Ryan Othen is on a mission to wrap up the 2019/20 VSBL season in winning style.
As a pitcher and infielder for Malvern Braves Baseball Club, the 16-year-old is determined to make the most of his opportunities on the field.
He’s made some crucial contributions to Malvern’s U18 State team this season, including an inside-the-park-home-run for a huge walk off win over Geelong. The Braves sit in the top three, putting them in prime playoff position for that competition. Ryan has also made some appearances in the seniors, playing for Malvern’s Division 2 reserves and firsts. Malvern is in the running for finals in all three competitions, something Ryan looks forward to.
His journey at Malvern started when he was young and took on T-Ball at the club. He’s been hooked ever since, with his eyes on the big prize this season. “I want to win the premiership, and I also want to get better as a player in every aspect of the game,” Ryan said. “I have hot and cold hitting streaks, so I want to be more consistent.”
Ryan is committed to training and he likes to use what he learned at national tournaments to his advantage. He’s always doing drills and trying to improve his overall skills, something that helps him succeed. The great atmosphere on his team certainly helps too. “We get a long with each other really well, we always play as a team,” Ryan said. “On paper some teams are better than us but sometimes they don’t play well because they don’t play as a team.”
With some new players joining the Braves family this season, Ryan has enjoyed getting to know everyone as they work together toward a big finals run. No matter how the season ends, Ryan hopes he can encourage others to get on the field. “It’s so fun, so just give it a go,” Ryan said. “Baseball is my favourite thing.”