Kotiti Patea. Photo supplied.A Mid Canterbury softballer has his sights set on knocking the Australian competition out of the park this time next week.

Kotiti Patea has been selected to play in the New Zealand under 15 boys’ side at the Softball New South Wales under 17 Blue Blaze tournament to be held in Sydney, and flies out on Thursday.

“I was quite shocked when I found out, I wasn’t really expecting it,” he said.

The side was selected from the South Island under 15 tournament which was held in Dunedin in January.

Having played since he was five or six, starting out with slow pitch at Netherby School, Patea has progressed to playing in the local Saturday competition.

“I like just being able to play with my friends, and the competitiveness of it,” he said.

“I haven’t really thought about it but I guess making the men’s team is a goal.”

The tournament will consist of training and warm-up games, followed by a two-day tournament on the Wednesday and Thursday.

Patea leaves early on Thursday, and will be gone for nine days.

“It is so early on Thursday,” he said.

“It is a bit exciting now, it got a bit more real when the kit turned up and seeing my name on the Facebook page and stuff.”

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 27 September 2017