CO_Mar17_WEB

DIOCESAN NEWS
Faith a solid base for rising baseball star
By Jordan Grantham
JACOB YOUNIS REPRESENT-
ED Australia in the Baseball U23
World Cup in Mexico late last year.
The Christ the King, North Rocks, parishioner
and Parramatta Marist High
School old boy helped Australia win
the Silver Medal, going down to world
number one Japan in the Grand Final.
Jacob was recognised as All-World
Team – Short Stop, Tournament Leading
Hitter and Most Runs Scored (17).
“Sometimes in the sporting world it’s
easy to forget that God is there when
things are going well, so saying thank
you when things are going well is a
strong belief of mine, and not to just
seek his help when times are tough,”
Jacob said.
The 23-year-old short stop played
professional baseball in the US for the
Minnesota Twins when he was just
16. Last year, he represented German
pro team the Hamburg Stealers. Jacob
currently plays for the Sydney Blue Sox.
Jacob’s close family nurtured his
interest and talent. “My parents
played a massive role in my life. They
taught me everything I know and
continue to make sure I grow as an
individual,” he said.
“Not only my parents but my brother
and sister have been very supportive
from day one of my adventure in life.
“My first experience was growing up
watching my Dad play from the sideline
as a four year old, then playing my first
year of tee ball at age five and I have
never looked back.”
In his teens, Jacob played for the
Combined Catholic College Team and
the Australian Schoolboys Team.
American Catholics, such as veteran
journalist John L Allen, love to claim that
baseball is the most Catholic sport. With
teams like the St Louis ‘Cardinals’ and the
San Diego ‘Padres’, they may well have
a point.
Elements of baseball that remind
people of Catholicism include the ritual
of the game, fan traditions, reverence
for heroes of the past and undying team
loyalty, even against the worst odds.
Baseball is renowned for its
nicknames and Jacob’s favourite player
from baseball history is David Jeter,
nicknamed ‘Captain Clutch’, of the New
York Yankees. “He was an icon of the
sport and was the perfect role model.”
Jacob Younis played professional baseball in the US for the Minnesota Twins when he was just 16. Photo: © SMP Images.
ALBERT & MEYER
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Serving the
Parramatta Diocese
since 1967
Australian Family Owned & Operated
301-303 PENNANT HILLS ROAD, THORNLEIGH
9484 3992
ALL SUBURBS 24 HOURS
www.albertmeyer.com.au
Grave
plots
for
sale
Kemps Creek
Lawn Cemetery
Rebecca Pincott Michael Bolton
Two double grave plots for
sale in the Catholic Section of
Kemps Creek Lawn Cemetery.
Price $4000 each – negotiable.
Inquiries to Neil Beattie
tel 0434 11 31 44.
OPEN NIGHT
ENROLLING
now for 2018
Catherine McAuley is a Catholic girls' secondary
school, located at Westmead. Our broad
curriculum encourages young women to pursue
independent lifelong learning.
Tuesday 14th March 2017
4.00pm - 7.00pm
This school open event will give visitors the opportunity to tour the school and
view facilities as well as meet our School Principal and School Leadership Team
CONTACT OUR SCHOOL ON 9849 9100 FOR AN ENROLMENT PACK.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 31ST MARCH 2017
Catherine McAuley, 2 Darcy Road, Westmead | www.mcauley.nsw.edu.au
www.catholicoutlook.org
MARCH 2017 CatholicOutlook 15