DAVE Bishop’s family history in baseball runs across New Zealand, Australia and the US and now he wants the Gold Coast to become a force in the sport. You would be hard pressed to find a family more involved with baseball on the Gold Coast with six members of the clan either playing or coaching at the Runaway Bay Dolphins. Bishop, 37, plays in the club’s senior adult league side and coaches the under-16 team that his younger brother Faenza, 15, and nephew Majar Bishop, 13 play for. Bishop’s son Robert, 6, and other nephew Marshall Bishop, 6, both play in the 10 and under side while niece Pariz Bishop, 12, plays in the under-12 team. Baseball is life for Bishop who was first exposed to the sport on family holidays in the US at a young age while both his parents were also avid fans.

Bishop grew up playing softball in Wellington, New Zealand, because baseball wasn’t on offer but his brother Beau’s chance meeting with a Boston Red Sox scout six years ago changed that. Beau earned a minor-league contract and was with the US club for three years before playing for the Milwaukee Brewers for a season. Beau, now 23, is currently based in South Australia where he plays for the Adelaide Bite in the Australian Baseball League. Bishop made the transition to baseball in 2010 and arrived on the Gold Coast two years ago, with experience coaching at Major-league US outfit Oakland Athletics and the New Zealand under-15 team. He also currently works as a hitting and fielding coach for Japanese company Trius. The Pacific Pines resident’s ambition is to build a strong pathway to the elite level on the Gold Coast so more can reach the top level.

“I just want to help with the talent that I have seen on the Gold Coast,” Bishop said. “Runaway Bay is such a good club and has such a family environment. “I want to start coaching representative ball on the Gold Coast. I’m trying to show that there is a genuine pathway, especially for education in the states and in Europe. “There are plenty of options for our kids to gain experiences and opportunities in another sport.”

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