Little Legends: We unveil our first weekly winner who will receive $100 thanks to Fairmont Homes

We’ve received dozens of worthy nominations in the first week of our Little Legends campaign. Here we celebrate some and announce the first $100 winner.

Do you know a little legend of SA sport? Nominate them today.

There is no shortage of impressive young sportspeople across South Australia, if the response to the Sunday Mail’s newly-launched Little Legend campaign is anything to go by.

We received dozens of worthy nominations in the first week of the campaign aimed to celebrate kids’ sport, being generously supported by Fairmont Homes Group.

An initial 25 finalists have been chosen as part of an online gallery with many more to be added in the coming weeks.

The entrants are as varied as the young sportspeople themselves, celebrating incredible skills as well as grit, determination and resilience – but overwhelmingly, for all, it is a love of the game they play that shines through most.

Elodie de Wit, 12, from the Adelaide Harriers Amateur Athletic Club shows that age and size doesn't matter when you're a runner. Determination and grit is everything. Picture supplied.

Take for example, 15-year-old Cooper Searle who didn’t give up on his dream to join Adelaide Cricket Club as a spin bowler and made it into the team only after his third trial.

He went on to be named man-of-the-match at his debut due to a wicket haul of seven across two innings.

Or young runner Elodie de Wit, 12, from Adelaide Harriers Amateur Athletic Club gallantly striding it out against runners almost twice his height.

There is Alesha Placanica, 10, from Clovercrest Swimming Club who has become the fastest state 10-year-old in breaststroke just months after joining the club.

Alesha Placanica, 10, from Clovercrest Swimming Club has become the fastest state 10 year old in breaststroke, months after joining club. Picture supplied.

And Hope Valley Football Club’s Brody Wilson, 12, who as captain of his U12’s footy team led the side undefeated to the grand final last season, kicking a spectacular goal in the final moments to secure a one point win.

A star in the making is Brody Wilson, 12, from Hope Valley Football Club who captained his U12s Footy team undefeated into last season’s grand final. Picture supplied.

There is young soccer player Adam Pivato, 9, from the North Eastern MetroStars Soccer Club, too, who scored a match-winning goal in the sport he “lives and breathes”.

And aspiring batter Jaanav Alwarappan, 10, from the Glenunga Rockets Cricket who made 371 runs in his most recent season of cricket.

But a judging panel favourite was Mila Kane, 7, from Seacliff School, captured shooting for her first-ever school goal as her anxious little teammates watched on.

And Jack Briggs, 8, from Reynella Cricket Club who was snapped in a quintessential image of a young cricketer practising at home.

Jack Briggs, 8, from Reynella Cricket Club practises his strokes at home. Picture supplied.

Jaanav Alwarappan, 10, from Glenunga Rockets Cricket Club top scored with 371 runs from 15 matches this season. Picture supplied.

While fourth-generation player at West Torrens Baseball Club Jackson Chadbourne-Jones, 9, playing in the same colours his late grandfather and great-grandfather, also warmed hearts.

Keep the nominations coming in, the goal is to capture the milestone moments as well as the everyday proud parent ones.

If your nomination doesn’t appear immediately it may be included as part of subsequent finalist galleries, so keep an eye on the Sunday Mail/The Advertiser website at Adelaide.now.

The looks on the faces of the teammates of Mila Kane, 7, from Seacliff School as she shoots for her first goal at school is priceless. Picture supplied.

This week’s Fairmont Homes Little Legend is:

Jackson Chadbourne-Jones, 9, from West Torrens Baseball Club has been named this week’s ‘little legend’. The fourth generation player is proud to play in the club colours of his late grandfather and great grandfather. Picture supplied..

For fourth generation young baseballer Jackson Chadbourne-Jones, winning his first grand final this month in the same colours his forefathers wore was “pretty cool”.

The 9-year-old’s late grandfather, Barry Jones, and great-grandfather Lyle, were each proud life members of the West Torrens Baseball Club – mum Trisha is a current player.

He says playing for the club his family has before him makes him feel more connected to them.

As for the recent win? “I was very excited with how well our pitchers played, as well as our fielders and batters,” he says.

He admits he was a little nervous ahead of the big game after being hit in the face by a ball two weeks earlier, leaving him with a bruised cheek and black eye.

Jackson is this week’s $100 winner.

Know a little sporting legend? Nominate here: