A local Swift Current baseball talent is preparing to take part in the most high profiled tournament of his young career.

13-Year old Ethan Murdoch will make the trip out east to London, Ontario to represent Team Saskatchewan at the 13U National Championship from August 25-29.

"I'm pretty amped, it is going to be a great experience," Ethan said looking forward to the weekend.

"The ball park and stuff in London is pretty beautiful and just the events that we will get to participate in will probably be really fun so I'm just really excited to go and have fun with lots of good guys."

Upon arrival in London, the 5'7" Catcher/Infielder will be joining a team that features talent from all across Saskatchewan, including five players from Saskatoon, four from Regina, two from Warman, one from Goodeve, one from Dalmeny and one from Unity.

Knowing he is the only member of Team Saskatchewan from Swift Current, Murdoch says he is looking forward to wearing the Saskatchewan jersey and representing Swift Current, as well as Swift Current Minor Baseball.

"It is an honour to be able to represent my province in such a good tournament and I think it will be a lot of fun to compete with a bunch of guys from all around Saskatchewan," he said.

"I'm the first one (from Swift Current) that kind of gets to go to this tournament and represent Saskatchewan, so yeah, it will be really fun."

Despite preparing to take part in his first National tournament, Murdoch does not lack in big tournament experience.

In the previous two seasons, playing with the Pee Wee Indians along side his dad, Derek Murdoch, who coaches the team, Ethan and the Indians made back-to-back appearances at the National Western Baseball Championships.

Ethan plans on using that experience to help him through his first National Championship.

"I think it is a big stage, so being used to playing on that, with last weekend at Westerns and last year, I feel like I'll know what I'm doing in front of all those people," he voiced.

"It will be really fun and the experience will be awesome."

Although he is heading east for a baseball tournament, the Swift Current native is also looking forward to venturing out into new territory.

"It will be really nice because we usually stick around the province. It is nice to stick around the province and play all of these games, but this one will be different," expressed Murdoch.

"Last year I was in St. Albert for Westerns which was really cool and I went to Saskatoon for Westerns this year, which was awesome, but I think this will be a step above because it is the biggest tournament someone my age can go to. It will be really cool just to see a new city. I've never been to Ontario before so I'm looking forward to it."

With the tournament set to begin Thursday morning, he is hoping to carry over his offensive success from Westerns in Saskatoon earlier in August.

Following the conclusion of Swift Current's four game run at the tournament, Ethan received the Top Hitter Award after posting an .818 batting average (9 for 11), along with nine runs scored, one RBI and four walks.

The recipe for his success is a simple one.

"I like lots of hard work and putting the team first," Ethan stated.

"Don't settle for silver, that is kind of my motto. Just go for gold and don't settle for silver."

Team Saskatchewan will play their first game Thursday morning against Quebec squad Rive-Sud.

Ethan is optimistic it will be the start of a long run at the National event.

"I think we have a very talented team going in to this, and I think we have a good shot at having a strong tournament," he said.

"It will be good competition, but we have a pretty good team and we'll have a chance of taking it."

Team Saskatchewan will then take on the host team from London Thursday evening, before playing one game on Friday and one more on Saturday.

Playoffs will take place on Sunday.