By JARROD POTTER
PAKENHAM Pumas’ baseball import James Mills knows what it takes to fight just to stay in the game.
The 23-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, has endured plenty on his baseball journey to Australia as he has battled back from a Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament reconstruction) and playing around the country to stay in baseball.
College almost didn’t happen for Mills, but a lifeline was extended to head to Young Harris College.
“High school senior year – I think you guys call it Year 12 – I didn’t get to play my senior year because I had my Tommy John surgery,” Mills said. “Tore my elbow up so I never got to play my Year 12, so that was a scare when I was looking for colleges as no-one is going to look for a hurt pitcher.
“But the (Young Harris College) coach was still adamant on getting me there – he said it was fine this way, do your rehab and come up here so I was blessed with that.”
After finishing his four years at college, Mills wanted to keep playing and after bouncing across the United States searching for a game – going from Georgia to Maryland and New York – he knew he’d have to go overseas to do it.
“I know baseball can get me all over the place and I’ve loved it ever since I started playing,” Mills said.
“I’ve always known it can take me places and I just want to ride the game for as long as I can.
“Didn’t get picked up by any major league teams, tried out for a couple of independent league teams – all had pitchers and wasn’t ready to hang up the cleats yet and was willing to travel, so I was talking to my parents about putting my name up on a website – InternationalBaseball.com – load your stats, put a bio about yourself and people that need players from other countries can see it and that’s how the club got a hold of me.”
Pakenham answered his call to continue playing and brought the pitcher out for winter baseball this year in preparation for the club’s inaugural summer campaign.
Mills starred in his first season for Pakenham – donning the Pumas’ jersey for the Dandenong Baseball Association’s A1 competition this winter – but is keen to brush off the cold and get back to playing summer baseball.
While he probably won’t pitch much for the Pumas this summer – with an innings here or there or possibly relieving occasionally most likely – he’s focused on improving his ground-fielding and hitting to become a threat in other ways for the club.
“It was fun – it was a blast – the whole club was welcoming and it wasn’t a hard transition coming over here – I felt like family coming in immediately,” Mills said.
“Was just a pitcher in the states – I wasn’t much of a hitter because of my eyesight, so I just pitched over in the states as hitting just wasn’t my forte.
“Just getting back into it now – going up through the Division II baseball I’ve actually learned a lot about hitting as even when I’m not pitching I’m just sitting there listening to the coaches help the hitters and take that knowledge and any knowledge I can in about the game so I can teach it one day.
“Just need to learn to stay back, eyes on the ball, hands still.”
Mills hasn’t given up on his pitching though, as he wants to get across to the Melbourne Aces and hopefully fight his way into the Australian Baseball League ranks.
“I really need to work on my fielding and hitting and why not work on it here,” Mills said.
“I’m actually in the process of going out for the Melbourne Aces, so we’ll see how that goes.
“I’m going to work my butt off, see if they’re going to pick me up and if they pick me up, even if I’m not on the everyday roster, I’ll be on the inactive roster and be able to pitch for them a little bit and keep my skills up pitching.”
Whether Melbourne, Pakenham or somewhere else here in years to come, Mills has grown fond of the Australian lifestyle – laidback and supportive.
“I’ve loved it – it’s a whole different vibe out here than back home,” Mills said.
“Especially out here a lot of the people are friendly – everybody helps everybody and I like that.
“People over here will go out of their way to help you out, and it’s beautiful here – I’ve never seen a bad sunset here.
“We have good ones back in Georgia but not every night.”
Mills wanted to thank to the Pakenham Pumas, his family and the Lord for their moral support.
Mills’ and his Pumas team-mates begin their Victorian Summer Baseball League campaign – the club’s first ever time in the summer ranks – away at Ormond from 3.30pm on Sunday.
