By Jim Lane - retired sports editor of the Altoona Mirror
For AltoonaCurve.com

Even though he missed the entire 2005 season while recovering from rotator cuff surgery on his left shoulder, Brett Roneberg wasn't worried about his return to the Curve this year

"I knew I could always hit" Roneberg said recently at Blair County Ballpark
"Defense was going to be the key for me - being able to throw from left field or play adequate first base
So far I've gotten through with no dramas, and hopefully that will continue"

"Hitting has always been the big thing" the personable Aussie said
"If I didn't hit, I'd be out of here
As long as the arm gets through the season, and I keep hitting, I'll be very happy"

So far, so good for the 27-year-old native of Australia, who is in his tenth professional season and second stint with the Curve
He ranks among Eastern League leaders in batting and runs scored, and is a big reason Altoona has been near the top of the Southern Division standings all season

Roneberg spent the first 6-1/2 seasons of his career in the Florida Marlins organization before being traded to the Montreal Expos during 2002
After joining the Pirates, he came to Altoona for the first time in 2003, hitting .281 with 10 homers and 61 RBIs in 125 games
After one year here, Roneberg signed with the Red Sox and was an Eastern League All-Star with Portland in 2004, batting .278 with a career-best 17 homers and 77 RBI in 124 games

Roneberg suffered the rotator cuff injury in December 2004 while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and was released a short time later by the Red Sox

"Sitting around for twelve-plus months in Australia wasn't much fun" Roneberg said of 2005
"I didn't get a chance to do too much
I did my rehab in a little area in my garage, which my parents helped set up
I did exercises three times a day, but it was a long road back"

He signed with Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent last November and was added to the Curve roster from extended spring training on April 24

He made an immediate impact with the Curve, batting. 352 in his first 21 games
During that stretch, he tied an Altoona franchise record with five hits on May 3 at Erie
He also smacked the club's first grand slam homer on May 12 against Binghamton

"When he came in, he stepped right into the three-hole, and made us a little deeper on the back end, so he really solidified us" Curve manager Tim Leiper said
"He's real valuable
You can run him out to first base or the outfield, and he gives us that versatility"

"He's a good professional guy, who has been around this league a couple of times" Leiper noted
"We're lucky to have him"

Besides his pro career, Roneberg has been a big contributor to the Australian National Team, having played in two Olympic Games and the World Baseball Classic

"I've had a great time" he said
"I've been lucky enough to represent my country Australia in two Olympics
We won the Silver Medal in 2004 at Athens, and it was one of the best feelings of my life
We lost the Gold Medal game, but getting there was one of the best experiences I've ever had"

"We actually won five games in a row to get into the Gold Medal game
Cuba beat us, and we got robbed big time" Roneberg said
"There was a play, and it's been replayed many times in Australia
The guy (center fielder) hit his glove on the wall, caught the ball again, and on the appeal, the umpire called it an out, and we lost three runs"

"But, it wasn't to be" he added
"Nobody expected us to get there, and we were very happy with the Silver Medal"

Roneberg is also happy to be in Altoona

"I like playing in Altoona" he said
"I'd love to move up one day in the future, but as long as I play everyday, I'm not complaining
After a year off, I was happy to get a job"