A MVP performance at the national titles has earned Mildura young gun Ollie Hayes a place on the Australian baseball team.
The 15-year-old starred as a pitcher and short stop for South Australia during January’s Baseball Australia Youth Championships, and as a result has been selected for the national under-16 team set to tour overseas later in the year.
His squad were set to compete at the 16 and under World Wood Bat Association National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, in July, however that may become a different tour with the final destination to be confirmed.
The performances from Hayes, a junior from Wanderers Baseball Club in Sunraysia, had a huge say in SA going undefeated across their nine games for the tournament.
According to Baseball Australia, he hit .435 for South Australia and led the team in runs batted in (RBI), delivering clutch hits throughout the tournament, while in the field, he made just one error while playing mostly shortstop and helped turn two double plays.
Hayes also pitched nine innings (second on the team) allowing four runs and was used in big spots.
“We were coming in as the oldest team in the tournament and we had a pretty good chance of coming in the top three, but as soon as the first game finished we knew we had a really good chance of winning and that’s what happened,” Hayes said.
“I was very surprised to win the MVP but I did feel good. I split my time probably half-and-half at pitcher and short stop.
“I never thought I would get the opportunity to be named for Australia, during the tournament was the first time I thought about it.”
Hayes and his family have gained intimate knowledge of each stretch of road between Mildura and Adelaide as the up-and-comer played out the entire summer season for Woodville Senators in the South Australian Baseball League.
His selection for the state added weeknight training sessions to games every weekend, but the hard work has paid off.
The right-hander said he is excited to wear the green and gold.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
“There’s so many people who have supported and coached to this point, Dad, Mum, my brother and all the coaches, Nick (Carrol) and everyone whose helped me.
“I’d love to go to College for baseball, that’s the big aim from here.”
The Hayes family are looking for potential sponsors to help fund the trip later in the year.
The new Sunraysia Baseball Association season begins in May with player registrations still open.
