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Pitching prodigy Blake Townsend hopes Australia’s breakthrough efficiency on the world stage will assist encourage a brand new technology of expertise to take up the game.
Key factors:
- Blake Townsend grew up in Traralgon in regional Victoria and is making a reputation for himself in baseball
- Townsend is considered one of 35 Australians enjoying skilled baseball
- Baseball Australia says the game is gaining in recognition
Australia’s shock run on the World Baseball Basic earlier this yr got here to an finish with a 4-3 loss to Cuba within the quarter finals, in what was the group’s finest efficiency on the event.
The group certified for the knockout stage after profitable three of its 4 video games in Pool B, which included a 7-8 upset win over South Korea.
It was a proud second for Townsend, whose alternative of baseball was an unconvential path for a younger athlete rising up within the regional Victorian city of Traralgon, the place soccer, netball, basketball and cricket dominated the sporting calendar.
His love affair with America’s favorite pastime began on the age of 10, when a flyer was dropped at his major college inviting junior gamers to a come-and-try day on the Traralgon Crimson Sox.
“I bear in mind once I was a child throwing a tennis ball round with my dad within the yard, so it was type of straightforward to transition into one thing like baseball,” he mentioned.
Now simply over a decade later, the 21-year-old has already ticked a number of objects off his profession bucket listing.
He mentioned the match in opposition to Japan was his private spotlight, the place he had the chance to pitch in opposition to his idol Shohei Otani, in entrance of a crowd of 41,000.
“It was a surreal expertise,” he mentioned.
“Australia has been checked out as not one of many high groups on this planet, however now I really feel like we confirmed that we belong in that dialog.”
Love of the sport
Baseball grew to become a central focus for the Townsend household as Blake grew to become extra engaged within the sport.
With alternatives to compete in tournaments in Guam, Taiwan and most not too long ago Japan, Blake’s mom Nicki mentioned the household by no means missed a possibility to tag alongside.
“He liked it from the primary time he tried,” she mentioned.
“Holidays for in all probability the final 10 years have all the time been baseball associated, so Blake’s taken us on some nice journeys.
“I really feel we’re a fairly shut household as a result of we have spent so many hours within the automobile travelling to coaching.”
Traralgon Crimson Sox membership president John Kus mentioned he remembered Townsend standing out from the remainder of the junior gamers because of his robust work ethic.
Blake was 14 when he pitched in a senior C grade premiership together with his dad Peter.
It was Kus who first recognized his robust left arm and helped him to develop his expertise as a pitcher.
It put him on a path to representing Australia and led to him signing a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in the US.
Kus mentioned he want to see extra gamers progressing by the system.
“I feel most individuals are very pleased with Blake, he is a really humble particular person and was a really coachable child,” he mentioned.
“There’s a variety of different good Australian children that might progress by the pathways a lot faster than they’d in the event that they have been enjoying soccer or cricket.”
Rising the sport
Baseball Australia chief government officer Glenn Williams mentioned the game had by no means been more healthy.
“We’re Australia’s finest saved secret,” he mentioned.
Williams mentioned there have been greater than 50,000 energetic gamers throughout the nation and participation numbers had grown for the previous 9 years.
There are 35 Australians enjoying baseball professionally, together with Townsend, who mentioned he hoped to see extra children giving the game a crack.
“Any little bit of publicity that we will acquire for the game and attempt to go on the baton to the following technology … it is enormous for the event of baseball in Australia,” he mentioned.
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