The chance of a lifetime: Local ball players make Team USA Junior roster
Peyton Hall (left) and Brogan Potter, both Prairie du Chien High School graduates, along with Bryce DuCharme, of Hudson (not pictured) will play on the Team USA Junior Men’s Fastpitch team at the World Championship this summer. (Photo by Caitlin Bittner)
By Caitlin Bittner
Two Prairie du Chien boys have the chance of a lifetime to play on the Team USA Junior Men’s Fastpitch team at the World Championship this summer. Both Peyton Hall and Brogan Potter, graduates of Prairie du Chien High School, have been playing softball for quite a while.
“I’ve had a bat in my hand ever since I can remember,” said Hall, who added that softball was a fun pastime for him and his dad. Hall first heard of the team from a rival ballplayer, who told him to try out for the team.
“Peyton was first, then I tried out,” said Potter.
Now, the two of them, along with Bryce DuCharme of Hudson, are the three players from Wisconsin on a roster of 19 players.
“The players are from all over, but now, with all the practices, we know each other pretty well,” said Hall.
Potter continued to explain the training regime. “We practiced a lot. We had two or three practices a day, and then a doubleheader every night. We had a lot of fun, but it was a lot of work.”
Hall is slated to play catcher, while Potter takes the position of first baseman. Each of them is looking forward to facing off with the 12 other countries involved in the championship games.
The teams to watch, according to Hall, will be Argentina, New Zealand and Japan. “Along with us, of course,” quipped Hall with a smile.
Japan’s team is known for its speed, making its opponents play in on the field. The other teams involved in the games rely on power. As for Team USA?
“All of us can hit,” said Potter. “No matter who’s up.”
Potter also said that Team USA has two main pitchers. “They’re very good.
They can strike out some of the best men in the world,” said Potter.
The games will be held July 24-30, in Midland, Mich., at historic Emerson Park and Currie Stadium. Thirteen nations from all five regions—Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania—will compete for the highest prize in Junior Men’s international softball.
A total of 52 games, beginning with a 36-game round-robin, followed by 10 playoff games (double page playoff system), will be played. Six placement games will also be staged to determine the final standings. All 13 nations will be in action on opening day. Team USA and Botswana will officially start off the world championship tournament on July 24 at 9:30 a.m.
The full game schedule for the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation Junior Men’s Softball World Championship schedule can be viewed www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Events/2016/July/24/WBSC-Junior-Mens-World-....
Peyton is the son of Pat and Liz Hall. He credits them as being the reason he has played the sport so long. In the fall, he will attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he is on the baseball team.
Brogan is the son of Ryan and Jamie Stram. He is excited to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for the fall semester.
Bryce is the grandson of Laverne and Velda DuCharme, of Eastman, and he rounds out the Wisconsin portion of Team USA’s roster.
