LAUNCESTON softball player Brayden Cobern will become the third generation family member to represent the state in the sport when he takes his place in the Tasmanian team for the national under-19 championships in Canberra next week.
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The 16-year-old, St Patrick's College grade 10 student, will follow in the footsteps of his mum Brenda Hanlon (under-16 and under-19), grandmother Patricia (open women 1958-59) and aunt Sandra Lange (junior and senior), who are former state representatives.
Cobern is the only Launceston player in the 12-man Tasmanian team for the national championships, which start on Thursday and continue until the following Wednesday.
The rest of the Tassie team will be made up of members from the Ulverstone Softball Association and Burnie, plus five pick-ups from Queensland and New South Wales to help out with pitcher and catcher duties.
``I'm a bit nervous but I reckon it will be fun once we get over there,'' Brayden said.
``I've been playing softball for about seven years and got started because mum was involved.
``It's a special moment being the third generation family member representing the state and it doesn't come around too often in softball.''
The Tasmanian team will be coached by Ulverstone's Wayne Chilcott and Launceston's Brenda Hanlon with assistance from Australian Open men's coach Bob Harrow.
``The competition will be tough but all these boys are in the 17 to 18-year age group which gives us the chance to keep the majority of this team together for a couple of years,'' Softball Tasmania president Sheryl Burnie said.
