Originally appeared in the Messenger at https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/us-imports-raise-premiership-hopes-for-golden-grove-central-districts-baseball-club/news-story/24adeeec407b2ae29c2a8103b8ae9aa9
October 15, 2012
Erin Jones
US IMPORT Tim Brown hopes to fire Golden Grove Central Districts to premiership glory after a break-out Minor League season.
Brown, who was last month named pitcher of the year for the Gateway Grizzlies, St Louis, is the latest recruit for the Dodgers’ division one side.
“I hope I can be a consistent starting pitcher for them and have a good year,” Brown, of Golden Grove, says.
“I really want to help them get into the play-offs and once we get there, we’ll see what happens.”
The 25 year old joined Golden Grove last week after rave reviews from fellow US import Landon Hernandez who played for the club last season.
“Landon says this is a really great group of guys to be around and a good chance to stay in baseball shape in the (US) off season,” Brown says.
Catcher Hernandez is back for another year at Illyarrie Reserve, after helping the club finish second and narrowly miss out on last season’s SA Baseball League grand final.
“Making it to a grand final is your goal,” Hernandez, also 25, says.
“I think this season all the players have the same goal and we’re all pretty excited for what’s ahead.
“The reason the club brings me out (to Australia) is to win and if we did it would be something truly amazing.”
Coach Adrian Chenoweth says the club expects big things from Brown, who helped the Dodgers to a win in his first match against East Torrens on the weekend.
Chenoweth hopes he will have a similar impact to Hernandez who he says was “huge” last season.
“He (Hernandez) really added to our team strength with his offence and defence,” Chenoweth says.
“He had 18 runners try and steal bases on him and he threw out all 18 runners.
“He is arguably the best catcher in the country.”
The Dodgers’ last grand final was in 2009/10 when they lost to the Kensington Cardinals.
After wins in its first two games this season Chenoweth hopes the club can go one better.
“We were a young side (in 2009/10), but now I think the guys have taken it upon themselves to become bigger, stronger and more mature,” he says.
“They realise what it means to make a grand final and how hard it is to make them.”
