Two Tauranga baseball-mad teens are being pitched the opportunity of a lifetime this month – and right here at their home base in Pāpāmoa.

Baseball New Zealand’s National Showcase – an event tailored for ‘best of the best’ young Kiwi athletes aged 15-18 – hits Tauranga on December 7-10.

Tauranga’s Blake Percy and Liam Marshman have been invited by Baseball NZ to be in the thick of it. Both boys are “ecstatic” after discovering their selection.

“It means a lot,” says Liam.

He’s played the sport for two-and-a-half seasons, starting at age 16.

“I really enjoy the challenge and improving every day,” says Liam.

“I’d really like to play professional baseball and go as far as I can with it.”

Exposure 

Liam – who last year played for the under-18 NZ team – says the showcase will be a great way to compare himself to other Kiwi players, and to see how much he’s improved since a July development camp.

“I’m very excited.

"The showcase is a great way to get exposure and show what you can do. So it could help with getting players into colleges in the US.”

Meanwhile Blake hopes to use the opportunity to show his skills to NZ coaches.

“[I want to] show how I play, how I go with other people, and my attitude towards the people and the sport.”

Blake has been playing baseball for six years.

“The hope is to become a professional,” says Blake.

“I’m hoping to make some NZ teams before eventually getting noticed by other countries and playing in Australia or maybe Japan.”

But right now he says it feels amazing to be representing the Bay of Plenty.

“Whenever I see my name down for these camps or teams it’s just incredible.

"I’m really trying to focus in, taking my games and training seriously, and my physical health and strength,” says Blake.

“I’m just trying to be my best self for this.”

Free to watch 

Tauranga City Baseball Club president Roger Marshman says the boys have been identified as the “cream of the crop” locally – hence the invitation.

 “It shows we aren’t any different from players in the bigger cities,” says Liam.

“And even though there isn’t as much baseball here, we can still compete with them.”

Showcase organiser Connar O’Gorman says 25 athletes and eight coaches from across Aotearoa will be in camp.

“Day one is a testing and training day. Days 2, 3 and 4 will be gameplay.

"We’ll play two games on Friday, two games Saturday, and one game Sunday,” says Connar.

“The public is absolutely free to watch,” says Connar.

“The event’s aim is to create more competitive gameplay for these athletes.”

As such, Connar says the showcase will highlight baseball in Tauranga.

“We want to grow and we want baseball to have a strong hold down there.

"It’s great for the community and the local club down there to host this event.”

Baseball New Zealand’s National Showcase is December 7-10 at Gordon Spratt Reserve, Pāpāmoa.