Penrith Baseball Club are hoping a successful State League season will see the return of a number of top quality local juniors in seasons to come.
For a while the Penrith club have been the cellar dwellers of the State Baseball League, which over the years has resulted in a number of standout local players leave to join more successful neighbouring sides.
“Most of the league is fuelled by our juniors,” said Penrith player and interim coach, Alex Johnson.
“They leave our club because we’ve never been strong but we’ve had a couple of locals come back to us this season. I was always a Penrith junior and I’ve come back, so hopefully after a winning season more juniors will come back to us too.”
The Panthers began the new 2013/14 first grade season last week, losing both of their opening games to cross-town rival Blacktown Workers.
However, after finishing last season in ninth and last place, the club is hopeful that this year will be a lot different.
To help, the club has even brought in some international talent to help spark the side into form.
“We’ve acquired a couple of more experienced guys to help us out including players from the United States and Europe,” Johnson said.
“It’s going to be really good to have that experience to show the younger guys what baseball is all about and how hard you have to work to win.
“We were very unlucky to finish last (last season) but this year we are aiming for the top four. That’s the mentality we’ve put into the boys, that’s what everyone is there to do.”
Over the off-season Penrith signed a number of big names to help their cause including American baseballer Kevin Sah and American coach Trevor Rooper, the latter joining the side next month.
