By Esther Lauaki
Three Wyndham teens are taking a run at the bigtime after they were named in the Australian under-16s softball squad.
Hoppers Crossing’s Jye Robinson and brothers Jack and Troy Hotere-Moana head to New Zealand in April with the national side.
Jack and Jye will then compete in the International Friendship Series in Queensland in July.
The teens play for Deer Park Softball club in the Western Force zone, which comprises teams from Werribee, Sunshine and Geelong.
Troy said he started playing softball to keep him busy during the rugby off-season.
The 14-year-old said he felt “honoured” to be named in the Aussie Diamonds squad.
I made it for under-14s last year but I didn’t actually go so this would be my first time actually playing internationally,” he said.
Pitcher Jack, 15, has been playing for nearly six years and is happy to progress to a national team.
“I play for fun and try to improve so I could make better teams in the future,” he said.
This year will be the second season in the green and gold for Jye who has been playing since he was nine.
“My love for softball has come from my mum who has also played since she was nine and that’s how I joined the sport,” Jye said.
“I am honored to play for Australia in the up and coming Friendship series in July it’s a great stepping stone to further my softball… I’m looking forward to learning new things about my game.”
