Baseball star Matt Chilcott is pitching his way towards an international career.MATT Chilcott will be warming up his pitching arm during the next few weeks in preparation for Baseball Victoria’s second Friendship Series to be played on Queensland’s Gold Coast in June.
Twelve-year-old Matt was selected from 120 young hopefuls to join the under 12 Kangaroo Development Squad that played in the recent International Friendship Series against visiting teams from Japan, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales.
Matt began his baseball career at the age of six in the junior-level tee-ball competition and moved into baseball the following year. He now plays for Berwick City Cougars’ under 14 team and he also played for the Dandenong and District Baseball Club team that won last year’s metropolitan tournament. Matt hopes his love of the game will one day take him to the homeland of his baseball hero, New York Yankees’ star, Derek Jeter.
“I’d love to play in America,” he said.
“Australian players have been very successful in the US Majors and in the college system.”
Matt’s favourite position is pitcher, but he also plays at second base and shortstop and has had success with the bat.
“Pitching is my favourite, but shortstop is my best position and last year my batting average was .683,” he said.
Matt will travel to the Gold Coast in June to compete in another Friendship Series, after which he will return to his club games.
“I’ll keep trying out for different tournaments and other age groups – even under 23s – to see how far I can go,” he said.
