Lachlan Spinelli

Young Achiever: Albury’s Lock Spinelli has all bases covered

Lock Spinelli is flying the flag for softball and baseball on the Border.

The 19-year-old has been a high achiever in both sports and is pursuing his dream abroad – last year accepting a US college baseball scholarship to Scotland Campus Sports in Pennsylvania.

Spinelli plays in the outfield as a baseballer, while his main position in softball is catcher.

After being named a reserve for the under-19 Australian Steelers, Spinelli was motivated to continue the hard work and commitment he’s put in at a national level the past seven years.

He considered becoming a teacher, and, after discussions with family, decided studying and playing baseball in America would be the perfect opportunity.

Within weeks he was linked with recruiters, had videos sent to colleges and was offered a scholarship.

However, the hardest part of the move for Spinelli was the homesickness, as self doubt started to creep into his normally polished performances.

But he was able to push through that difficult period and come through the other side an ever better player.

“Being away from family and friends has been hard, but it has given me time to focus and put my best into baseball and college, and I’m doing well in both,” Spinelli said.

“Playing in Australia is different to the US – in the US our coaches are here to coach and that’s all they do.

“We train here six times a week with baseball coaches and athletic coaches, compared to our twice a week training with our state coach back home and doing athletic training by myself.”

He aims to represent his country in softball, as well as continuing his baseball aspirations at college with the ultimate goal of becoming a professional baseballer.

Spinelli is one of the nine nominees for this year’s Norske Skog Young Achiever of the Year award.

“I’m very proud to be an ambassador for softball in Albury-Wodonga and to show kids that playing softball can take you around the world,” Spinelli said.

“If I won the Young Achiever award it would be a tribute to the thousands of hours driving to training with my parents and countless tournaments spanning this whole country.

“Winning the award would make me so proud to have my effort, dedication, persistence and success acknowledged and it would be an honour to bring softball into the Sport Albury Wodonga list of famed sports.

“All of the athletes nominated are the same, we (and our families) all have to give up and put in so much to pursue our goals, and we are all happy to do it. ”

The Young Achiever will be named at the Commercial Club on Friday, March 15.