Alex Wells has made the most of his extended stay at home in Belmont South.
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There's been more time with family, playing catch with old clubmates at Miller Field and even a pub feed at the nearby Gunyah Hotel.
But after almost 12 months in Australia he flew back to the US on Friday to continue his baseball career and fulfil a lifelong dream to pitch in the major leagues.
His goals for 2021 are simple.
"I want to have a healthy season and pitch in the big leagues," Wells told the Newcastle Herald.
"I want to go over there and compete and hopefully find myself up in the active 25-man roster and make my debut.
"It's the thing I've been dreaming of since I started playing baseball so to tick that off as a milestone in my life would be good."
Wells admits to feeling somewhat nervous about the COVID-19 situation unfolding in America at the moment.
"I'm looking forward to it [baseball], but I'm a bit nervous and anxious as well with the whole situation going on over there," he said.
"I've heard from the Orioles about the safety protocols we have to go through over there and I feel pretty safe with the way they are handling it all."
The left-armer feels Baltimore's pre-season training, which he was invited to attend last year before travelling back to Australia in March amid the global coronavirus pandemic, will be "important" with around 20 pitchers in the main group.
"You've got to go out there and fight for a spot," he said.
Trial games get underway later this month with the Orioles hosting the Braves and Rays in Saratosa on February 27 and 28 respectively.
The regular rounds are scheduled to begin on April 1 with Baltimore away to the Red Sox in Boston.
Outside a handful of appearances for Baulkham Hills in the state capital prior to Christmas, it has been over 12 months since Wells last played a competitive match for Orioles feeder team the Surprise Saguaros.
"I've definitely recharged the batteries, but I'm ready to get back over there and get back into it," he said.
Wells didn't line-up alongside twin brother and fellow pitcher Lachlan for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League over the last few months.
The Blue Sox were knocked out of the rescheduled play-offs earlier this week.
Garden Suburbs' Rixon Wingrove and Toronto's Boss Moanaroa were due to go head-to-head on Saturday but the elimination encounter between Adelaide Giants and Canberra Cavalry has been called off.
ABL officials made the announcement on Friday morning after Victoria entered another COVID-19 lockdown.
This means the winner of Friday night's clash at Melbourne Ballpark between hosts the Aces and Perth Heat will be now awarded the Claxon Shield with Sunday's decider also cancelled.
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IN THE NEWS:
Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
