Naomi Kruh
Staff Writer
While most Mira Costa students spent the week before finals studying, senior Haley Marschall took a trip down under playing softball for South Australia’s Under 19 team.
The tournament the team competed in was the Australian Under 19s Nationals in Brisbane, Queensland which took place from January 17 to the 23. The South Australia team played a total of 13 games and finished the tournament in fourth place.
“Our family is very happy and proud of her,” Marschall’s father Brett Marschall said. “Traveling half way round the world to play with new teammates and pitch so well while managing to complete all of her schoolwork is an amazing accomplishment.”
Marschall’s father, who played for both the South Australia and Australian National baseball team, is from Australia which qualified her for a dual citizenship. Since Marschall has citizenship in Australia, she was eligible for a spot on the South Australia team.
“Playing on the South Australia state team meant a lot to my family,” Marschall said. “South Australia is my dad’s home state and I wanted to represent South Australia like my dad had done before.”
When the Australian Under 19s National Team came to the United States this past August for a tournament, Marschall went to watch. After seeing the team play Marschall thought it would be a good experience to play for Australia and contacted the South Australia coach, Lesley Claxton, to find out if she could try out.
“When her father told me in the beginning stages about the plan and what they were thinking, I told him she would make the team,” Marschall’s travel coach Kostas Marinakis said. “Haley is a blend of drive and desire and has the disciple to act on her talent.”
Marschall was able to try out for the team and made the cut. Prior to competing with the team, Marschall had only ever met her teammates online and had never been to a practice. The first time Marschall met the team and played with them was the day before the first game of the tournament.
“Haley has a lovely personality and it was like she knew the girls and had been playing in the team a long time, rather than for the first time. She listens, will try anything you ask of her, she interacts really well, is encouraging, hardworking and focused on her what she has to do,” Claxton said.
Since Marschall competed in the tournament, she was in the running for a spot on the Australian National U19 team. On February 4, Marschall found out that she had been selected as one of the pitchers for the team.
“I was in shock for the first 24 hours after I found out I made the team,” Marschall said. “I could not believe it. It is such a huge honor to be selected and I am so grateful for the opportunity.”
The first week in July, Marschall will be back in Australia to compete with the Australian National U19 team. While there Marschall will be at a camp where the National team will compete against other teams.
“I am most looking forward to playing on the national team because I will be competing against the best competition in the world,” Marschall said.
After her time with the Australian National U19 team, Marschall will begin her collegiate softball career. Marschall has committed to play Division 1 softball at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee starting this fall.
“She has a drive to win that is in very few kids,” Marinakis said. “She has one of the best game I.Q.’s I have ever coached. It is like having a coach on the field. In my humble opinion simply said she is an All American pitcher at the next level. Not only is she going to be an All American in college, she will also be great in international competition.”
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