By ROY WARD
MELBOURNE Aces utility Scott Wearne is truly a jack of all trades when it comes to baseball.
Entering his third season with the Aces in the Australian Baseball League, the 30 year old has played every position on the field for the side, except pitcher, although he admits he will be lobbying to step up to the mound this season.
When the new ABL season opens this weekend at the Aces’ new home, the refurbished Melbourne Ballpark in Laverton, the former Springvale Eagles and Waverley Reds player will take his place in the side, but where that place will be remains a mystery.
“I might squeeze in an innings of pitching this season just so I can become the first guy in the league to play every position,” he joked. “I haven’t spoken much to the coaches about where I’m playing; I’m not too fussed about it.
“I don’t have a primary position and I like it that way. My position in the team is to do whatever makes the team better, fill whichever hole needs filling.”
Wearne did just that last season, playing most of it as catcher while also playing all three outfield positions along with second and third base.
Each spot requires specific strengths and positional knowledge, but after being raised in a baseball family Wearne is comfortable on all parts of the field.
For much of his professional career, he has split his year between playing in Australia during our summer months and spending the American summer in the United States playing with minor league or independent league sides.
But this year Wearne, who turned 30 last month, took a view towards his career after baseball and stayed at home in Melbourne’s south-east, working hard to grow his carpentry business and also rest his body after several years filled with baseball.
“I may have the chance to go overseas again next year but I doubt it — you can only live the dream for so long,” he said. “I miss playing every day and being over there, but I needed a break. My body has taken a pounding over the past few years.”
Many of the Aces players work in full-time jobs and fit their Aces commitments in after work, with Wearne known to turn up to night games in his overalls and work boots, fresh from the building site.
“I’d turn up to the game in my work clothes while the other teams were out getting batting practice in. I’d need to grab some food quickly and then get changed. A lot of our young players don’t work or work part-time, but the older guys work full-time and squeeze baseball in around it.”
Wearne admits such a schedule takes its toll on the older players but with a number of rising young players on the Aces’ roster, the older heads will get a little rest during the team’s matches.
ABL teams play four-game series over four days each week. “The home series aren’t too bad because we usually play from Thursday through to Sunday so by the end of it you are feeling it,” Wearne said.
“But it’s the away games which kill you because you often get back to Melbourne at midnight on Sunday and then go to work the next morning.”
The Aces finished second last year, losing to Perth Heat in the grand final series.
Wearne is confident his side can go one better this season but knows the Aces will have to fight off staunch opposition from the rest of the ABL to return to the finals. “We have the list to take us there; if we get on a roll at the right time anything is possible.”
Melbourne Aces start their season with a four-game series against Adelaide at the Melbourne Ballpark, Laverton. Matches are on Friday at 7.35pm, Saturday 5.05pm and Sunday 1.05pm. For more details, go to melbourneaces.com.au.
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