On New Year's Eve Bendigo baseballer Billy Parsons was in the crowd watching the Melbourne Aces compete in the Australian Baseball League.
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During the match he received a phone call he will never forget.
On the other end of the line was an offer he had been waiting for, an invitation to make his ABL debut with the Canberra Cavalry.
It was a no-brainer for the 21-year-old.
By Sunday he was kitted out in Cavalry colours and was out on the mound pitching.
Parons is no stranger to elite-level baseball as he has been a development player for the Aces where he pitched in practice matches and was recently named as the MVP for the Port Melbourne Mariners.
However, the experience on Sunday took him one step higher.
"I was able to see that the ABL is a whole new level with elite players who don't make mistakes," Parsons said.
"It was such a great experience. I was a little bit nervous, but I feel I hid my emotions well.
"I blanked out from the moment I started pitching all the way until I finished."
The Aces secured an early lead after a four-run first and three-run third to take the win 11-4 over the Cavalry on Sunday afternoon at the Melbourne Ballpark in Altona.
The Aces jumped out to a big early lead behind a four-run first and three-run third and added to their advantage late to prevail 11-4 and improve their season record to 5-3.
The season started in mid-November and will run until late January, followed by a series final.
The ABL was founded in 2010 and showcases some of the best Australian and New Zealand talent in addition to top prospects from across the globe.
Parsons has also been hard at work in the Victorian Summer Baseball League 2020/21 season with the Sunshine Eagles.
The Eagles are on top of the ladder with three wins and a draw to their name and prepare to take on Waverley on Sunday January 17.
At the conclusion of the season he will then embark on his biggest challenge yet, a move across to Europe to play against some of the world's best.
The star pitcher who learned his craft playing in the Bendigo Baseball Association recently signed a contract to compete overseas in Germany in 2021.
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