Softball Australia is pleased to announce the sixteen (16) athletes selected to compete at the 2022 WBSC Under 23 Men's World Cup in Argentina from 22-30 October this year. 

Congratulations to the following players on their selection: 

1. Jack BESGROVE (NSW) 

2. Layton REID (QLD) 

3. Joshua HARDING (QLD) 

4. Jeremy GARLAND (NSW) 

5. Jack BURT (WA) 

6. Riley JAMES (QLD) 

7. Tyler KELLY (NSW) 

8. Shannon GOFFER (QLD) 

9. Matthew HARROW (ACT) 

10. Ryan KING (NSW) 

11. Thomas CASS (NSW) 

12. Cameron WHITE (QLD) 

13. Ashlee GOFFER (QLD) 

14. Michael LUDKIN (QLD) 

15. Keenan SMITH (QLD) 

16. Hayden SHAW (NSW) 

No less than nine of the selected players have previous WBSC World Cup experience, led by Queensland trio Riley James, Michael Ludkin, and Layton Reid, who will all be participating in their third WBSC World Cup. 

Jack Besgrove, Tyler Kelly, Matthew Harrow, Ryan King, Keenan Smith, Jeremy Garland, and Hayden Shaw have also represented Junior Steelers at previous World Cup events. 

Head Coach Dave Metekingi said, “We are quietly confident this team can contend for success at the World Cup. Our hitting and pitching are impressive, and our defence is a particularly strong. We are ranked 4th behind Argentina, Japan, and Canada, and being an underdog takes the pressure off and allows us to play with freedom.” 

Softball Australia CEO Rosie Williams OBE congratulated the team on their selection, and added, “Representing Australia in a World Cup is the pinnacle of what many athletes can achieve, so each player should be immensely proud of their selection. We are 100 percent behind our first-ever Men’s Under 23 World Cup Team, and I’m genuinely looking forward to watching them take on the world’s best in Argentina.”

The team will now participate in a pre-tournament camp in Canberra at the AIS in October, before travelling to Argentina for the World Cup.