Baseball star set to represent Oz

Andrew Campbell has been selected in the Australian under-19 baseball team to contest the AAA World Baseball Classic in Canada.

Claudia Baxter

LONG touted as a child prodigy, the last year has made a huge difference in the baseball career of Ipswich’s Andrew Campbell.

Campbell is off to Thunder Bay, Canada, with the Australian team to contest the under-19 AAA World Baseball Classic from July 23 to August 1.

“It is probably the first time I’ll get to represent my country properly,” a proud Campbell said.

“I’m pretty stoked.

“It is always good to wear the green and gold.”

Campbell was picked in the national squad of 20 from about 50 of Australia’s best under-19 baseballers, who have been training at the Major League Academy at the Gold Coast.

He has been training and playing at the academy for the past six weeks, with a week remaining before the national team heads to Canada.

“It’s going pretty well,” said the 18-year-old, known to friends as Soupy.

“Better than last year.

“I’ve been hitting better and had a better preparation.

“I’m also bigger and stronger, which is helping me.”

The other thing helping him is the experience he’s gained, through the academy and representing Queensland in last summer’s Claxton Shield.

“There is less pressure,” Campbell said of his head space now, compared to a year ago.

“Under difficult situations, I’m better.

“I’m more confident in the batting box and everywhere.”

It has all helped him qualify for his first Australian representative team since under-13s.

“I was hoping to get picked,” Campbell said of making the Australian team.

“I thought I was an alright chance.

“I had to perform and I think I did.

“I hit a lot better than last year.”

Campbell thinks part of it may be to do with the weaker standard of pitchers at the academy this season, but that may also be more to do with his own development.

The Yamanto teen has high hopes Australia can mix it with the best in Canada.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good chance,” he said.

“We’ve got a good hitting team.

“We had a bloke, an ex-major league manager/coach, who said he thinks we can go far.”

The USA, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Chinese Taipei are expected to provide the stiffest opposition and for Australia to stand any chance, Campbell knows everything will have to go right.

The good news for Ipswich is when Campbell returns from Canada, his focus will shift to the upcoming season with the Musketeers.

Last year Campbell became a key player in the Muskets top line-up and, if his own assessment of his development is to be believed, this year he should be one of the club’s dominant players.