OLDS — Fourteen-year-old Paxton Overwater of Olds, has made the Zone 2 team for the 2023 Alberta Summer Games which will be held July 20-23 in Okotoks and Black Diamond.
He made the team as a second baseman. More than 350 kids tried out for Zone 2 earlier this spring.
Overwater plays U15 AAA baseball for the Olds Spitfires. He corresponded with the Albertan by email while on vacation in B.C.
Overwater began playing baseball when he was five years old. He also plays hockey and golf but “baseball is my number 1 sport.”
He said he likes the game because “it’s a competitive fun game. I like making good plays in the field and having good hits, teammates hyping you up.”
Overwater primarily plays second base but has also pitched and occasionally played in left field. However, his favourite position is second base, which he says is also where he shines best.
“I enjoy infield where there is more action and how close I am to the plays,” he wrote.
Overwater says he has several strengths on both offence and defence.
“I’m a fast runner, have a good glove and (am) a strong batter,” he wrote.
That said, Overwater admitted he can still improve in the batter’s box.
“I need to work on confidence at the plate,” he wrote.” Just continue to improve on all aspects of the game all the time.”
If all goes well, Overwater would like to eventually play baseball at the post-secondary level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the U.S.
