Orange softball is making waves.
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Three players from the Orange District Softball Association have been named in National squads while a third will be taking part in an international development tour next month.
Finley Gutherson has been named in the Aussie Diamonds squad for a development tour of New Zealand in April, while fellow Orange Softball Association players Ky Hurst and Caden Keed and Jack Besgrove have been named in the under-15 and under-17 Australian squads respectively.
Gutherson is one of 33 heading on an eight-day tour of New Zealand, which will culminate in taking part in a tournament in Auckland from April 19-22.
I've never done that before so it should be pretty cool.
- Finley Gutherson on travelling to New Zealand
Hurst will be taking part in an International Friendship Series in Queensland in July, joining a 30-strong squad in camp from July 5-7 before the tournament takes place from July 8-12.
Meanwhile Keed and Besgrove was one of 30 named to tour New Zealand in April, with that side used to help determine the 16-man Under-23 Men's National Softball Championships, and the junior World Cup squad in 2020.
"I'm pretty excited," Gutherson said of the upcoming trip during the school holidays.
He played for NSW Country in Nationals at Canberra early this year, with his side topping off both other NSW sides before being knocked out in the semi-finals by Queensland.
He was able to pick up a bunch of new tips and tricks through the huge number of coaches and national players at the event, which included a talk by the Australian men's squad.
"I learnt a bunch about how to bat better and a bunch of fielding tips, such as how to stay down on the ball more on the dirt diamond."
He said he was looking forward to travelling internationally to play sport.
"I've never done that before so it should be pretty cool," Gutherson said.
Gutherson and Besgrove both play for the Cardinals in Orange, and the club is organising a trivia night on Saturday night to raise money for the two boys' travel expenses at Forest Reefs Tavern.
Orange Football Association's Lisa Tracey said it was great to see the players rewarded.
"It shows all the hard work they've put in and that's paid off," Tracey said.
"We're all really proud of them."
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
