By JARROD POTTER
BEACONHILLS College student-athlete Oliver Dunn has a hectic baseball year ahead of him in pursuit of higher ambitions playing the great American pastime.
While he’s represented the state before – playing with Baseball Victoria’s side over five years – Dunn, 16, from Endeavour Hills, has been selected for his first schoolboys’ team and will represent TeamVIC at the Pacific School Games later this year in Adelaide.
“I’m very proud to be selected – I think it’s a good honour to be representing my state once again,” Dunn said.
“First schoolboys’ tournament and it’s a good experience meeting new people and seeing what it’s like to play against people from New Zealand as well.”
He’s a frequent flyer when it comes to his baseball ambitions – having travelled state-side to attend the Cal Ripken World Series and hopes to eventually get back overseas to play NCAA baseball.
He’s also been picked to go to the MLB Australia Academy on the Gold Coast, a proving ground for up-and-coming Australian baseballers including Pakenham’s own MLB-signing Lachlan Madden.
“It’s the first year I’m going up to the Gold Coast academy and the Australian team get picked out of that,” Dunn said.
“I don’t want to say I’m going to make the team, but at the same time you don’t want to count yourself out of it.
Dunn prefers to spend his time in the infield at second base or short-stop but is trying to expand his fielding game into the pitching ranks to give him more avenues into the final roster.
“Just want to try my best to make that team – I think what I want to focus on is broadening my game and being able to pitch so I can be picked for multiple positions – either as a pitcher or an infielder,” Dunn said.
In the meantime Dunn will continue stealing bases and working on his pitching with Waverley Baseball Club, where he currently plays in the side’s firsts’ team.
Dunn will represent SSV at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide from 22-28 November.
