NEW Australian Emeralds manager Jason Pospishil says he is viewing this week's Bendigo Challenge series against the Japanese All-Stars as a great evaluation opportunity.
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The former ABL Sydney Blue Sox manager and Baseball New South Wales state baseball operations manager has only been in the role for two months and is overseeing the squad for the first time in Bendigo.
The early results have been mixed, with the All-Stars levelling the seven-game series at 1-1 with a 15-0 win at Strathfieldsaye on Thursday.
It followed an 8-5 win to the Emeralds in Wednesday's series-opener.
While wins are a focus for Pospishil, the new manager intends using the Bendigo Challenge to uncover more about the strengths and weaknesses of his roster, with a view to next year's World Cup tournament.
"I am keen to have a good look at everyone and give them as much game time as possible and evaluate the players we have in camp," he said.
"I want to see what they can do and what areas they need to improve in.
"Bendigo is a valuable opportunity for all the coaching staff to evaluate the players. Obviously the next 10 to 12 months is very important in planning for the 2020 World Cup.
"Being able to see seven games worth in five days and getting all the players in there is going to be invaluable.
"We want to win - winning breeds winning - but at the end of the day wins and losses is not so much the priority as learning."
The Emeralds found themselves down 6-0 heading into the sixth innings in game two.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly snuffed out with the All-Stars producing nine runs to set up a 15-run margin.
Pospishil said an undoubted positive for the Emeralds was the chance to introduce some exciting new young talent into their 29-player squad for this series.
"It's outstanding the state organisations are able to develop young talent like that to a level they are able to be on a senior national team," he said.
"It's really exciting because in 12-months time there's probably two or three of them right in the mix to be in that (World Cup) team at 16 or 17 years of age.
"(Fourteen-year-old pitcher) Genevieve Beacom comes with a lot of hype and we were pretty happy with what she displayed yesterday (on Wednesday); I'm also excited to see Lianna Davidson pitch, and Ticara Geldenhuis is another young player, who played well (in game one) as well."
Pospihil described his first two months in the role as exciting and a great learning curve.
"I am just excited to be here face-to-face with the players and meet them in person and have discussions, rather than communicating by phone calls and Facebook groups and text messages," he said.
"And starting to instil some philosophies that will improve our program and give us every opportunity to be world champions in 2020.
"Hopefully all these players here make their state teams and prepare over the next three or four months and get ready for the national championships, which is early next year."
Games three and four of the series will be played at Strathfieldsaye on Friday at 11am and 2.30pm.
Two games will follow on Saturday at 11am and 2.30pm, with the series finale at 9.30am on Sunday.
Pospihil described his team's reception in Bendigo as fantastic and welcoming.
"The service we have been provided here is top-notch - I can't thank the Bendigo people enough," he said.
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