There are not too many sports Mitch Duddy hasn’t excelled at in recent years.
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The junior sportsman has played consecutive seasons in Group 19 representative teams for his age group, and stepped up to the captaincy role this year, as well as starring with the bat and ball for the Armidale under 12 representative cricket side in the Northern Inland competition.
Mitch’s latest feat includes selection for the NSW Cyclones under 13 indoor cricket side to contest the national championships in Toowoomba next month. He plays in the Inverell indoor competition each week and, despite being at the top of his game in multiple sports, Mitch has handled the juggling act with ease – and the help of his dedicated parents.
“He has this struggle because he has football as well and he got picked as captain for the Group 19 rep side and we were going ‘please don't let the dates clash,’” Mitch’s mother Kathryn said.
“He has been able to both his sports really well.
“He just loves all of it.
“There is a bit of juggling going on – even driving to indoor each week, you can get a bit tired after a while so there is a bit of persistence and determination that comes in handy there. Probably for parents as well.”
Mitch spent the weekend in Dubbo meeting his teammates and training for the national cricket tournament.
Kathryn said it was the first time the players had met but they bonded over their common interest pretty quickly.
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“They had the ACT, the NSW and a development side come and they played some games against them to give them a bit of a run before they go to the nationals,” she said.
“I think country kids are just a nice bunch of kids.
“They go down there he didn't know most of them.
“He came across a kid from his North West team but they all just fall into being friends and hanging around together.
“They all have such a lovely attitude, it is really great.”
Mitch and his NSW Cyclones teammates have big shoes to fill with last year’s under 13 team taking out the national final in a clash with the metro-based NSW Blues.
Nationals will also provide the opportunity for further selection with a team to face New Zealand announced at the end of the competition.
The championships will run from July 7-14.