The nine SA baseball young guns selected for the U18 Australia squad revealed
The U18 Australian baseball squad has been selected for 2024, with a number of rising SA stars making the cut. See the local young guns who will be representing the country this year.
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The Australian U18 baseball squad has been selected for 2024, with a number of SA young guns making the cut ahead of a tour to the US.
Here are the nine rising local stars who could be representing the nation this year.
ZACH ALTAMURA
(Sturt)
A skilled second baseman who is beginning to put himself on the map for his club and state and could now represent Australia.
Altamura was a standout at last year’s Australian Youth Championships, producing consistently as a reliable batter, and was part of Australia’s U18s World Cup camp.
Also an Invitee for the Arizona Fall Classic, an event for the sport’s brightest young prospects.
WILL COUZNER
(East Torrens)
A talented right-handed pitcher who plays division one baseball for East Torrens.
Couzner’s performances for his club and state have made him one of the top right-hand pitchers in SA and he has also attended an U16 AIS camp as a prospective U18 team member and will now have his chance to represent Australia.
BEN GANLEY
(Adelaide)
Current catcher for the silver medallist U18 Australian Youth Championships SA team, Ganley is another player who could make a college debut in the USA in the coming years.
Ganley has also been a standout for the Adelaide Baseball Club this season, displaying strong smarts and reflexes behind the plate.
TYLER HOWARTH
(Goodwood)
One of SA’s most talented up and coming pitchers, Howarth’s big 2023-2024 season has set him up for a bright future.
An AIS representative and a prospective World Cup player, Howarth had a dominant Australian Youth Championships with SA.
He pitched five scoreless innings against NSW at the championships.
AIDEN LUCAS
(East Torrens)
A talented batter who has performed on the big stage for SA a number of times.
Lucas has a habit of coming up clutch at the plate and has improved each season.
He will now have an opportunity to represent the Green and Gold.
FLYNN MCKEE
(Port Adelaide)
McKee won the U18s Golden Bat as the top offensive performer in all of Australia at the Australian Youth Championships, a feat which came as no surprise to teammates and coaches.
The 17-year-old has been a force for Port Adelaide in division one of the state league and will be a sure-fire selection for future Australian sides if he maintains his form.
Should also play college in the USA in the future.
NICK PAPARELLA
(Southern Districts)
Another U18s World Cup representative in Taiwan last year, Paparella recently made his ABL debut with the Adelaide Giants.
A talented infielder who can do major damage as a hitter, the SA star was a leader of the state’s Australian Youth Championships side.
Paparella looks set to be a future pro player and has hopes of signing a professional contract in the near future.
ALISTAIR TANNER
(Kensington)
A star 17-year-old pitcher out of the Kensington Baseball Club, Tanner recently committed to playing college baseball for Arizona State, one of the USA’s top schools for the sport.
He was also an U18s World Cup representative in Taiwan.
Also on the Adelaide Giants roster, Tanner has emerged as a dangerous and impactful player on the mound, with his fastball touching 94mph.
CONNOR YEATMAN
(East Torrens)
Younger brother of one of SA’s most exciting prospects, Riley Yeatman, Connor has established himself as another one to watch after starring pitching performances at the Australian Youth Championships.
Yeatman has the potential to play at the collegiate level and is a current division one pitcher for East Torrens.
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