Friday, November 25, 2011

Burgamy Keeps Eye On The Ball

HITTING HOME: Canberra Cavalry's imported slugger Brian Burgamy gets bat on ball. Photo: SMP Images


Brian Burgamy has been around baseball long enough to know there's no point in looking too far ahead.

The self-proclaimed journeyman knows it sounds cliched but after 11 seasons as a professional his focus remains on getting ready for the next at-bat.

At the moment that means looking to get hits for the Canberra Cavalry against the Melbourne Aces in the ABL.

Hopefully, he can produce good enough numbers to keep the dream of being a professional baseballer alive.

''It's a definite possibility [that I'd come back to the ABL in the future], we'll see how it goes,'' Burgamy said with a slight southern drawl.

''I don't like looking too far ahead, just take one at-bat at a time and take one day at a time, that's what I'm looking at right now.''

And after a slow start, that approach has seen the switch hitter's numbers improve.

It has coincided with the departure of John Tolisano, who returned to the United States after tearing a tendon in his shoulder against Adelaide.

It meant Burgamy moved from batting third in the line-up - the three-hole - to the pivotal clean-up hitter in the four-hole.

That added responsibility has seen his numbers almost double.

His average since Tolisano left is .417, up from .227, and three of his seven runners batted in have come in that period.

The ease with which Todd Glaesmann has moved into the three-hole has also helped.

''[Glaesmann's] jumped right in there, he's done well the last couple of games hitting [in] the three-hole,'' Burgamy said.

''He's got to keep it up, and everybody behind him keep it up. He gets on base and myself and a few guys behind us keep swinging the bats like we are, we're going to score some runs.''

The 30-year-old is also the elder statesman of the team, which has an average age of 24, and will look to impart his wisdom to the young group.

''I'm the grandpa of the team. [Starting pitcher] Tristan Crawford [29] he's right behind me. I'm the oldest and hopefully I can rub off some of my knowledge and my years on some of the young guys that might need it,'' he said.