A Rising Baseball Star Shines in NSW

Ali, a talented Year 5 student, recently represented our school at the prestigious 2023 Australian Little League Division II Championship for baseball held in Blacktown, Sydney. I had the privilege to sit down with Ali and hear about his incredible experience on the diamond.

Enjoy below the full interview where we will get an inside look into Ali's remarkable baseball journey.

Hola Ali. Why did you go to NSW at the beginning of June? 

Hola Raúl, I went to NSW to represent Victoria in the 2023 Australian Little League Division II Championship in Baseball.

How many kids were there in the team?

About 13 kids.  

Was it your first time playing this tournament? 

Yes, it was the first time.

How many games did you play? 

We played about 8 games in 6 days, and we won the last two. 

Where were the other teams from? 

They were from other states in Australia. There were some teams from New South Wales, some other from Queensland and Western Australia too. 

Would you like to sharing with Newlands community a few things you really enjoyed and you will remember forever?

Definitely the atmosphere in each of our games. There were so many people around. Also getting to know my teammates and their personalities. That was fantastic. Another thing I will always remember is the enjoyment I had during the tournament. I had so much fun with my teammates. 

What would you say to your friends in Newlands to encourage them to do more physical activity and exercise?

I always tell them that doing sport and exercise is one of the best ways to enjoy life. Being active, having fun with friends and getting to know new people is fun. At the same time you are keeping your body healthy. 

Do you have enough opportunities to be active when you come to school?

Definitely. I really enjoy playing with friends in recess and participate in PE classes. I really like trying different sports and get better at new skills. 

Any other highlights from the tournament you would like to share?

Yes. Our games were recorded and it was great to see me on the screen. I have watched myself a couple of times already. It was actually funny because the commentator pronounced my surname in a wrong way. 

Raúl - Health and PE teacher