Aloysius never gives up
Aloysius' fighting spirit inspires Catholic High to C Division softball title
At 4-0 down against softball powerhouse Raffles Institution (RI) in the semi-final, their hopes of making the final were starting to slip away.
But Aloysius Ong (above) was not going to give up without a fight.
The 14-year-old vice-captain of Catholic High School's C Division team knew that beating RI in the semis would represent their best chance of winning the championship. And a gold medal would be a befitting gift for the school, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
"We wanted to win so badly that we trained five days a week, and to give up at 4-0 down would not have done our sacrifices justice," said Aloysius.
His team came back to beat RI 7-6, and went on to beat St Gabriel's Secondary 9-3 in the final last month.
Besides the achievement of beating RI, the Secondary 2 pitcher also recorded a personal best of 97kmh for his throw - the fastest in his age group this year.
Said Aloysius, who had been pulling off average throwing speeds of 94kmh previously: "I'm very pleased because I've been working a lot on my throwing in training and that has produced results. But there is still a lot more room for improvement."
The son of former national softball player Ong Bin first picked up softball in Primary 4, and looks up to his father as a role model and inspiration.
"He always comes down to watch me at my games and gives me tips on how I can improve," he said. "I hope to do my father proud by becoming as good as him, and representing Singapore."
The vice-captain also sets an example for his teammates by being one of the school's top student-athletes.
He said that the school's sports excellence programme's timetable allows him to juggle his studies and sporting commitments well, and attributes his academic excellence to being able to keep his focus on his goals.
TEAM MORALE
He tries to bring out the best in his peers too.
"As the vice-captain, it's important to lead my team on and off the pitch, and I try to organise study groups so that we can help one another. This also builds our team morale."
Winfred Oh, teacher-in-charge for the softball team, said Aloysius' fun personality complements the vice-captain's leadership well and helps strengthen bonds between the players.
"Sometimes he can be a bit mischievous, but Aloysius also steps up to the plate to inspire his team when the going gets tough." said Oh.
"It will be a difficult transition to progress from the C to B Division, and competition for starting places will be even tougher.
"But if he continues to work hard and improve his game, he will be a very important player in the senior squad."
H-tWo-o HyDration tip
BENEFITS OF HYDRATING BEFORE SPORTS
- Decreases body’s temperature and increases endurance level.
- Aids efficient carbohydrate absorption, especially in a hot and humid environment where sweat loss can be very high.
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