12-year-old Tylah Laurie will take his love of baseball to new heights when he heads across the globe to represent Australia at the 2022 Cal Ripken Major70 World Series in Branson, Missouri from 5-13 August.
Tylah and his brother Cooper were part of the 2022 Down Under Winter Classic on the Gold Coast earlier this month. They played six games over six days, embracing the competition and improving their skills.
Tylah left a particular impression on the tournament, making the most of his time with the Rockhounds and earning the chance to represent Australia on the international stage. The ambitious junior athlete, who plays Victorian baseball with Geelong Baycats and Guild All-Stars, was thrilled with his selection after seeing lots of different pitchers and making new friends at the winter classic.
“It feels amazing to be selected out of 120 players to represent Australia in the Cal Ripken tournament,” Tylah said. “I’m excited to experience the different level of competition and see how I play against other teams from across the world.”
The young baseballer stood out to his coach for his great attitude towards the game, something he plans to carry with him to the Cal Ripken World Series and back home in time for the summer season.
“I’m working every night on my baseball skills to be ready for the upcoming tournament as we fly out on 28 July,” Tylah said. He added that he loves “meeting new players, learning new skills, and the way baseball makes me feel, which is happy.”
Parents Brenton and Cat Laurie are grateful for this opportunity and loved watching their sons step up to the plate and compete.
“The boys love baseball - it’s a great family sport as you meet new people, get to travel, and there’s opportunities such as these. It’s a wonderful opportunity - we can’t wait for Tylah to take in the experience and just have fun.”