The Victorian Under 18 Development Squad received their caps on Friday night at Melbourne Ballpark before the Aces game. After weeks of dedicated training, these baseballers will travel to Taiwan to compete in the New Taipei City International U18 Baseball Invitational Tournament from 12-22 December.
It's a great opportunity for our young athletes to develop their skills on the global stage, represent Victoria with pride, and immerse themselves in a unique cultural and sporting environment, playing against teams from around Asia.
Good luck everyone! Keep reading to meet the squad below.
Alexandros Papadopoulos
Alexandros plays right field and first base with Geelong and cheers on the Cardinals in the MLB. Throughout his 10 years playing, he has looked up to his brother and teammates, and hopes to hit over .300 and contribute well to the team in Taiwan. His love of the game has brought him many awesome moments. "My favourite baseball memory is hitting a walk-off double to secure our spot in the finals."
Angus Saggers
The Melbourne pitcher/utility has been playing for nine years and lists Mookie Betts as his baseball role model. He's looking forward to the Taiwan competition and says "winning the state championships in Geelong" is a favourite baseball memory. His fun fact? He named his dog after the 2024 and 2025 World Series Champions and his MLB team (LA Dodgers)
Bailey Stewart
Bailey from Blackburn has spent the last eight years playing ball and names Mookie Betts as his role model. The Red Sox are his MLB team and Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani is his walk-up song. His goals for Taiwan are to "have fun, play hard, and be a good teammate".
Brodie Trevean
Brodie from Waverley cheers for the San Francisco Giants and has spent the last 10 years enjoying baseball, looking up to his dad in the sport. Clarity by Zedd is his walk-up song, and sport and rec is his favourite subject in school. Brodie wants to play well and enjoy the experience with his team. He has fond memories of another representative opportunity: "making the U16 Australian baseball team".
Declan Marshall
With nine years of baseball under his belt, Declan has many fond memories, including winning state champs two years in a row and getting to travel with his friends. The Blackburn player looks up to MLB star Paul Skenes and cheers for the Red Sox. His goals for Taiwan? "Improve my skills and build new and better friendships."
Declan Tayler
Declan plays shortstop and centre field with Blackburn and is proud to have played for the same club his whole life (11 years). The San Diego Padres are his MLB team and his dad is his baseball role model. Hitting over .250 and making no errors are his top goals for Taiwan. His favourite baseball memory? "Making my 1's debut."
Ethan Kent
Ethan joins several of his teammates as a Padres fan, and even lived in America for a year. He's been playing for five years and looks up to Fernando Tatis Jr. So far in his baseball journey, winning state and going to nationals stands out as his favorite memory. As he heads to Taiwan, he wants to "bat well, win, and have fun".
Jarvis Johansen
Jarvis, known as "Jarvo" to his teammates, has been playing ball for 13 years and credits his dad, Jackson Burton, and Alex Smith as baseball role models. Sandlot Kids is his favourite movie and he cheers for the Seattle Mariners. Jarvis says his best baseball memory is winning the 2021 Little League State Championships with the Southern Mariners and making the final out. His goals for the Taiwan trip are "to make new mates, meet coaches, learn, and take on new advice."
Jax Clarke
Jax, who played with Jarvis on the 2021 Mariners State Champions team, has played for seven years and lists Bobby Witt Jr. as his role model. The Yankees fan shared his fun fact that he can solve a Rubik's Cube, and has clear goals in mind for the Taiwan trip: "play my best and enjoy time playing with my mates".
Jesus Camacho
Jesus started playing at 12 years old and credits Ronald Acuña Jr. as a source of inspiration. One of his favourite memories is playing in a Japan tournament facing very skilled and dedicated players. The Atlanta Braves are his MLB team. Looking ahead to Taiwan, his goals are "to learn from the competition and play to the best of my capabilities".
Kycen Dowling
"Kyc" is a Doncaster infielder and pitcher who has played for eight years and looks up to Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers fan lists his best baseball memory as hitting a walk-off double with the bases loaded at nationals, and his fun fact as having broken his collarbone before. As for Taiwan? "My goals for the tournament are to compete well and hit at least .300."
Liam Coster
This won't be Liam's first time overseas, as he's previously played in Japan. He pitches and plays second base for Essendon and lists Shohei Ohtani as his baseball role model. With 12 years of baseball in the books, this Angels fan is eager to further develop his skills and face good competition on the upcoming trip.
Matthew Fielden
Matthew is a Moorabbin catcher and utility player who looks up to Alejandro Kirk and has been playing since he was six or seven. The St. Louis Cardinals fan wants to play at his highest level in Taiwan. As for his favourite baseball memory, it's a sweet one: "playing with my dad". Outside of baseball, he does car detailing.
Oliver Bergin
Oliver, otherwise known as "OBI", has played for 12 years and lists Scotty Meager as his baseball role model. Hitting a home run at SSV is this Williamstown player's highlight, and he's proud to be a third-year Wolf. The Los Angeles Angels fan picks 24K Magic by Bruno Mars as his walk-up song and is eager to "hit the ball consistently and hard" during the Taiwan trip.
Takuto Kawase
Takuto, known as TK, plays at Waverley as a pitcher and right fielder. Shohei Ohtani is his baseball role model, and he was born and raised in Japan until Year 7. He also lived in LA for three years and is a Dodgers fan. The Greatest Show is his walk-up song and throwing his first no-hitter in Year 7 is a core memory for him. Takuto's goals for the tournament are to "face high-level competition and develop my skills, especially pitching".
Tanner Godenzi
Baseball is part of life for the Godenzi family, as Tanner looks up to his dad as a baseball role model, and his favorite memory is almost putting a pitch from him over the fence. Tanner started playing at age six, and now 10 years later, the Padres fan is hoping to have fun and win at the U18 Invitational in Taiwan.
William Ferguson
Will is a big fan of Freddie Freeman and the Boston Red Sox. This won't be his first time heading overseas for baseball, as one of his best memories is playing a tournament in America. The Moorabbin Panther has played for five years and has a goal to get four hits during his time in Taiwan.
Head Coach David Hargreaves
Coach Hargreaves has been involved in baseball for over 50 years, and he credits Lyn Straw as his baseball role model. As for his favorite baseball memory, there are too many to list: "many years in state programs watching my sons play every game". The Dodgers fan coached two MLB players in U14 State Teams - Justin Huber and Brad Harman.
He's excited for this tournament as a learning opportunity for all involved. "Each athlete has succeeded in improving an aspect of their game."
Executive Officer Michelle Coote
"Cootsy" as she is known in baseball land has EO'd, coached, and scored. For the proud LA Dodgers fan, her favourite baseball memory is winning an undefeated season with the U15 winter side she coached. This will be her first time overseas, and she has a few goals for the trip. "I want to make sure the team have an amazing experience and play well. We will make new connections and enjoy the culture of Taiwan."