THE story goes that when Oscar Hyde was in kindergarten, his teacher asked the littlies what they wanted to be when they grew up.
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Oscar replied that he wanted to be a good dad and a professional baseball player.
At 11 years old, he has a way to go before either of those, but he has just achieved something pretty remarkable: he’s been picked to represent Australia in a Baseball Confederation of Oceania under-12s tournament that could lead to the world championships.
Oscar is the grandson of Lyn and Noel Bayliss of Calala, and the son of Beau Hyde and Kristen Bayliss, former Tamworth residents and baseball players themselves.
Now living on the Gold Coast, the family was in town this week to celebrate Christmas before Oscar flies out for the tournament in Guam in less than two weeks.
Oscar plays for the Coomera Cubs U12s and U14s, usually on first base, pitching, or at three or four in the batting order.
He was selected for the rep side based on his player statistics and video footage.
Lyn Bayliss said it was a “validation for him of the time he’s put into the game and all the training he’s done”.
We’re absolutely totally proud of him, because he’s put a lot of effort into it.
- Lyn Bayliss
“We’re absolutely totally proud of him, because he’s put a lot of effort into it. He’s passionate about the game, always has been, and to be chosen for the [tournament] is more or less a prelude to the world championships, so it’s very exciting.”
Oscar was practically born with a bat and ball in hand: his mum played softball in Tamworth and has won a grand final with the Coomera Cubs women’s team. His dad played baseball with the Tamworth Knights before the club folded. Mr Hyde joked that he was living his dream through his son now.
“I spent my whole life getting runner-up, year after year after year. I won my first grand final after probably about 15 years [now with the Coomera Cubs men’s team] – I just about cried.”
Oscar will spend three days in camp with his team in Sydney before flying to Guam on January 10 for eight days – playing teams from Samoa and Guam and hopefully finishing as the winner.
He’ll be accompanied by another member of his Cubs team, who was also selected – the only other Queenslander in the team of 18.
He said he was “pretty excited” about his first trip overseas, “playing baseball in another country and going to a nice island”.
Ms Bayliss said she was “nervous; I would like to be there with him but I’m so excited for him … For years, that’s what he said he wanted to be: a professional baseball player.
When asked if that’s something he’s still aiming for, Oscar replied: “Highest goal.”