By JARROD POTTER
TRADING Noble Park for New Zealand, junior slugger Mohi Kahui will take the field at the upcoming IBAF 15U World Baseball Championships.
Earning his inaugural Diamondblacks jersey, Kahui, 14, from Noble Park was one of 20 players selected in the final under-15 side for the championships, held in Japan this August.
Kahui admitted it was pretty exciting to get his chance to play for his homeland and show what he’s capable of in the black and silver strip.
“Going to be playing for New Zealand and we’re going to Fukushima,” Kahui said.
“Had to go to New Zealand and try out for the team – it wasn’t too bad.
“It was a bit different – most of the boys that were at the trials had played softball instead of baseball and didn’t know how to play properly, so I tried to help them out as well.”
As a bit of a baseball all-rounder, Kahui loves to rattle off the fast balls but is just as happy fielding at second base or short-stop.
To improve his batting Kahui has undertaken a rigorous practice schedule – striking 200 pitches a day to ensure he would be up to standard at the championships.
His Diamondblacks will take on the likes of Australia, America, Mexico and Japan among others at the championships and, regardless of the result, Kahui is just out to have fun.
“It’s pretty cool as I’m the first Kahui to make it into a New Zealand team,” Kahui said.
“I want to have a great time – doesn’t matter if we lose because it’s still good that we got to go up there and tried our best.”
It caps off a strong summer on the diamond for Kahui after he made the Victorian under-16 White team for the Baseball Australia National Youth Championships in January and was impressed with his side’s performance to surprise many other teams.
“The white team is the development team and we went up there and came fourth,” Kahui said.
“No one expected us to come fourth, I think they expected us to come last.
“My pitching and outfield was good – great plays in the outfield … and I took six catches in one game.”
He’s on the hunt for sponsorship to help him get across to the championships, so if anyone is interested in getting behind Kahui, he can be contacted by email at AusNZBaseballU15@hotmail.com.
