By JARROD POTTER
SLUGGING his way into the schoolboys’ baseball squad, Will Day has high hopes for his final time in the state colours.
Day, 17, from Nar Nar Goon North, is in the midst of his final junior baseball year and is ready to crunch a few homers in pursuit of his baseball ambitions.
Every swing and every homer is a step closer for the Beaconhills College Year 12 student to joining an American college and playing NCAA baseball.
Making his way overseas to continue his baseball is all Day is focused on and hopes to earn his ticket with a phenomenal time representing School Sport Victoria.
“It was pretty good – had about three tryouts and they just include their own fundamental parts of each other,” Day said. “Some would focus on hitting, then fielding and as the weeks progressed a few people got cut and it ended up being one team in the end and we came together for a session a few weeks ago to be informed about college.
“Especially what can come from it and how the coach has all the contacts and helps us get into it – that’s what this team is about, which is good for me as that’s what I’m hoping to do long-term after Year 12.”
Day has played a perennial part in the Victorian set-up, having made five teams throughout his time in the state colours.
But unlike previous years, his goals for this year’s tournament, held in Perth in May, are more advanced as he wants to secure a spot on the Australian schoolboys’ roster.
That would earn him his first tour of America later this year and greatly increase his chances of getting into college.
“Hopefully I play well in the tournament, because if I do there’s a chance I can be selected for the Australian team and they go off I’m pretty sure around August for a four-week tour of the US and play a few college teams,” Day said. “That would be really good to help increase my chances of someone seeing me and hopefully getting a scholarship.”
He loves to enter the game at fourth in the roster and usually features in the field from the right or centre field positions.
“I like to be in the four-spot, the power spot to bring everyone home … that’s where you want to be,” Day said.
He’ll be out to slug a few homers this winter season with the Berwick Dodgers, continuing the strong year he had in summer with the Berwick City Cougars as he won the first team’s silver slugger award as well as a junior life membership.
“Pretty good – it (life membership) made me realise that I’ve been in this club for a fair while, as it’s gone pretty quick,” Day said. “It was good to also get the ones’ silver slugger as well – wasn’t really expecting that either.”
Day wanted to thank his parents, his girlfriend Caitlin and his coaches Dan Betreen and John O’Conner for their support.
