Canberran baseballers heading to Three Rivers College

Whether they still go to the USA in August as planned, only the coronavirus pandemic knows.

But that's what Trent Buchanan and Stuart Tharle are preparing for.

They might end up doing their first semester online and then going over in January when things settle down as the USA is currently bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 virus.

Buchanan saw the silver-lining to any delay - more time to work and save before embarking on an American adventure.

"We're still preparing like we're leaving for August," he said.

"Nothing's really changed, but if it does change and gets delayed by a few months then we'll just keep preparing, keep preparing because we just never know when we'll get called up.

"Yeah it's a bit concerning with the whole COVID-19, but I'm sure when it's all cleared up they'll make sure it's safe for us to travel over there. So they won't put our health at risk at all. I shouldn't be too concerned."

So how do two Canberrans end up getting signed to play baseball for Three Rivers College in Missouri?

Tharle, a pitcher, toured the USA and visited Three Rivers. He also had a video call with the baseball coach when the topic of catchers came up.

He happened to know one, having played with Buchanan since they were 14.

They've both represented Australia and both made their ABL debuts for the Canberra Cavalry over the summer.

"They were telling me how they're wanting pitchers and catchers [this] year and I said I've got a catcher I throw to and Trent's already heard of the school before," Tharle said.

"Then we both got in a group chat with him and one thing led to another."

Three Rivers is a junior college, which means they'll do the first two years of university there and then the pair of 18-year-olds will look to finish their studies elsewhere after that.

Buchanan will study arts, while Tharle is looking to do business.

Then after uni they're hoping to sign with a Major League team and work their way up through the system, while also plying their trade with the Cavalry during the Australian summer.

"That's my goal after college - hopefully commit to a team in America, sign with a professional team," Tharle said

"If not, come back here and keep grinding."

The pair thanked Canberra Baseball high performance manager Kyle Perkins for all his hard work.

It saw Buchanan play three games for the Cavalry last season, when he got his first ABL hit and spent five innings behind home plate.

Tharle pitched two innings against the Sydney Blue Sox - both while throwing to Buchanan.

"I get a bit nervous, but not overly nervous. It made me feel more comfortable with Trent catching as I'm used to him and he knows how I like to pitch," Tharle said.

"That made it a lot easier. I just tried to get in the zone and not worry about anything else."

The hope is that baseball can remain an Olympic sport - it will be an exhibition one at the Tokyo Games next year - so that they could be in the mix for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Australia's part of the do-or-die qualification process, which has been put on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus.

They have to win a six-team tournament in Taiwan to clinch a spot for Tokyo.

"Hopefully they have baseball in the Olympics because I know this is an exhibition," Buchanan said.

"Let's just hope, that's all we can do really."