Australia will look to experience among team leaders as the Junior Steelers prepare for the Junior Men’s Softball World Championship in Michigan.
Josh McGovern (ACT) has been appointed team captain, with Alex Cleary (Qld) and Luke Ollerenshaw (NSW) the vice-captains.
All three leaders have experience at this level, having competed at the 2014Â world championship in Whitehorse, Yukon, where the Junior Steelers finished fourth.
This year’s event will be held in Midland, Michigan from July 24-30. Australia’s first game is against Venezuela on July 24.
The Junior Steeler will prepare for the tournament with a training camp in Milverton, Canada.
The 13-nation international youth softball flagship event will feature 52 total games, beginning with a 36-game round-robin, followed by 10 playoff games. Six placement games will also be staged to determine the final standings.
The teams have been delegated to their respective pools and will begin the world championship tournament with a single round-robin.
Pool A: Argentina, Australia, United States, Czech Republic, Denmark, Botswana, and Venezuela
Pool B: New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, and Israel
Argentina will head to Midland as the two-time defending U-19 world champions, having captured gold medals in 2012 and 2014.
Australian U19 Men’s Softball Team |
 |  |
Blake Bell (NSW) | Michael Ludkin (Qld) | Dylan Sheehan (Qld) |
Alexander Cleary (Qld) (Vice Captain) | Joshua McGovern (ACT) (Captain) | Adam Talarico (Vic |
Brennan Dempsey (Qld) | Nicholas Moore (Qld) | Luke Thomas (Qld) |
Chris Gillies (NSW) | Luke Ollerenshaw (NSW) (Vice Captain) | Mitchell Woodworth (Qld) |
Blake Jackson (NSW) | James Purcell (Qld) | Jett Wright (WA) |
Shaun Lanaghan (NSW) | Izack Rossi (NSW) | Â |
 |  |  |
Head Coach | Laing Harrow |
Assistant Coaches | Darren Hebditch |
 | Adam Rindfleish |
Team Manager | Maxine Cleary |
Statistician | Lindy Rattigan |
Physio | Aminda Huynh |
Umpire | Richard Barrow |