Roneberg back for R&R
By Damien Stannard
The next 12 months loom as a make or break
year for Cairns baseballer Brett Roneberg.
Roneberg, 23, returned home from the US this week to refresh his mind and body after his most demanding overseas season.
Depending on how he emerges from a hectic year which saw him shuffled from Florida to Maine, back to Florida and then to Pennsylvania, the powerful lefthander could be on track for the Major League in 2003.
"Lots of rest and recouperation, it's
been a hectic year," the still jetlagged Roneberg said about
his immediate plans.
"Everything will be geared towards next year. I'm hoping
to get in touch with my agent and hopefully get through to the
Majors.
"I've made some improvements to my game, learnt how to hit,
so I want to maintain that through next season."
The young Australian representative started
the year with the Florida Marlins 'AA' affiliate the Portland
Sea Dogs.
After a brief stint in 'AAA' with the Calgary Cannons where he
averaged a healthy 0.400, he was traded by the Marlins to the
Montreal Expos where he completed the season with their 'AA' club,
the Harrisburg Senators.
Roneberg's season finished last Monday when
the Senators were bundled from the second round of the Eastern
League Championships by the Norwich Navigators.
The Senators were on track to progress to win the Championships
until a shutout from the Navigators pitcher Brian Rodgers halted
their progress in the deciding game of the five-game series.
After a hand injury hampered his early season form, Roneberg ended the year strongly and finished the finals series with 10 hits from 21 at-bats for an average of 0.476.
He is not permitted to negotiate with any rival
clubs until October, but in the meantime he may lend a hand to
Cairns Baseball League club, the Playpen Cubs, in the run home
to the play-offs.
"My hands are a little tender but I might get in and give
Cubs a bit of a hand," he said.
Cubs have the CBL double-header against Shogun
Heat and Reds at the Trinity Beach Baseball Complex.
