Big learning curve for Indians trio

High school learners Kian Schwartz (17), Corbin Greenslade (16) and Alex Levkov (16) have all been selected for the 20-member South African baseball team to play in the u-18 Baseball World Cup in Gijan, South Korea, from August 30 to September 6.

The City Times caught up with the Benoni Indians trio on an icy winter’s evening ahead of a training session at the Benoni Northerns Diamond. They have been good friends and have shared a mutual passion for the game since their T-ball (junior) playing days.

The boys are presently training four times a week – two club training sessions and two regional sessions with the Gauteng-based national players – building fitness and mental strength for what is expected to be a very tough World Cup for the South Africans.

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Catcher Greenslade, a Grade 11 learner at St Dunstan’s College, was quick to point out that their first two assignments in South Korea just happen to be against the top two teams in the world, the USA and Japan.

“We are really looking forward to it. It will be the first time being able to see how strong they really are. Our team goal is to get to nine innings and finish the games. We may still be a bit under-par, but we are working hard at narrowing the gap,” said Greenslade.

Levkov, who attends the Olympus Equestrian Academy in Dunblane, is a pitcher and third-base fielder. He intervened in the conversation by underscoring how crucial it is to be exposed to the ‘heavyweights’ of the game.

“It gives us a good heads-up of just how much work we still have to put in to get to that level. It is a major learning experience for every young baseball player who loves the sport, and everyone needs to understand just how much of a big deal this is for us.”

Baseball is still very much a fringe sport in this country and, sadly, participation levels appear to be dwindling. All three youngsters conceded that to further their baseball aspirations, they would have to explore options abroad.

Greenslade and Levkov both intend to play college ball in the States, while short-stop Schwartz, who is a learner at King Edward School (KES) in Johannesburg, is a multi-talented sportsman and plays first-team cricket.

In contrast to his teammates, he is leaning more towards building his cricket career and intends on heading to England after matric to play county cricket.

“Although I was introduced to baseball at the age of five by my dad, it is my second love,” Schwartz pointed out. “I have always wanted to make the national team since I was very young, but don’t intend to further my career professionally.”

Greenslade has been in contact with a university in the US.

“Baseball in SA is struggling a bit and promising players have to go overseas to step up to the next level,” he explained.

Levkov has similar aspirations.

“Ever since I started baseball I always said to my mom ‘when I grow up I want to be a Yankees player’. So this is a big deal in my life.” He has secured a scholarship at John Carroll University in the United States.

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