How did you first get into the sport and what does it mean to you to now be a Softball World Champion?

“I was born into a family of softball players, so it was only natural for me to pick up the sport. I’m certain I had a bat in my hand before I could walk. Playing the sport as soon as I was old enough and then living out a lifelong dream of becoming a world champion is surreal and means more to me than words can describe”. – MATTHEW HARROW

“I first got into softball by playing Tee-ball as a summer sport in primary school. I picked up the mechanics of the game pretty quickly and was always one of those kids who could hit with power, which made it an easy sport to enjoy. Eventually, Tee-ball turned into Modified Softball, and finally into Softball. I enjoyed the sport and was being picked for representative teams, so I kept playing and learned more every year.
It means a lot to me personally to show that I’ve reached the pinnacle of the sport I love, with the support of my amazing family, and to do it not only with my teammates but also with some of my best mates. Playing the game you love for so long means you make friendships that last years, maybe even a lifetime. Representing your country is an honor in itself, so coming away as the best in the world for a sport you’ve played most of your life is something that can’t be put into words”. – JERREMYAH SELU

“I got into the sport by playing Tee-ball for my local team and then slowly worked my way up into representative teams. Starting at the grassroots level in primary school and eventually becoming a World Champion later in life was pretty amazing. It shows what hard work and dedication can achieve if you put in the effort. I remember being young and looking up to the 2009 team, which was the first team to win the world championship, and achieving this in my career was a real honor. To me, this was the pinnacle of the sport, and it makes me feel very proud. I will always hold that with me for the rest of my life”. – JOSH INGLE-WHITE

Any career highlights or stand out memories that hold significance to you?

Every time I get to put on the Australian jersey, it is an absolute honour, and it’s a feeling I could never get used to. I’ve been lucky enough to participate in three World Cups so far, and I’m about to take on my fourth, at the U19, U23, and Open Men’s levels. Each of these teams has been something special, and we have come away with victories in all three World Cups. Captaining the team at the inaugural U23 World Cup in Argentina will always be one of my favourite softball memories, but I’m not sure anything will top winning the Open Men’s World Cup in 2022 with my dad, Lang Harrow, as my coach. That is the pinnacle of men’s softball, and being a part of that team is something I’ll be forever grateful for.

How has your community in both Queanbeyan and Canberra Region helped shape you as a player?

I started playing at the age of three, participating in “blast ball” at David Madew Oval in Jerrabomberra. The first big tournament I won in softball was the state knockout title with my primary school, Jerrabomberra Public, and that will always be a special memory. The ACT Open Men’s team is the most successful sporting team to come out of the ACT, having won 18 national titles. I was fortunate to grow up around some of the best players in the world, right in my own backyard. I had the opportunity to watch and learn from these players, and eventually, I went on to play with many of them. Without their success and achievements, I would never have been able to reach the level I am at today.

What advice you would give to youth athletes who are aspiring to reach your level?

Having fun is one of the most important things when you are breaking down any sport. If you enjoy playing it, then the time you put into it is priceless. You have fun when you succeed. This is the catalyst to do the extra training to hone your skills, the obsession with becoming better and setting goals to improve your game. If you have fun then the rest will follow and you’ll be able to enjoy the small things, from friendships to the memories.

Who has been a major influence in your athletic journey?

I’ve had many influences within the sport of softball that have helped pave the way for me. Growing up and being surrounded with some of the best Australian softball players in the world definitely helps you gain an understanding of how the game is played at the top level, along with what is required to reach the top. Discipline, Sacrifice and Repetition. My own personal influence would have to be my family. From learning how to harness my passion for sports from my father, to being able to make my mother and sister proud as my #1 fans, having the love and support from my family to chase my own goals as an athlete would have to be my biggest influence.

How do you handle high pressure game scenarios?

For me my largest influence would be preparation within trainings and going through plays before they happen; really knowing what my role inside and out; so I can automatically react to any scenario. It helps to put in the work and training, because if you have that understanding and confidence within yourself then when placed under high pressure, you will find success in your results.

What core values should you embody when wearing the green and gold?

Being a part of multiple Australian teams, I have got to see a whole range of how different people can come together; and with this world championship team our core focus was being ourselves and a sense of knowing that we have been selected for a reason, therefore we have what it takes to get the job done. Alongside believing this, having the responsibility for preparing and performing the role that you as an individual player can bring to the team. Throughout the whole tour, we had a whole heap of success with 1-2 losses, its truly remarkable to think about how connected we all were, which isn’t something that is easy to achieve in sport. But with these core values and friendship, you become unstoppable even when you back are up against the wall.