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a) . NIGERIA!) calamari - Wednesday. December 1. zero The French co nnecti on 0 O 0 0 Former Giants prospect Homosta] resurrects his career with French baseball champs BYBoonmc a team known as the 76. Formed in 1986 it Chm’ll'dew plays in France's elite division and had won ,- 7 the Coupe of Europe. most recently in 2007. \} e‘s ridden the buses in the San playing against the continents other top , HFrancisco Giants minor league sys- baseball clubs '~\ tem, playing alongside World Series Always known for his bat since he suited \ , champions like Tim Lincecum and Matt up as a shortstop/second baseman with the . Cain. Canadian national junior team, playing \\ And Waterloo's Aaron Homostaj was one alongside future major leaguem like Russell N ‘ stop away from the big leagues himself in Martin and Jeff Francis, Hornostaj was ' \ the Giants system, playing for Triple A Fres‘ called on to produce big hitS‘again for the f no in the Pacific Coast League. “I got my French club. “A lot ofdoors have open up for ) shot playing at the big league camp and me I guess because of the levels I've played L 7 spring trainingacouple ofyears," he said. at with the Giants and Team Canada.” he ‘ ' 1 But after a severe wrist injury and surgery said. ‘ j 7 in 2007 it looked like it was the end of the And produce he did, leading the club in , . line for llomostaj's baseball career. RBIs and home runs on their way to another ' , “ â€". The past year has taught him different. Coupe ofEurope title this past summer. , The Waterloo Minor Baseball grad has “1 was named the best hitter in the learned just how international the game has league.” said Hornostaj. “l was hitting \‘ ,. become as he suited up for the Rouen 76 in cleanup all year. t“ ; France. “Every time there were guys on base they ( ‘ 3 (L l, "ltver since I was young I was playing expected me to deliver. But I hadagreat year 44 e LILAâ€"hâ€" hast-hall at the high levels. and there were and hit 400 for the entire year. for the first .-~" always opportunities," he said. "There's time in mycareer." C4 C . baseball all around the world. He admits there was some culture shock , y l “in the lntemational Baseball Association in France, especially when he was trying to .f " there are ll? countries that are part of it, find a way to watch the recent World Series. and it's thriving." But his high school French immersion skills But France? Of all the countries in the paid off, and he managed to find a way to world associated with baseball France isn't catch the Giants first World Series win since one ofthem. . 1954. i 4? fl Unknown to many. there is a thriving “it was amazing watching them win," J, baseball culture in France in cities like said Homostaj, "l was starting to get playoff : Rouen, where he played this past season for fever like everybody else, and I appreciate a... the guys that have gone through the organi- \ g Q zation and what they've done." ~ .1_ y it ‘ a; It also lead toalittle bit of“What if?" ,, . i’ » a = ' i “It was difficult too," admitted Hornostaj. . \. " ‘ LN}, 41, “I thought maybe I should have continued . , - :â€" ‘11' f “til-“tilt f i. to play in the U.S. and follow my dream. But j ; V. ' (f...) ‘ ‘ France was where l was meant to be to help a; r . . v " Y recover from my injuries and surgery. ~' 3 2:5 ”5 V5 - â€";-‘ ; “l thought I might as well travel the world if -J,' 55 X? . m and play baseball at the same time." ' a“- A "v." He didn't have to wait long for his next . , f ,f 3:5“:41'3 assignment. Homostaj was only back home ‘“' ' ‘t we. if; .;- a, â€" ~ - ' , .. 555 T in Canada for three weeks before he got a , 4 ~ m we“ . {if t call to suit up for a team in Melbourne. Aus- < ’ ”2,241“ 4 tralia. He flew out last Friday to another if ’ . ' country that is becoming a hotbed for talent . ' . " \ l after events like the World Baseball Classic. ‘ _ , ff“ , x . "1 fee] like pm not on the sidelines any» Waterloo's Aaron Hornostaj was the top hitter on the Rouen 76 baseball club that won Coupe i' "a“ \ more," said Hornostaj. “It’s like being a kid of Europe this past summer. The former'San Francisco Giants prospect found there are places , , â€" . ‘ again, and it's the first time since my surgery in the world where he can still pursue‘his baseball dream, and recently Signed up With a team Aaron Homes“, that I've felt confident again. I can just go in Melbourne. Australia to play in their summer league. ”me mm out and do it." 0 Introducing the almost all-new 2005 to 20 'I 0 VW. ». With l l2-point inspection, additional 2-year or 40,000 km limited warranty, and 2 years of roadside assistance. _ - i‘ “M" h" Visit Voltsvogen Waterloo at materlwtom to find the Volkswagen Pure 0 _ a 0/0 ‘ Volkswagen Pure tertified presumed vehicle for your budget. Cniifud m. ”we and“ J, A l v n y m [ Volkswagen Waterloo l” 7 ‘T j q g ~ Cf; l Zlow 550 Weber St N Waterloo ‘ ._" ‘ ' "‘ ‘_â€" Q ”00 rm ‘ 519-884-7470 solosvawoterloo.com 4s ' ' ,. _ u sin-nun www.vwwotorloo.com yfigfa _ e... .~ ZKWEE-Tfim“:fi?“nmwwa-E-fi-mmwfiWmflifiwwm3? l