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l WMWOWMM-yAugm 11.2011 -21 i H b will 1 l ' H ' ‘ Baseball has been a global passport for Waterloo sAaron omosta] 1. I l BvBonVItMN/u; “It was kind of a big deal going you see on CNN isn't necessarily \ 1 5 Chronicle Stafl' there," said Homostaj. “It was very the reality on the street. it's as nor- ls . ; ; I interesting, and showed baseball ma] as any place you can find in {l j y ou don't have to check out in a total different aspect." Canada, and he hoped the touma- t j y his passport to see all the Some might think there isn't a merit might inspire the next gener- '. l l places that baseball has big baseball tradition in Britain. ation ofplayer. ' taken Waterloo's Aaron Homostaj but Hornostaj said the national “As much as it was great win- l l in the past year. team was head and shoulders ning. it was a great experience to ..\ \ 1 ’ lust check out his collection of above the competition in lsrael. play over there and maybe give the , ' 1 jerseys. His team could definitely play younger kids in lsrael a chance to 1 i “Baseball's taken me all around The same couldn't be said for play the sport.“ said Homostaj. . ' l the world," said Hornostaj teams like Georgia, that doesn't While Israel has been a thrill, l . The former minor-pro baseball even have a baseball diamond in playing for Valencia might have ‘ ' ‘ . . l player who was drafted by the San its country but managed to scrape finally stopped his roaming for a ‘ \& ' } Francisco Giants in 2001 and togetherateam. while. He was recruited to play for . _. ’ j l shared a bus with all-star pitchers "Georgia doesn't even have a the team by a scout with the Seat- ‘ ~' 3 . Tim [incecum and Matt (lain, who baseball field in their country. so tle Mariners and the 28-year-old . if . f both won the World Series last those guys trying to compete hopes to keep helping to rebuild . W, j year, got all the way to Triple A against us wasn't pretty.” said the program. ‘- , j baseball in Fresno before his shot Homostaj. “A lot of Great Britain's ']uan Garcia is the head coach - '* J i at the show got hampered by players, like me. came from North here and is ascout with the Seattle , f i l injury. American programs. Mariners." said Homostaj. “He’s ‘ â€" , 4 ~< l ’ But he learned last year that "But it just goes to show you also on the executive committee of , " j j you don't have to be a Major how far baseball has come over the European baseball. L,- : ‘ league Baseball player to continue last 10 years." “He was looking for a shortstop i . ‘ you're playing career around the While the Georgians are still and trying to find the best one out L 1 world as he helped power his learning the game. the Israelis had there in the Spanish League. and j French club team to the Coupe of a surprising understanding of said he wanted someone who 1 Europe title last year. baseball, Maybe it's because so understands the game and will 4 Since then he's found a job many U.S. ex-pats live along the work hard and teach the younger , ! playing for an Australian team in banks of the Jordan. but they kids how to play the game the right ' a j the country down under that has would get thousands out for their way. i 1 become a hotbed for the game of games and they knew when it was “So that's what he got out of me. l " baseball. Homostaj has also suited the right time to cheer the home and we went into the last weekend up for the Great Britain national team, with a chance to finish in the top ‘ _ team as it played a European “l was wondering if they were two. it's funny how when you have , fl championships qualifying toumav even going to have any fans.” said a resume that includes playing in f A 4 ment for the first time ever in Homostaj. "But the opening night the Giants system and have been 3? “r“ 2. lsrael. game that lsrael played it was to spring training with a major f; \ ‘ But his travels didn't stop there. impressive. league team it opens eyes for some j I 1 1 This summer he's suited up for a “They were people who under- people.“ i ‘, l team in Valencia. Spain. where he stood the game. They cheered And that's what llomostaj said g l served as a veteran shortstop on a when they needed to cheer espe- he'd like to share most with other j rebuilding club and helped return cially when a player got to two Canadian baseball players. Not . ' j them to respectability in the Span- strikes and there was a chance of everyone’s Major League Baseball “4 w s t “ w.w§ . ] ish Honore League this summer. striking him out. dream can come true. but it i , ’ " " t The experience with Great “They weren't too bad at heck- doesn't mean the game can't take "‘ 1 Britain. where they traveled to the ling either. At least they were heck- you places. 1 Holy land just last week was a ling in Hebrew and we didn't ‘Baseball has been my pass- . ' j memorable one for Homostaj. understand much olit." port." said Homostaj. a former l 1 who has dual English/Canadian The win qualified Great Britain Waterloo minor baseball player. “I I. .. ' citiu'nship. He finished the quali» to return back to the European "A" wouldn't be sitting here in Valencia .. i ‘ , ‘ lying tournament against coun» pool as they qualify for the next living next to the sea if it wasn't for ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ 7 ' ‘ tries like Georgia. I ithuania and European championship. llte last- baseball. I'd love to be in Waterloo. .‘ Israel as the tournament MVP and ing impression he had from the and I will come back. but there are ‘ helped Britain to the next round. tournament was that everything still a lot of places to explore." Baseball has taken Waterloo's Aaron Homostaj around the world. ‘ nu more .’0.. , Get your true custom :. _ ~ . . ‘ K w . ._ ' t - L . . . E made orthotrcs at Kâ€" W - 514, fig», , ~ ~_ .. . . .. > ,, 31:1 . . . 279 WEBER ST. N., mm 17 t“ dc b Se P as ocn Ch d «M II! r r e etrusic c - iro o ist WATERLOO, ON and“ mm. ‘ .. v 9 . . . p www.kwfootandorthottcsclmlc.com 519-884-4200 '