How This 18 Year Old Won A World Cup In Year 12

Imagine finishing your HSC, then a few weeks later, winning a World Cup for your country. That’s exactly what Year 12 student Jack Besgrove experienced, after playing a starring role in the Aussie Steelers’ win over Canada in the 2022 Softball World Cup final. 

As the youngest player in Australia’s squad, the 18-year-old pitched the entire game against Canada, playing a key role in the team’s 5-2 win. His stats for the game speak for themselves: striking out ten opposition players, walking three and only allowing one earned run. 

Jack's win is proof that you don't have to quit sport to focus on study - you can do both!  

The Bathurst local completed his HSC this year at St Stanislaus’ College, juggling school with elite training, and travelling for softball games. To make things even more impressive, Jack made his debut for the Steelers just one week before the World Cup began, at a warm up tournament in the New Zealand city of Palmerston North.

Jack actually got the call up for Australia's national team on his way home from school. Speaking to Matt White on SEN, Jack described the moment he received the call, “I had to pull over and ring mum… it was pretty exciting”. 

Australia most recently won the Men’s Softball World Championship back in 2009, but the Steelers were underdogs heading into this year’s tournament, after finishing seventh in the 2019 World Cup. 

Following the team’s victory, head coach Laing Harrow praised Jack’s performance in the match, "He was incredible, so determined. McGovern controlled him quite well, it was great to watch."

Speaking on the win, Harrow said, "It's so well deserved, it certainly hasn't hit home that we're World Champions. The quality of the competition has been outstanding and we're so grateful that we got to be a part of it."

We love to see Gen Z’ers killing it on the world stage. Plus, we’ll never say no to a World Cup win – how good!