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0 In the last nine months, Warriewood local Zac Newbold, 18, has been: working a jackhammer in Bondi; minding kids at before- and after-school care at Elanora Heights primary; selling fruit at French’s Forest market; working in events management at Manly Sea Eagles games at Brookvale Oval.
Three times a week he’s headed to Blacktown International Sports Park in Rooty Hill for baseball training.
On Sundays he’s played in the Winter League with Petersham Petes Baseball Club.
In his downtime … please, are you kidding? There is no downtime. His life has been work, train, play, eat, sleep, repeat.
Last Sunday it all paid off when Newbold flew out with the Australian baseball squad to contest the U/18 World Baseball and Softball Confederation World Cup in Florida.
“It’s been pretty hard work, for sure,” Newbold says.
“I was going out to Bondi labouring and I’d be on the jack hammers.
“Then I’d get dropped off at Forest fruit markets before mum would pick me up and take me straight out to Rooty Hill.
“I’d get home from training around 11pm, then sometimes have to wake back up at 5am to go back out to Bondi!
“It was a struggle! All worth it though!”
Newbold’s mum Cathy Moore – often as not her son’s designated Uber driver – says the family is “in awe of Zac’s worth ethic.”
“He’s extremely excited and proud to be part of the squad,” Cathy says..
After an intensive week of training in Florida Newbold will play in a four nations tournament against the USA, Canada and Taiwan, and in a college showcase called ‘Perfect Game’.
A centre-fielder known for his speed, Newbold can hit anywhere in the line-up, using power to scatter balls across the field.
Yet he’ll be up against world’s best – and most intimidating – pitchers now.
The fastest pitch Newbold has faced at bat is 93 miles (150km) per hour.
The pitchers in the World Cup will be regularly throwing fast balls at 95-100 miles (154-160km) p/h.
In other words, the testing material.
And Newbold knows it.
“My expectation is that all those players are going to be straight ballers.
“They’re just gonna be so clean and play the game next level.
“So I’m super excited to get out there with them and give it a crack and compete and show them what’s up,” Newbold says.
Newbold is one of 14 players from NSW in the squad and the only player from the Northern Beaches, indeed northern Sydney.
“He’s extremely excited and proud to be part of the squad.
“And we are of course very proud of him, too,” Cathy said.
Newbold is one of 14 players from NSW in the squad and the only player from the Northern Beaches, indeed northern Sydney.
He’s been to the United States twice before – once for the Cal Ripken World Cup and once for a Big League Dreams event.
He say he’s “super excited” to get to America again.
“I’ve never been to Florida so that’ll be exciting.
“Plus the baseball fields out there are some of the best in the country,” Newbold says.
After a week of intensive training the Aussies will take on the USA, Canada and Taiwan in a Four Nations tournament.
Newbold grew up playing for Pittwater Baseball Club from the age of 4. He is a former pupil at Mona Vale Public School and Mater Maria Catholic College in Warriewood where he was Vice-Captain.
After performing well in the HSC and accepting an offer at Wollongong University to study Pre-Medicine, Health & Science, Newbold decided to defer study and spend 2022 focusing on baseball with the hope of making this Australian squad.
He says his goals will depend on how he performs in Florida.
“If I love it over there I might see about going to college, see if that’s a possibility.
“Long-term goal, though, is definitely to keep grinding and hopefully go to the Olympics.”
Newbold credits the northern beaches lifestyle as a big part of his development.
He’s played rugby for Narrabeen Tigers and Warringah Rats, rugby league for Narrabeen Sharks and touch footy for Sydney Scorpions.
He says “the competitive nature of sport on the beaches has definitely pushed me – and more so at a younger age – to always strive to be better.
“Mona Vale Public School was very competitive, with all the athletic carnivals and all that.
“Also the beaches has everything – I can kick a footy one day, go surfing the next, hit balls in cages the day after that,” Newbold says.
For now it’s all baseball.
“I’m really keen to go and play ball with some of my best mates and see how far we can go.
“Going away with a team is easily one of the best experiences in my life and I’m sure this one if gonna be up there as one of the best ones,” Newbold says.
To help Zac and his family fund the trip, locals can contribute to this Go Fund Me page.
Newbold credits the northern beaches lifestyle as a big part of his development.
He’s played rugby for Narrabeen Tigers and Warringah Rats, rugby league for Narrabeen Sharks and touch footy for Sydney Scorpions.
He says “the competitive nature of sport on the beaches has definitely pushed me – and more so at a younger age – to always strive to be better{.
“Mona Vale Public School was very competitive, with all the athletic carnivals and all that.
“Also the beaches has everything – I can kick a footy one day, go surfing the next, hit balls in cages the day after that,” Newbold says.
For now it’s all baseball.
“I’m really keen to go and play ball with some of my best mates and see how far we can go.
“Going away with a team is easily one of the best experiences in my life and I’m sure this one if gonna be up there as one of the best ones,” Newbold says.
“He’s extremely excited and proud to be part of the squad.
“And we are of course very proud of him, too,” Cathy said.
To help Zac and his family fund the trip, locals can contribute to this GoFundMe Page.
