Geelong contingent to aid Mets in quest to glory

SEVEN Geelong baseballers will compete for a chance to reach the Little league World Series later this year but will need to face the best young baseball talent in the country to do so.

The Mets charter, consisting of players from Geelong to Ballarat to Melton and as far east as Newport, will compete in this year’s Australian Intermediate League Championships in Lismore, New South Wales from May 27-31.

Among the team of 14, consists of Geelong Baycats players Christian Papadopoulos, Flynn Scargill, Teal Loone, Max Talpey, George Steer, Cale Morris and Huga Turnley, all eager to help the team reach this year’s Little League World Series in California in late-July.

“I’m 10/10, 100 per cent excited for what the national champs are going to be like,” team pitcher and catcher George Steer said.

“It’s a privilege to go away and represent our state and we also get to play our favourite sport alongside some of our best mates.

“It was also an awesome experience at the State Little League champs to compete against elite-level competition to get to this point.”

The Mets, formulated of players aged 13 and under, overcame all other charters at the State Little league Championships held in Geelong last month and will now need to defeat seven other sides from the other states.

The Mets will need to finish in the top two of group play (two groups of four teams) before winning a semi-final and final to claim the title and the Little League World Series berth.

Mets assistant coach and Geelong Baycats coach Scott Talpey said the group has gelled together really well, which had played a major role in its success.

“In our charter with kids from all over the western region, we excel because we have great coaches situated around it that are committed to making these kids better.

“That’s helped our charter together, as well as having kids who love the sport of baseball and are really good friends.”