Softball Australia has announced its National Team roster for the upcoming WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup, to be staged at Nafaldo Cargnel Stadium in Parana, Argentina. The team will participate in a pre-tournament camp in Canberra in October, before travelling to Argentina.
“We are quietly confident this team can contend for success at the World Cup,” Head Coach Dave Metekingi said. “Our hitting and pitching are impressive, and our defence is a particularly strong. We are ranked fourth behind Argentina, Japan, and Canada, and being an underdog takes the pressure off and allows us to play with freedom.”
The roster is:
- Jack BESGROVE
- Layton REID
- Joshua HARDING
- Jeremy GARLAND
- Jack BURT
- Riley JAMES
- Tyler KELLY
- Shannon GOFFER
- Matthew HARROW
- Ryan KING
- Thomas CASS
- Cameron WHITE
- Ashlee GOFFER
- Michael LUDKIN
- Keenan SMITH
- Hayden SHAW
No less than nine of the selected players have previous WBSC World Cup experience, led by Queensland trio Riley James, Michael Ludkin, and Layton Reid, who will all be participating in their third WBSC World Cup.
Jack Besgrove, Tyler Kelly, Matthew Harrow, Ryan King, Keenan Smith, Jeremy Garland and Hayden Shaw have also represented Junior Steelers at previous World Cup events.
Australia won the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 and was runner-up in the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2022.
