SHOALHAVEN Mariner Stephen Pearson is determined to prove all his hard work is paying off at the NSW Little League State Championships at Macquarie Fields, which got underway Thursday and runs until Sunday.
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The Nowra Anglican student is representing the llawarra little league majors baseball team against the top athletes his age the state has to offer.
“To prepare for this tournament, I trained with Trent D'Antonio, an Australian representative baseball player and Sydney Blue Sox catcher, honing my catching skills,” Pearson said.
“I generally play catcher for by Dapto Chiefs side in the Illawarra junior baseball league but will most likely outfield and pitch during this competition.”
Pearson, 12, first started playing baseball back in 2010, when he attended a Mariners come and try day.
“Ever since I attended the come and try day, I’ve been hooked and love the sport,” he said.
“I now consider myself a hard working athlete, trying to become the best player I can be.
“After school, my dream is to go to America to play college baseball and to hopefully play in the Major Leagues.
“In particular, I’d love to play in San Francisco for my favourite team, the Giants and follow in the footsteps of Buster Posey, who has played in the MLB for nine years and has been part of three World Series Championship squads.”
In 2016, Pearson was also part of the Combined Independent Schools primary boys softball team that competed at the NSW PSSA softball tournament.