Shawville softball prospect Cade Kuehl has been selected to the final roster of Canada’s U18 national team that will travel to an international tournament in Argentina later this fall. 

The 18-year-old catcher has had a scorching summer already, coming off a silver-medal finish at the Canada Games with Team Quebec and a bronze at the U20 men’s softball championships this summer in Saskatoon. 

Kuehl said he attended tryouts earlier this summer where coaches and trainers took athletic measurements of prospective players. He said Team Canada scouts were also present at his games this summer.

Earlier this week, Softball Canada announced Kuehl had been selected to the final roster of 16 players. 

“It’s been a goal that I’ve been working toward for as long as I can remember, so just to finally hear that it was official was pretty cool,” he said. 

He felt his gameplay during those big tournaments this summer was part of what helped him get the nod over other prospects. 

“I had a good tournament for myself at the Canadians in Saskatoon, so I think that helped my case as well,” he said. 

Team Canada will travel to Argentina in early October for the Pan American Championships, and could qualify for the World Championships if they finish in the top four. 

The team will not practice together until the week of the tournament, but Kuehl said in the meantime a group of Pontiac mentors are helping him train for the big moment.

Matt Greer, who is part of that group, said he is proud to see Kuehl reach a goal he’s been working toward since he was young. 

“I think he knew it was a lofty goal to wear the red and white, but he’s put a lot of time and effort and energy into trying to get there,” he said. 

He said while some players from the Pontiac have made it to various iterations of Team Canada camp, not many have made the final roster. “This is quite the accomplishment.”  

Greer added that he is seeing Kuehl’s success inspiring young softball players in the community to work harder toward their goals. 

“I’m definitely seeing a lot more energy with young people saying, ‘Maybe I could do that,’” he said. 

Kuehl said he is going to continue working on his game solo until he flies to Argentina to begin practicing with the team. He said he is looking forward to playing high-level softball with new international opponents. 

“Putting on that jersey and being able to represent my country is going to be pretty special.”