a break from their winter series clubs, including Guild, Saints, Bellarine, Lara and Deakin, for their overseas tours.

The upcoming overseas tours follow Brock Wells’ successful US ‘college showcase’ trip and Australian team honours for Jarryd Wood, who is off to the invitation-only NxtGen showcase later this year.

“Obviously as a club we’re exceptionally proud of the achievements of all the kids and historically we’ve had a lot of players who have gone off into the major leagues as well … and it simply shows the hard work the coaches put in at the junior level flow all the way through,” Renouf said. July 17 to August 2 Tanner Stack, Will Cavanagh, Brayden Barker

July 1-18, includes Cal Ripken Tournament July 8-13

Thomas Renouf, Angus McNee, Will Brennan, Noah Brennan, Jordan Bowman, Connor Hughes, Patrick Grimmer, Issac O’Brien, Travis Duxson.