Ben Aslett is packing his bags – and his baseball gear – to head to Japan after being selected in the Victorian under-12 side.By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills baseballer Ben Aslett is preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime after being selected in the Victorian under-12 squad.
Aslett, 12, will jet to Tokyo on 20 July, where he will spend 13 days with a host family plying his wares against Japanese representative squads.
“(Staying with a Japanese family) might be a bit of a shock, but I’ll get used to it,” the talented infielder said.
“I’m expecting to play tough baseball, have fun and hopefully play well.”
The Japanese trip is an annual event, and this year players born in 1995 were eligible to try out.
“There was a lot of pressure in the long trials, through all three stages,” Aslett said.
“In the first couple of trials it was just skill work, then they would teach us to broaden our knowledge about baseball and they expected us to be better than how we started.”
The trials wound up with a tournament in March, which was played all over Victoria against Japanese teams.
“They’re really good, but I got a fair few hits,” Aslett said.
“In the tournament, I faced probably the quickest pitcher I’ve seen before and you have to try to adjust to it a bit quicker and swing quicker.”
It is exactly this appeal of the sport which attracts Aslett, who plays for the Waverley Wildcats, and continually drives him to be the best he can be.
“I like a challenge, and I’m a competitive person. I’m always looking to improve on everything each year,” he said.
Aslett’s mother Sue, who played softball for Victoria, is thrilled for her son and has seen first-hand the effort he has put into his game.
“We’re very happy,” she said.
“It is something he knew about for a few years, but he had to wait for the right age and he’s worked quite hard for it, so we’re very pleased with the result.”
Baseball is not the only game Aslett has achieved his goals in – he also played in Endeavour Hills Football Club’s under 11 Division One premiership last season.
His training commitments with the state baseball team have prevented him from lacing up the boots this year, but he plans on joining Endeavour Hills on the ground after he returns from Japan.
The football club has got right behind Aslett’s baseball ascension, and recently raised an astonishing $2500 for his overseas jaunt from a trivia and auction night.
“Winning last season was pretty exciting because it was my first premiership,” Aslett said.
“I’ve missed my footy this year, but I’ve had more success in baseball and have played it for longer.”
Competing for Australia and reaching Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States are at the top of Aslett’s wish list, but he understands he has a long way to go.
“That would be pretty awesome. We have Foxtel, so I get to watch some (MLB),” he said.
“They’re exceptional players. (My idol is New York Yankees shortstop) Derek Jeter – he is really good.”
For now, however, Aslett is keeping his focus on the short term and making an impression in Japan.
“I get very excited thinking about what it’s going to be like going overseas because I’ll be doing it for the first time,” he said.
“I’ll hopefully learn more about the game and learn about how another country lives their life.”
