Sport
21 February, 2024
Glory and MVP award at U18 national titles
Kilcoy Hammers soft baller Cody Eldridge won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as he was part of Queensland’s title-winning team in last month’s U18 men’s national championships in Mirrabooka, Perth.
After losing their opening match 14-2 against the host state, the Maroons were invincible thereafter, as they won 13 games on the trot to take out the Nox Bailey Shield.
“I think that all the (Queensland) players were just nervous coming into the tournament,” Cody said of the hefty first-up defeat.
“After the first game, you can see all the players felt more comfortable and confident.”
The Maroons beat South Australia, Victoria and NSW three times each, and defeated Western Australia twice in the round-robin series, before overcoming the home side twice more in the finals.
Queensland’s wins against Western Australia became bigger with each contest, as the Maroons won 17-15 and 8-1 on day three, before winning the semi-final 10-2 and then winning the decider 15-0.
Queensland had a tight 7-6 win over Victoria on day one, but the Maroons dominated otherwise as scores included 11-3, 10-0, 14-4, 20-7 and 15-3.
Cody made an impact with the bat and in the field, having played in the outfield and at short stop.
Cody said it felt good to win the MVP award, while this achievement was one of the best things he’d done in his soft ball career.
“The biggest key (to Queensland’s success) was all of the players, coaches and staff got along with each other,” he said.
“I have played with many of my teammates over my soft ball career, whether it be school sports or club sports.”
Cody had represented Queensland in primary school sports at the age of 12, and said he hoped to represent the state again, with U23 the next age group.
Having played for the Hammers in winter since the age of five, Cody has also played summer soft ball for the Caboolture-based Warriors, Redcliffe-based Cougars and Redlands-based Sharks.
