Ebersohn wants a piece of the Aussies
Having represented South Africa at u-18 level against a touring Great Britain team, in August, 2013, Benoni Northerns Indians Ball Club and Minnesota Twins star Rowan Ebersohn will now fly the flag with the senior South African baseball team in Australia, at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers.
The qualifiers, which see South Africa drawn in Pool One, with Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, will take place at Blacktown International Sportspark, in Sydney, from Thursday, February 11, to Sunday, February 14.
The 19-year-old Benonian explained: “It is a qualification tournament that is put in place for countries that want to fight their way and earn a spot into the World Baseball Classics (WBC) in 2017.
“There are four games to be played and the winner of all four gets a spot into the WBC.
When asked what it means to represent his country, Ebersohn said: “It feels really good to know that you are going to be playing for your country and wearing the green and gold that we all strive to achieve.
“I am really blessed and honoured to be a part of this side that will be going to Australia.
“It is an exciting chapter in my life that I want to take full advantage of.”
He told the City Times that he is pleased with the overall selection of the South African squad.
“They [the SA players] are all a great bunch of guys and I know they that they are going to lay it all down on that field when that first pitch is thrown.
“I have no doubt that we stand a great chance of winning this tournament.
“All we need to do is to stand together and work as one and play good ball.
“We are definitely going to have a lot of fun doing it and that is what really counts.”
The Benoni High School old boy spoke of his delight at travelling Down Under to play the game he loves: “I am extremely excited about going to Australia.
“It is a place I have never been before, so I am keen to get out there and experience something new.”
Like any competitive and red-blooded South African sportsperson Ebersohn has his sights set on defeating the Australians.
“I am looking forward to playing against Australia as they have five Twins players in their squad and it will be interesting to see how we all get along on the playing field.
“They have some really good talent that side and it will make for an excellent game.”
He believes that the tournament will give him a good jump-start in terms of playing high-level baseball again before he heads back to the Twins for spring training on March 6.
The South Africans open their qualification campaign against New Zealand on February 11.
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