As the dust settles on the exhilarating Australian Youth Championships (AYC) held this past January, we take a moment to delve into the personal journeys and experiences of two remarkable players, Liam Kiddle and Lachlan Jones. From nail-biting games to rain-soaked delays, their insights offer a captivating glimpse into the highs and challenges of competing at a national level.
Q&A WITH Liam kiddle
What position/s did you play during AYC?
I played rightfield.
Your proudest moment individually or as a team?
I was proud of the group when we came back against a big lead against Western Australia and put together a good effort to tie the game after being down 4 runs in the last inning.
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?
There was plenty of time for both. I enjoyed getting to know some of the guys that I had played against but hadn’t previously spent much time with. I also used the time for preparation, it’s a good opportunity to get into a good headspace and get locked in. I used these times to relax and visualise.
How is playing in a national tournament, different from playing in the Qld state titles?
It’s very different as you’re playing at a much higher level. The competition is harder, the stakes are higher and the games tend to be a lot tighter. It’s so much fun.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on, as an individual or as a team?
Collectively the team didn’t execute in big moments. There were some snippets of it however we struggled to come through in those big moments with runners on base. Personally there’s always a lot to work on. Defensively I have spent more time as a corner infielder, so there is a lot I’m still working on to become the best outfielder I can be.
Favourite FUN moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball related).
A big moment for me which was a lot of fun was the triple I hit against WA to tie the game down to our final strike. The energy was good.
Thank you
I would like to thank the coaches for the time and work they put in with us.
Q&A WITH LACHLAN JONES
What position/s did you play during AYC?
My position was catcher, I also played a game as a first baseman.
Your proudest moment individually or as a team?
My proudest moment was when the team was down against WA. After already playing a game in the afternoon, the boys were down by three runs going into the last inning and we managed to claw our way back and tie it up in the pouring rain! The fellas were scrambling to get tarps on and off the field just so we could keep our momentum rolling, which is something you don’t see every day from a group of under-18-year-olds.
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?
During the rainy days we were given some options of what we wanted to do, go see a movie, shopping, etc. I used this time to try and relax and recover in case we were going to be able to get back out on the field and just enjoy being around the boys for the time we had left. I also used the time to get some holiday study done.
How is playing in a national tournament, different from playing in the Qld state titles?
Playing in a National tournament is a lot different playing environment, it turns up the intensity and the speed of the game. You have a lot more eyes on you all of the time and the expectations increase big time. But the pride factor is definitely something for me that doesn’t change whenever I am playing it’s with a purpose and that’s not to let my people, club, or state down, I want to give it my all, all of the time.
From your AYC experience, what do you think you could work on, as an individual or as a team?
As a team, what we can definitely improve on as a whole, is having that one same goal, to win a national championship! I felt like that was lost in Sydney and there were times when the individual goals of players may not have always aligned with the team’s goal. Also learning or understanding how to block out the distractions, sure, having scouts watch is great and exciting, but being able to learn to block them out and just show up as a team, stay present and keep focused on the common goal.
Favourite FUN moment from the whole experience (it doesn’t have to be baseball related).
Favourite FUN moment for me was on one of the rainy days. We got to use a function room at the hotel, which had all sorts of games and fun stuff to do to keep us occupied and enjoy ourselves.
