Wearne steps up to full plate

By Gavin Staindl
AS SPRINGVALE’S Big Cats get set for this weekend’s opening round of the Baseball Victoria season, Mick Wearne has confirmed he’ll coach five of the Lions’ eight senior teams and also play in two.
Wearne will coach the Division Two senior and reserve male teams, the Division One and Two female teams and the Masters team.
“I guess the older you get the better you get at handling everything,” Wearne said.
The veteran of the K.H. Wearne Diamond said that he did not mind taking on a heavier load this summer.
“It is supposed to be the other way around … as you get older you do less but I’ve got a responsibility to the club,” Wearne said.
After finishing fifth last summer, one spot out of finals, the Division Two men’s first nine are gearing up for another tilt at reaching the post-season.
Returning with a similar side as last year, the Lions also welcome back big-hitting Lucas Price.
The 27-year-old drifted from the sport two years ago to pursue his passion in go-karting but after filling in for Berwick during the winter season he decided to return to the Lions for the summer.
Joining Price will be American pitcher Hunter Davis.
In 2007/08, Davis, 29, enjoyed a stint with the Tampa Bay Rays organisation but since then has played independent baseball for the Broxton Rox where he was persuaded by Wearne to join the Lions for the summer season.
Wearne will continue on from last year as coach of the Springvale Division One women’s side that missed out on a grand final win by one run last season.
The Lions will be without youngster Nicole Garner and star-Japanese import Risa Nakashima for the opening four weeks after Garner broke her hand and Nakashima relinquishes her commitments in Japan.
Springvale has also entered a second Division One side, that includes many players from last year’s all-conquering Berwick/Springvale side.
The new team will be coached by Wearne’s daughter, Simone, and will play under the name of Springvale Pumas.