Import makes the difference

By Russell Bennett
NEW Berwick pitcher Josh Leite flew into Tullamarine from California at 9.30 last Friday morning. Less than 12 hours later he was taking training for the senior team.
Leite has come to Australia on business – baseball business. And he’ll head back to the US next April at the conclusion of the Cougars’ season.
But he is determined to make an impression on his new team while he is here.
Leite, who last year completed his Masters in Business at Azusa Pacific University, proved pivotal in Berwick’s 10-3 weekend win over Sandringham.
“We were really happy with his first game for us,” said Berwick coach Wayne Porter.
“He wasn’t totally pleased but he did have 14 strike-outs.”
Porter said local baseball sides were often “flying blind” when signing imports – never knowing quite what to expect.
“But (Josh) has ticked all the boxes so far,” he said.
“It’s really different here to what he’s used to (in America) – this is boutique baseball.”
Porter was happy with his side’s win, particularly its offensive numbers.
“We scored 10 runs so it was great from that point of view,” he said.
“We had only scored seven (runs) in the previous two weeks so it was pleasing to turn that around.”
But he said a “clean” defence made all the difference for the Cougars, as Sandringham rued missed opportunities.
“We held our catches and it really cost them runs,” he said.
Porter praised the efforts of 16-year-old charge Dean McCort, who Porter said was “still finding his feet”.
“He struck out on nerves first up,” Porter said.
“But he knocked in two runs at his next at-bat which was great to see.”
THE news wasn’t as good for Berwick’s reserves – going down to Sandringham 5-1.
“The seconds were very flat compared to their previous two weeks,” Porter said.
“Unfortunately they didn’t really fire a shot.
“Our guys just swung at a few too many bad pitches.”
But the thirds and fourths joined the seniors in victory row with 19-16 and 8-7 wins respectively.