Baseball for life

Derek Neaves was 13 when he first picked up a bat.

The spritely young teenager caught the baseball bug at his local Campbelltown Ghosts club in New South Wales.

Surrounded by talent, drive and motivation of mentors and role models across the league, Derek hung on the lessons and guidance from every training and every game.

"It just felt like a good fit," Derek reflects about discovering baseball.

From the mates he made to the mentoring he gained; Derek's life was richer from baseball.

"The friendships I formed along the way made it so easy to keep pursuing."

In an environment where effort and commitment were rewarded with opportunities to push himself and show what he could do, he quickly made his mark breaking into the A grade side by 16 and a couple of state caps along the way.

A sea change to Townsville and a new chapter of family led Derek to the Taipans when his youngest son showed an interest in the sport.

It wasn't long before he was back in the dugout - this time clipboard in hand - passing on his own experience and knowledge to the next generation of ball players.

The small town club ball environment was completely different to the fast paced intensity of NSW baseball. Derek embraced the new pace with an appreciation that baseball is a game for everyone.

With his background in performance baseball, he knows when and how to push players giving the foundational game knowledge and skills for them to achieve their goals.

Matched with his compassion and inclusivity, he somehow manages to create a perfect balance that engages those that just want to play ball with those who want to be ballers.

"Whether they play for fun or want to take the game as far as they can, I hope that all of them can find the same love of the game as I have," he says.

From little league coach to one of the club's inaugural C grade coaches, the continuity Derek brings as a coach, mentor and role model is reflected in the love of the game and team spirit emanating from our C grade squad.

His words of wisdom are not just for those in his squad but to all players coming through.

"You are going to make errors and strikeout but thats ok it’s part of the game.

Use that negative feeling as a positive to drive you to work harder and become better."

But most importantly, it's the thing that fostered his love the most that he hopes his squad never loses sight of.

"Enjoy the game and playing it with your mates as this time goes very quick." A reflection of his own time in the game.