Windsor baseball star Picchioni shines Down Under.
Windsor’s Picchioni named MVP in Melbourne
“I love the feel of the ball coming off the bat.” NATHAN PICCHIONI
For Windsor’s Nathan Picchioni, 15, there’s nothing he loves more than playing baseball.
So it seemed only fitting four years ago when his fam- ily moved to Melbourne, Australia that he joined their ball league.
In four short years, Picchioni has definitely made a name for himself.
Picchioni was back in Windsor this month after being named MVP at the Australian Under 16 national championships last month after his team, Sandringham Royal Baseball club, won gold.
Two years ago, he was named batting champion during the Australian Under 14 national championships with a batting average of .720.
“It was an honour, but I think of it more as a team effort,” Picchioni said. “But winning gold was pretty exciting but being named MVP was more than I could ask for.”
When Picchioni was six years old, he started playing baseball and excelled at it. He played with Windsor Central, Windsor Stars and Windsor Selects before moving. But he admits there is one thing that he really loves about baseball.
“I just like the feel of the game,” he said. “I really like hitting, I love the feel of the ball coming off the bat. It really just inspires me to hit farther.”
Picchioni has already set his sights on the big leagues.
“I don’t wanna give up ball,” he said. “It’s my dream for the future. Hopefully I’ll get a scholarship but we’ll see where it goes. I would love to play for the Blue Jays.”
His dad, Tony, has no doubts that his son has a great future in ball ahead.
Nathan Picchioni practises two to three times a week and plays on different teams year round. Even when he comes home to Windsor to visit, he plays a few games with the Selects.
“I was pretty wet in the eyes, very proud when he was named MVP,” Tony Picchioni said. “He’s got a natural talent, he’s focused, he loves baseball and he’s got all the tools to make it happen.”