Top Cougar rookie

By Marc McGowan
BERWICK City Cougars rookie of the year Adam Silva is set to accept an invitation to showcase his talents to Major League Baseball scouts in Queensland in June.
The prodigiously talented 14-year-old from Narre Warren South accepted an invitation into the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) last month.
And the good news continued last week when Major League Baseball Australian Academy officials offered him a spot in their elite eight-week scholarship program.
“It’s for players who aren’t signed,” Silva explained at the Cougars’ presentation night last Friday.
“Major League Baseball scouts go and watch and players get the opportunity to get signed and play baseball professionally.”
Baseballers must be at least 15 to sign a professional contract, but Silva is just looking forward to the experience.
“The VIS was very unexpected. I didn’t think I’d get it this year and then this. It’s just massive,” he said.
“I didn’t think I’d get accepted into this (either) – it’s just crazy.
“I just have to keep a level head and keep going the way I’m going. If I keep trying hard and training hard it should all turn out good.”
Berwick City playing coach Wayne Porter is a big fan of Silva, but admitted that plenty would have to go right for him to make the Major Leagues.
“He’s got to have the tools they want because he’s out here doing it, but in America there are millions of kids doing the same thing,” Porter said.
“(But) hard work can get you anywhere. He’s definitely got the physical attributes and he hasn’t played the game that long, so he’s only going to get better.
“He’s going to be tall, he’s quick and he’s got all the other stuff, so we’ll find out in a couple of years.”