International challenge for softballer in Sydney
Austin selected for New Zealand team for first time
Te Awamutu College student Kylck Austin, 13, is in Sydney this week with the International Softball Academy (ISA) New Zealand Under-14 Boys’ softball team to compete in the 2024 International Challenge.
The International Softball Academy (ISA New Zealand), formed in 2007, hosts international softball tours and academy programmes that expose players to elite softball, elite coaching and life experiences while creating better people and better softballers.
U14 head coach Hadyn Smith announced the squad in late February, and the tournament will include teams from Japan and Australia.
Austin, a Year 9 student, has played softball for four years and is the only inclusion from the Waikato region.
He took the sport up when his brother came home from school asking to play.
Austin is humble about his New Zealand selection and says he hasn’t processed it.
“I’m just nervous.”
He says he’s looking forward to playing the matches with his parents, Grant and Jennifer, supporting him in Sydney.
“Kylck’s always been like that — player of the matches, player of the tournaments — things like that,” Grant says.
“He just takes it in his stride. It’s like, that’s what he has to achieve.”
Junior convenor for Waikato Softball Association and Te Awamutu Softball chief executive Manu Jones put Austin forward for selection.
“That’s probably why he’s been selected for New Zealand because they know Manu very well and take his word for it,” Grant says.
“They’ve never met Kylck. Normally the big central clubs are the ones they deal with.”
Jones says that Te Awamutu
Softball is very proud to produce another New Zealand representative player out of their little club.
“Kylck has put a massive effort into his training and his passion for the game is fantastic, but his greatest strength is his softball intelligence. His ability to read the game is very, very rare to see in someone so young,” Jones says.
“We all hope he has a great tournament and can’t wait to have him back for next season.”
Softball can be an expensive sport, so the Austin family are also on the lookout for any sponsors to help with future gear and travel costs. Every little bit helps.
ISA New Zealand Under 14 Boys’ team:
Lucas Foote — Wellington Softball Association
Hawea Sullivan — Wellington Softball Association
Koby Austin — Hutt Valley Junior Softball
Jay Jackson — Hawkes Bay Josh Belcher — Manawatū Softball Association
Tyler Mathews — Manawatū Softball Association
Landon Pointon-Gyde — Manawatū Softball Association
Cian Stewart — Hutt Valley Junior Softballley
Rhylie Naude — Counties Manukau
Softball Association
Lucian Cole — Counties Manukau Softball Association
Cali Konelio — Counties Manukau Softball Association
Kylck Austin — Waikato Rylee Cotton — North Harbour Softball NZ
If you’re interested in sponsoring Kylck, please contact Grant, ph 020 4078 2939.
For further information and match livestreams, visit the Just Softball ISA Facebook page.