Richards throws himself into baseball again

By Stuart Teather
SPRINGVALE Lion Glen Richards has seen the highs and lows of the baseball world.
Richards is playing for Victoria Aces in the Claxton Shield, the national tournament.
It’s the latest achievement in an eventful career.
As a raw 16-year-old, Richards burst on to the scene after a dominant display at a schoolboy tournament, catching the eye of Australian Baseball Academy scouts.
While the invitation to join the Queensland-based academy was a surprise to the then Year 11 student, a bigger surprise came days later when he received a phone call from US club the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves said they were interested in Richards, and not long after, he signed a contract with the Major League Baseball club, much to his surprise.
“At that time I never thought anything about signing, I was just out there playing baseball and having fun,” he said. “It all just happened so quickly, I was blown away by it.”
He stayed in Australia for another two years to complete his schooling before heading off to chase his American dream.
In his first US season, in 2004, he played in the lower-tier rookie league, where he impressed with some strong innings from the mound, providing a launching pad to higher leagues.
Richards began his second season playing in the advanced-rookie league, before moving up to the advanced-A league, where he played for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
While playing professional sport is a dream for many young boys, Richards said it was hard work.
“It’s a full-time gig. During the season you’re playing every day of the month – you get two days off a month. You train all morning then come out for the game in the afternoon.”
But as quickly as his American baseball career began, it ended.
Richards was released from his contract after spring training before his third year, and said he had kept a low baseball profile upon returning to Australia.
“I’ve sort of been pretty quiet. I came home and decided to get an apprenticeship,’’ he said.
“I’ve just been enjoying my baseball. It was only this year I wanted to be a part of the Claxton Shield again, and I gave it a go.”
His selection for the Victoria Aces was virtually automatic, with Richards also having played for Australia at the World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005.
He has only pitched two innings so far in seven games for the Aces, but has helped his team to a strong position, a game clear on top of the ladder.
“It’s been good to play in a higher class of baseball and really test myself to see if I can still do it. I’ve proved to myself that I can still pitch, and play at a good level,” he said.