Young Glen Eden Intermediate student is covering all the bases

Batter Up: 12-year-old Dakota Ruta is part of the New Zealand under 13 baseball team.

By Libby Gudmundson

It's been a quick rise to the top for 12 year-old Dakota Ruta, selected to play in the New Zealand baseball team after just one season in the game.

The sporty Glen Eden Intermediate student started playing softball at a young age but recently made the switch after watching a baseball match on TV.

The second base-man enjoyed his first season playing for the Bayside Westhaven Angels, and gained the nickname 'Homer' as a result of all the home runs he hit.

He missed selection in the All Star Auckland side but attended a series of trials for the under 13 national team.

"There were some really good guys that had more experience but I thought I would get in because I played well," he says.

And sure enough he did.

Dakota will put on a black jersey today in Autumn Classic Baseball Tournament against visiting Australian squads.

He will also travel to Hong Kong in July to represent New Zealand in the Asia Pacific little league under 13 world baseball champs.

It will be the first time Dakota has been overseas and he is excited his dad will make the trip with him.

Dakota was also selected for the Auckland under 13 softball team this year.

"Next season he's going to have to make a decision between the two sports," his mother Joanne says.

Dakota seems to have his sights firmly set on baseball and hopes to one day play major league in America.

Mrs Ruta says there is no baseball club in west Auckland catering for juniors and they have to travel to Glen Innes to play for Bayside.

She says her family family has a strong background in softball but Dakota has taken to his new sport like a duck to water.

The Autumn Classic Baseball Tournament starts today with New Zealand hosting representative teams from Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.

New Zealand were due to play Queensland this morning from 9am at Norana Park in Mangere.

Western Leader