Geraldton softballers earn call-up to nationals event as rivals team-up for WA

Two long-time rivals from Geraldton’s softball scene will be teaming up to represent Western Australia in the upcoming Schoolboys Nationals finals in May.

Fletcher Harrison and Eli Etherton, who have faced each other on the diamond for years, are now looking to bring their skills together to lead their state’s team to victory.

Harrison, a regular player for the Rams in division one, recently helped his team secure a spot in the finals with a solid performance in the elimination rounds.

Meanwhile, Etherton has been honing his skills in Perth for the past two years, earning experience at the national level with two appearances for Victoria.

Harrison expressed his delight and getting a crack to pull on a WA jersey.

“It’s great to play anyway, but to play for my state, it makes it really special,” he said.

Etherton’s journey to this point has been a challenging one, as he was initially passed over by his home state’s team in favor of Victoria for his first two nationals appearances.

He has now been given the chance to represent WA.

Off the field, the two players are good friends, and their mutual respect and admiration are evident in the way they play against each other on the softball diamond.

Etehrton was pleased to get to play with his mate as well as having company on the training camps.

“It’s great not to be doing it by myself, the training can be intense and it is great to share the experience,” he said.

The upcoming Schoolboys Nationals finals promise to be a challenging event, with the best teams from around the country vying for the top prize in Werribee Victoria.

Both boys are in the process of fundraising and anyone interested in helping them achieve their softball dream can contact the Rams Softball Club for Fletcher and the Blaze Softball Club for Eli.