TRIP OF A LIFETIME
Little League trip offers big rewards on and off the field for young Gold Coast baseballers
A WHILE back I wrote about a group of young Gold Coast baseballers who had secured a spot to travel to the US for the Little League World series.
They were chosen after winning the Australian Little League championships.
Well, the Cougars are back home and adjusting to normal life again after their trip of a lifetime.
Although they did not win a game, all who travelled to the World Series with them said the boys would be better players for the experience.
The players received real “rock star’’ treatment.
To finish the tour, the Cougars team travelled to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Atlanta Braves in a Major League Baseball game.
Peter Moylan, relief pitcher for the Braves and an Australian, organised the tickets.
It was the first time the young Gold Coasters had watched a big game at a Major League stadium and they were divided in their allegiance.
They also had fun taking turns to slide down “the hill”.
The hill, you say. Well, it is a large climb behind Lamade Stadium where the players rode cardboard sleds.
The Little League World Series for players under-12 has been operating since 1947 and is televised live across the US and internationally.
For two weeks every summer, Williamsport in Pennsylvania is the centre of the baseball world.
Prior to the games starting, the city welcomes all the teams from around the world.
The Gold Coast boys were involved in an amazing parade through the city, soaking up the incredible atmosphere.
This was the first time a team from Queensland had successfully qualified for the World Series, with Australia only being involved in the Little League competition since 2007.
Gold Coast had a great game against Mexico but went down 3-2 in a thriller.
In this game Oscar Hyde hit the first home run of the 2018 Little League World Series and pitched 5 2/3 innings before leaving the mound with the lead due to reaching his maximum pitch-count.
Mexico, down to their last out, then got three hits in a row to take the lead and the walkoff win.
The Cougars went on to play the Caribbean and New England.
The Cougars were eliminated from the series following a 6-0 loss to the Caribbean on day three.
Hyde collected the Gold Coast’s sole hit, a single in the fourth inning.
Cougars starter Matthew White recorded five strikeouts, while allowing one earned run during his 3 2/3 innings on the mound.
What a great experience to travel and represent your country.
Looking back many years now I can reflect on my first international competition in Germany when I competed against the best hurdlers in the world.
It was my first time travelling overseas and I was in Year 12 at school.
I was a reserve for the World Cup team which was a combined New Zealand and Australian team.
When Penny Gillies tore her achilles, I was asked to line up for the 100m hurdles.
I can remember lining up between the world recordholder and the Olympic champion and thinking what in the world was I doing there?
I actually finished last but the lesson I learnt was that they were just like me.
They had one head, two arms and two legs, but had an extraordinary talent that they trained and honed.
I just wanted to be like them, so I came home and put my head down and trained hard. A valuable lesson learnt which held me in good stead for my future.
Undoubtedly, the Gold Coast Cougars have learnt so much from their first international experience.
They’re lessons they can now put into the “tool bag” that will mould their future.
Well done boys! Now the job is to repeat the achievement of making the World Series in 2019.