Rising Geelong-Korea baseball star Hockey follows family tradition
THERE was never any doubt that Lachlan Hockey would feel at home on the diamond, given how deeply baseball runs in his blood.
The Drysdale pitcher has had his first taste of the top level of Australian baseball with Geelong-Korea after honing his arm in the backyard with his father, Jason, who was a catcher in his playing days.
Hockey is the latest in a tradition to step on to the diamond, with his father and six uncles all baseballers.
“I think they were just looking for a different sport instead of cricket and they all got into baseball,” he said.
“I like how hard it is; it’s so different to other sports.
“A good hitter will get on base three out of 10 times, compared to any other sports that’s pretty hard.
“If you make one bad pitch it’s up to you to figure it out and make another good one.”
Standing at just over 190cm, the 18-year-old right-armer is perfectly suited to standing on the mound.
He played a crucial role in winning grand final MVP as he pitched Bellarine Bears to victory in Geelong Baseball Association A-grade in September.
With Geelong-Korea expressing interest in taking on local talent as developing members of its squad, Hockey’s Geelong Baycats coach Kelii Zablan helped him join the Australian Baseball League club.
His debut was marred by an outstanding hitting performance from Adelaide Giants as they belted the Geelong side 25-4 on December 6.
But in just over two innings on the mound, Hockey said he felt reasonably comfortable.
“My club coach ‘Zee’ (Zablan) said they were picking three or four of the young, best Geelong players and I thought that would be pretty cool and it just went from there,” he said. “It went pretty quick.
“I was a little nervous (on debut) but once you get on the mound you feel normal and just do your thing.
“I could have done better but it was good to have the first one and get it out of the way.”
Like his fellow GeelongKorea development player Connor Hughes, Hockey is hoping to next take his pitching to the college system in the US.
Before then he will be in the dugout as his side hosts Canberra Cavalry in a crucial fourgame series, which started last night. Tonight’s second game kicks off at Geelong Baseball Centre at 6.30pm.