Two students from St Francis Xavier College in Berwick, Joel Veugelers (left) and Shane Goodall (right), will represent Victoria at the Australian Softball Championships next January. By Glen AtwellSOFTBALL stars Shane Goodall and Joel Veugelers are going places with their sport.
Both will fly to Western Australia next January to compete in the Australian Softball Championships.
Representing Victoria in the under16 age group, the pair was nominated by their Narre Warren club to attend national tryouts.
“We both play for the Narre Warren Ravens and got to try out for the national team at Waverley Softball Club,” Joel said.
It is the first time both yearnine students at St Francis Xavier College in Berwick will compete at state level.
But both are used to playing under pressure.
“I play in my age group and also in the Bgrade men’s side,” Shane said. “So I’m used to playing highgrade softball.
Joel plays in the under17 side for Narre Warren and in the Agrade men’s side.
Last year, the Narre Warren Ravens beat archrival Berwick in the regular season grand final.
“Berwick are always our main rivals, we beat them 2412. That was great,” Joel said.
On the pitch, Joel plays centre field and shortstop, both pressure positions.
“When I’m playing centre field I have to lead the rest of the outfielders.
“Shortstop is between second and third base, so you have to be on your toes,” Joel said.
Shane plays the important role of catcher and fields near second base.
“I often have to squeeze the batter up, when they are trying to run to the next base.
“It’s hard to stop the fast runners though,” Shane said.
Both boys are excited that softball has recently been included as a sport for the Commonwealth Games.
“It won’t be played at the games next year, but after that it will be in,” Joel said.
During the offseason, Shane and Joel move to the sport of baseball, but admit their hearts rest with softball.
“Baseball is very different, the bats are bigger and the balls are smaller,” Shane said.
“And the pitchers throw the ball at a downward angle, unlike softball where it is pitched upward,” Joel explained.
“But we both prefer softball,” Shane said.
Both agree that softball is exciting, fast game but can be familyoriented.
“Both our families are involved with the sport,” Joel said. “There is a masters’ league for the parents, you can spend the whole day at the club and everyone in the family gets a chance to play.”
The passion for softball runs in both families as both Joel and Shane have sisters representing Victoria.
“My sister Kelly is in the state softball team,” Shane explains.
Taylor, Joel’s sister, is representing Victoria at the state primary school championships.
With a passion to keep progressing through the ranks, the two boys are keen to keep improving their game.
“There is a skins tournament in Queensland, where you play for money,” Joel said.
“The winning team gets about $75,000 and individuals get money for hitting home runs. That would be pretty exciting,” Shane admits.
