Following the tales of our U18 players at the Australian Youth Championships (AYC), we now highlight our U16 team. With pride, we share the stories of these young athletes who returned with silver medals. Join us as we explore Paddy McLoughlin and Cooper Teichmann’s experiences on the field, providing insight into competition and camaraderie at the national level.
Q&A WITH PADDY MCLOUGHLIN
What position/s did you play during AYC?
I played outfield and pitcher.
Your proudest moment individually or as a team?
I was really proud when my coach put me as starting pitcher against NSW, and I felt like I pitched well for the team. Our proudest moment as a team was when we came back from being 5 runs behind against VIC and we walked it off. Every person in the team played so hard to get the win.
What did you do during the rain delays, did you bond as a team, or did you take the time for some personal reflection/training?
We bonded as a team the whole time at AYC, we all got on really well together. During the rain delays we went to the games room in the hotel and it was also really good hanging out with players from other states. On the last day when finals were rained off the coaches took time with each of us to give feedback on the tournament.
How is playing in a national tournament, different from playing in the Qld state titles?
Nationals are more intense and it’s where you want to play your best baseball. I was really proud to represent my State at Nationals and it’s good that you have scouts watching, it’s a big deal. As I was a second year, it was also good being one of the leaders with the other second year players.
How did you feel when you found out that you were awarded silver?
I wasn’t expecting us to get silver, we were supposed to play in the bronze medal game so it was a surprise when we got silver. We were really happy, but we all would have liked to play finals and win the medal, but it shows you never know what is going to happen in tournament baseball, and how important our first round results were when we battled every game.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on, as an individual or as a team?
I am always working hard to improve my game and it is important to learn from every game. As a team we bonded well and worked well together, it was great how everyone supported each other and encouraged each other, I think we can work on reducing errors in the field, our bats were pretty aggressive so we need to keep that up.
Favourite FUN moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball related).
The baseball was always fun and we had a great time playing, but it was also really fun playing in the games room with the other teams. When we went out for dinner as a team we had a good laugh with the coaches too.
Q&A WITH COOPER TEICHMANN
What position/s did you play during AYC?
Catcher for majority of the tournament and played one game at 3B. I also got to the opportunity to pitch.
Your proudest moment individually or as a team?
Individually was the defensive plays I made against Victoria, throwing out multiple runners in the second round of competition. As a team it was definitely how well we gelled as a team and coming home with a silver medal.
What did you do during the rain delays, did you bond as a team, or did you take the time for some personal reflection/training?
We bonded as a team, the hotel had a common area/gaming room where we could hang out as a team and have some fun. There was some good table tennis competition going on amongst the team.
How is playing in a national tournament, different from playing in the Qld state titles?
The competition was to a higher standard, there were strong teams with a lot of good players from around the country. There was a lot of pride on the line, representing your state and playing for a national title. It was a really good overall experience.
How did you feel when you found out that you were awarded silver?
I was happy that we ended up with silver, but due to the rain it impacted the second round. I would have preferred to play all of the games in the second round and then let the final results determine the medal winners, but I’m really proud we won the silver medal.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on, as an individual or as a team?
Individually I would have liked to get some more hits, but I had good preparation going into the tournament and will continue to work on my hitting from both sides of the plate. As a team I would say to continue to work on how to win the close games and handle pressure situations better.
Favourite FUN moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball related).
Most fun moment was our victory over Victoria in the first round. The way we came from behind to win was really fun. It was a close game with a few lead changes and to win that game meant a lot to the team.
