The Boksburg Cardinals trio of Daniel Moolman, Rylee Greyvenstein and Jordan Visser have spoken of their excitement, relief and determination after earning the opportunity to represent South Africa at the WBSC U15 Baseball World Cup in Mexico later this year.

The players were named in the 20-man national squad for the global showpiece, which takes place in Mérida from September 25 to October 4.

Moolman and Greyvenstein are part of the travelling squad, while Visser has been selected as one of two non-travelling reserves.

South Africa has been drawn in a daunting Group A alongside baseball powerhouses the Dominican Republic, Japan, Cuba, hosts Mexico and Germany.

After months of gruelling training, sacrifices and countless hours on the road, Moolman said wearing the green and gold is the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

“This is a dream come true for all the boys here and me. It really shows that all the hard work has paid off. Ever since you’re a little kid, you dream of playing for South Africa and showing the world what you can do,” he said.

The 15-year-old CBC Boksburg learner has been playing baseball for about 10 years after starting in the U10 division alongside close friend Greyvenstein. He believes the sport has shaped him both on and off the field.

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“I’ve loved the game ever since I was a child. Baseball has really moulded me into the person I am today.”

Greyvenstein, also 15, described his national selection as the reward for years of perseverance after falling short on previous occasions.

“It means a lot. I’ve tried for many years to get to this point, and finally putting on the South African jersey and representing our country is huge. The jersey is heavy, but we’ve worked really hard to get here, and we’ll represent the country with pride,” he said.

He added that standing for the national anthem before taking to the diamond in Mexico will be one of the proudest moments of his life.

“It will mean that I finally achieved something I’ve always wanted. It’s another dream come true.”

Although he’s a non-travelling reserve alongside Reece George, Visser remains grateful for the recognition after seven years in the sport.

“I love baseball because of the friendships I’ve made and how much I’ve grown as a player. A lot of hard work has gone into getting to this level,” he said.

The 15-year-old hopes the tournament will also open doors for his future ambitions.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to impress scouts if they are there. My dream is to study and continue playing baseball in America one day.”

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