Victorian outfielder Riley Light is making the most of every opportunity that comes his way as he chases his college baseball dreams.
After growing up playing for local clubs Upwey Ferntree Gully and Knox, the Victorian State Team representative made the leap overseas, going on to Hill College in Texas. His freshman year was a learning experience both on and off the field, but his determination paid off as he adjusted to vigorous training and competition.
"Early morning workouts, 5-hour practises, and trying to be organised with school work is something you must quickly adapt to in order to keep moving forward," Light said of life as a junior college baseballer. "A highlight for me would be when I hit my first home run in the spring. It felt great to see and feel the ball coming off the bat during an actual game, which helped benefit my team."
Instead of going home to Australia for the summer, Light stayed in the U.S. to continue developing his baseball skills in the Kansas Collegiate League Baseball, a premier summer league. He joined fellow Victorians including Oscar Hargreaves, Mason Wray, Ben Fierenzi, Henry Hayman, and Kobe Greenhalgh, who all took part in summer ball.
Light's summer season with the Park City Rangers saw him play five or six days a week and win the 2022 KCLB All Star Home Run Derby. "I met even more people from all over the US and the world, and had an absolute blast in my downtime with my newfound teammates."
Light enjoyed working out at the local YMCA and gaining more strength, fitness, and confidence than ever before.
"On the field, I played very well, both statistically and as a leader for the team. I would highly recommend anyone who is attending college to stay on and play in a summer competition," Light added.
Even with all the excitement of his first year in America, Light makes sure to acknowledge those who have helped him get to where he is today.
"The life experiences that attending college in the U.S. has given me are something I could have never imagined and I am grateful to everyone who has played a part in helping me live my dream, especially my parents," Light explained.
"My junior years in Victoria were definitely a stepping stone in my baseball career. The BV High Performance Academy and mentoring from my head coach Donavon Hendricks at Upwey FTG Baseball Club helped me in my younger years to learn the importance of the game and the fundamentals of it."
All of these opportunities have made a difference to Light in his baseball journey, and he's looking forward to another great season of college baseball.
"My favourite thing about college baseball so far is the competitiveness and the number of games that we play," he said. "I also love the sense of family that you grow with your teammates. As an international player living on campus, the guys that surround you turn into your family. I have made friendships with people here that will last a lifetime, people from both the USA and other international players. But with that, a level of competitiveness gets brought out, as you have to compete with them day in and day out for your position on the team."
He's embraced the U.S. sporting culture and is excited to return home for Christmas and share his experiences with family and friends. In the meantime, he will be working hard on his goals of finding a four-year school where he can continue his education.
"I will need to perform well on the field and in class as it is very competitive to get into a good school, but I am very determined to do so," Light explained. "I hope to successfully finish school and be a solid collegiate baseball player having a good college career on the field. I also hope I can hopefully help win a championship for whichever school I play for."
"Beyond that the world is my oyster, whether I stay on in the U.S. and play, head over to Europe and play, or head home and hopefully play in the ABL, time will only tell."
Finally, Light has some advice for junior players who want to play college baseball. He wants aspriring college athletes to know that the whole experience is enjoyable, but it's important to be prepared for the hard work involved.
"The game of baseball here is very tough mentally and physically. Learn to love the game early on. Both success and failure will provide a path for you to become a better baseballer."
