Springvale pitcher Simone Wearne has been named the Australian Baseball Federation’s Female Player of the Year.By Paul Pickering
PERSONAL accolades have never sat comfortably with Springvale Lions baseballer Simone Wearne.
But as the 28-year-old pitcher was named the Australian Baseball Federation’s Female Player of the Year on Sunday, she admitted that the encouragement could not have come at a better time.
Because while Wearne could hardly have scripted a better start to 2007, she said the past nine months had been among the most frustrating of her decorated career.
Having led the Springvale Lions to their third consecutive premiership in Baseball Victoria’s first division, Wearne capped a triumphant summer by claiming the Golden Arm award in Victoria’s successful 2007 National Championships campaign.
But in May, Wearne sustained a serious knee injury during an off-season game of football and was sidelined for the remainder of 2007. So when Wearne was informed of her latest honour, she couldn’t help but laugh at the timing.
“It’s always an honour to win an award in the company of such great players, but I’d much rather share it (with team-mates),” Wearne said.
“But when I got the call, one thing it did do was put a smile on my face, because I suppose I went from being at the peak of things to coming right back down, so there has been some definite highs and lows in the last year.”
After making an appearance at the mound in a few Springvale seconds fixtures in recent weeks, Wearne is working towards a full-scale return at the nationals later this month.
And while Wearne admits her repairing knee is likely to prevent her from displaying the Golden Arm-winning form of last year, she is confident she can make a useful contribution to the Victorian team.
“I think a lot of my success has been because of a bit of mental toughness,” she said.
“I don’t throw hard and blow people away, but I seem to be able to hold it together pretty well.”
Given that Wearne was named as one of only two pitchers in the All-World team at the 2006 World Cup in Taiwan, most would agree she has done more than just hold it together.
But as she sets her sights on the 2008 World Cup in August, Wearne will have plenty of support from her Springvale team-mates, with as many as four Lions vying for national selection.
In fact, it is a testament to the strength of the Springvale club that Wearne’s closest rival in the Player of the Year award was team-mate Shae Lillywhite.
But Wearne says baseball’s low profile in Australia dictates that the sport will always be a hobby above all else.
“It’s a really big thing for us to represent our country,” she said.
“And although we earn the right to do it, we pay for the privilege.
“So we’ve decided that we just have a really expensive hobby.”
After returning home from the Baseball Australia Diamond Awards luncheon on the Gold Coast on Sunday, Wearne will be hoping to cheer home the Springvale women and men in their tilts at fifth-straight divisional titles next weekend.
