Academy Softballer Blake Hunter is the 2018 Chronicle 'Junior Sports Star'

Written on the 10 December 2018

South West Sydney Academy of Sport - Australian representative player and Macarthur Softball Association stalwart, Hunter's award came on the back of a stellar year.

But he admitted he was surprised when his name was called out ahead of an outstanding group of Macarthur region finalists that included world championship triathlete Blake McKenna and world titles diver Hamish Hutchinson.

"I was surprised, I didn't expect it," Hunter said of the award. "All of my hard work has paid off." He said the $1000 prizemoney would be invested back into playing the sport.

The Australian under-17 softball championships are in Adelaide in January and the teenager hopes to make it into the national team again for the Friendship Games in July.

Hunter's commitment to softball is second to none and the Westfield Sport High School student's schedule so far this year is mind-blowing. Each week he plays and trains between Camden, Warwick Farm and Blacktown, and tournaments can take him across Sydney, NSW and Australia.

Earlier this year he competed in the under-17s State Championships where he pitched in the grand final for the full seven innings, culminating in a dominant 5-1 win over Penrith.

He also played in the under-15 NSW Metro team for three tournaments, competed in two regional championships and lined up for NSW at the under-17s national titles.

He was also selected in the Australian under-17s squad for an international Friendship Series, although a broken ankle confined him to the bench.

The opportunity to gain recognition at this level as a junior athlete, is a direct result of ClubsNSW commitment to the development of junior sport, including its outstanding support of the NSW Regional Academies of Sport network.

Trent Sutton from ClubsNSW presents the Junior Sports Star award to Blake Hunter of the Macarthur Chronicle.