Murphy pitches in for Australia

CAPABLE of pitching a baseball at almost one hundred and forty kilometres per hour, Bendigo teenager Marcus Murphy is one of the sport’s rising stars.

Marcus’ prowess has earnt selection in an Australian under-16 team to tour the United States or across Asia this July and August.

The tour is traditionally run across the US, but rising costs have meant the Australian Baseball Federation may opt to play in Asia.

No matter what diamonds he will be on, Marcus is putting in plenty of time on the mound and in the gym.

Part of the build-up to the overseas tour will be the Australian School Baseball Championships which hit off in Perth on April 27.

Victoria’s team includes Marcus Murphy and Strathfieldsaye Dodgers’ Jesse Hando.

A big year for Marcus and Jesse included a silver medal at the Australian Youth Championships in Sydney in January.

Competing in the under-16 category, Marcus threw 60 pitches across 3 2/3 innings and marked the best earned run average of 1.91 for the Big V.

He also reached base at every stint with the bat.

Marcus also starred in the Essendon Senior League 90 tournament where he had 12 strikeouts and stopped all batters reaching first base across four innings.

Baseball is a huge part of the Murphy family’s life with Marcus a third-generation baseballer who has great support from parents Chris and Kellie.

Marcus’ grandfather Pat, and dad, Chris, are life members of Strathfieldsaye Dodgers.

Marcus’ siblings Peter, Brad, Ryan and .Zoe have or continue to play baseball.

Marcus trains twice a week in Melbourne and also does gym workouts at Gurri Wanyaarra in Kangaroo Flat.

There’s also plenty of pitching, batting and throwing on the diamond at Bendigo East Baseball Club’s home at Ken Wust Oval in Quarry Hill.

A long-term goal for Marcus is to be a professional baseballer, whether it be in the US, Japan, Europe, or Australia.

Bendigo East president Kaileb Anglin said the club had launched a junior development fund to support the up-and-coming talent.

Prospective sponsors can assist Marcus by emailing [email protected] or by making a tax-deductible donation to asf.org.au/campaigns/marcus-murphy.