Robbie Black just wants to get going.

The 16-year-old Glencoe ball player is munching on some sunflower seeds pulled from a purple and pink princess backpack as he watches his team mates on the Canadian Junior Team at bat against his team, the Alvinston Indians Monday.

The princess backpack is a cross he bears for forgetting equipment but Black doesn’t mind. He is just excited to have a chance to play for his country.

Black is one of 24 players from across Canada who are spending 10 days in intensive training leading up to the World Championship in Michigan which starts this weekend.

When Black took his place at second base on the familiar Alvinston diamond Monday, he’d been working five days with the team and said he had already learned a lot. “The coaches have been great,” he told The Independent.

He’s excited and says he’s sure his nerves will kick in once the team starts competition. “I just want to get going,” he says.

Black, who plays with the Indians in the SouthWest League, is one of two local players on the junior team. Pavey also of Glencoe with ties to the Indians, pitched in the first game, which the junior team lost 4-3 to the Junior Indians.

The team went on to beat the Senior team in the second game of the double header.

Black and Pavey and their team will head to Michigan to play their first game Sunday. Argentina is the two-time defending champion and the favourite in the world championship.

Robbie Black during introductions at the Alvinston game

At second base in the game against the Alvinston Indians Sr. team