Team Australia has named a U-18 squad on the back of last week’s cancellation of its would-have-been final selection camp due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A 37-player squad has been named, featuring five players from Victoria: Josh Ashen, Nick Bertucci, Marcus Graham, Sam Skinner, and Angus Stals.
Click HERE to view the full squad.
The final selection camp had been slated for later this year despite Team Australia withdrawing from the 2021 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Florida in June due health risks and logistical challenges.
Baseball Australia performance pathways and player development general manager Michael Crooks said naming a team was right to do and acknowledged the hard work of the athletes.
“Irrespective of whether the World Cup was to go ahead or not, it is of great importance that we recognise the hard work and commitment these young men over the course of the last 18 months,” he said.
“By continuing their commitment to Team Australia and their own long-term development under very trying circumstances, they will see the rewards once we get to take on the world once again.”
The World Cup has been pushed back to 2022 since Team Australia revealed it would not participate.
“We are hoping that the WBSC extends the opportunity for this age group for next year, making this an under-19 World Cup,” Crooks said.
“This will give our players yet another year of development under the excellent program leadership we are seeing from the state association delivered programs, and the hard work these players have put in will pay off.”
While the final selection camp and World Cup will not go ahead this year Baseball Australia is still working closely with the players on their development and future opportunities.
National player development manager Andrew Riddell said it was an exciting time in the journey of the young group and several had already committed to colleges while others were close to doing so.
“The program for this group does not end with their selection, we will continue to work with the players in the squad to help them progress to collegiate programs,” Riddell said.
The team named consists of all players invited to the final selection camp.