Matthew Fielding is an avid cricket player but when he turned his hand to softball he discovered he is also a talented softball player. Matthew has just been selected in the Sunshine Coast 12 Boys’ Softball team to compete at the Qld State School Championships in Ipswich in mid-September.

Matthew enjoyed and excelled in the Interschool Softball competition and then trialled for the Glasshouse District team. He recently competed at the Sunshine Coast Regional Carnival where his Glasshouse team were unbeaten in all the round games.

They played Nambour in the final in a very close, low scoring and exciting game with both teams pitching and fielding brilliantly to stop any home runs being scored. Nambour were leading 1 – 0 until the fourth innings when Sunshine Coast scored 9 home with just 10 minutes remaining in the game. Glasshouse sent Nambour in to bat and needed to get them out to complete the innings before the time was up so their 9 runs would be counted. Unfortunately, the innings was not completed and Nambour won the game and final 1 – 0.

Matthew pitched, fielded and batted really well for the team and this ability gained the selectors’ attention. He learned so much about playing softball at a very high level and loved the tactical knowledge he gained from this experience.

Matthew is excited about representing the Sunshine Coast at the State Championships. He is the fifth Year 6 student to compete at State Championships this year which is a record for GCC. Matthew still has the regional cricket trials to look forward to so is hoping to impress the selectors in cricket also.

Wendy Stott