|
The “Friendship Series” tour of Osaka,
Japan from 1st to 8th August 2003 gave fourteen boys the
experience of a lifetime.
Team members were: Michael Agostino,
Matthew Bennett, Shaun Compton, Josh Griffiths, Mark
Hern, Ben Lucas, Luke McDermott, Mitchell Rowe, Kerrod
Rymer, Aaron Soo-Kee, Daniel Swanson, Luke Tossell, Mark
Trau, Todd Van Steensel with coaches Gary Hayes and
Michael O’Neill and myself Gus Mould as Manager.
There were baseball games against the
Noda Fighters and the Nishi Fighters, Chiyozaki Strong
and a combined team from Osaka prior to games at
Toyonaka against Harada and Sieshonen. They were all
very competitive and exciting. The Japanese running game
and their discipline were a real eye-opener to our boys
who experienced the real hustle of baseball for the
first time.
Coaches Hayes and O’Neill did a great
job with the boys—sharing the boys game time
participation. Rotating the players was crucial when we
were playing so many games in a short time in very high
temperatures. Mrs Barnier accompanied the team for the
first few days before going on to Tokyo to the Under 16
team activities.
The boys feet never really touched the
ground—there was activity upon activity. The baseball
games almost played second fiddle to the off-field
functions. There was a Mayoral reception and a cruise on
the busy Osaka Harbour on the Mayor’s private launch. We
attended a massive fireworks display on the river to
welcome the start of the Summer Festival. Visits to the
shopping mall and the aquarium were followed by the
highlight for the boys—bus trips to the Mizuno Factory
and to Universal Studios. Not to mention Welsome
Functions, Farewell Functions and Teriyaki burgers at
McDonalds.
The food, the culture, the attention and
the love from the billeting families made this an
unforgettable tour and experience for the boys.
The abounding values of such a tour and
the experience for our boys at this age are invaluable.
I know that the memories and benefits of the experience
will go with them into adulthood.
Angus Mould
Manager NSWJBL Under 13 Touring team. |
