Aussie training for baseball, softball teams before SEAG<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
National baseball and softball squads, currently preparing for
\nNovember's 23rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Manila, are
\nheaded to Australia to try to meet the demands of playing arch-
\nrival the Philippines.<\/p>\n
The 19-strong baseball team is scheduled for weeklong training
\nin Brisbane beginning on Sept. 20, playing against teams from
\nlocal clubs as well Australia's under 17 and 21 teams. The team
\nwill embark on another outing to Taiwan in mid October before the
\nSEAG, where baseball will make its debut.<\/p>\n
The men's and women's softball teams, each comprising 18
\nplayers, leave for Perth on Sept. 16 for 10 days.<\/p>\n
\"The Philippines is far similar to Australia in terms of the
\nway they play baseball. They (Australians) play with speed, as do
\nthe Philippines,\" assistant coach Endang Isnandar told The
\nJakarta Post here last week.<\/p>\n
Softball coaches Iwan Pujiharto and Yuliastono said the
\nAustralia outing was expected to give the players the knowledge
\nneeded to face the hard-batting Philippines.<\/p>\n
The host team, set to benefit from home crowd support, is a
\nstronghold for baseball and softball. It is the only Southeast
\nAsian nation in the first division of Asian baseball along with
\nJapan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea and China.<\/p>\n
After teetering between the first and second division,
\nIndonesia was relegated to the second division in last year's
\nAsian championship.<\/p>\n
However, it can take inspiration from 2003, when it blanked
\nthe Philippines 7-0 to enter the first division.<\/p>\n
\"We will push our way into the semifinals. And I think the
\nchance will be 50-50 if we meet the Philippines in the finals,\"
\nsaid Gugun Yudinar, the executive chairman of the Indonesian
\nAmateur Baseball and Softball Federation (Perbasasi).<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the Chinese Taipei team can give us input about
\nthe Philippines game. Teams from both countries meet quite
\noften.\"<\/p>\n
Perbasasi also organized a two-month pitching course with
\nChong Kyum-yoo from South Korea.<\/p>\n
\"Pitching has been our problem. With Yoo working us for two
\nmonths, our pitchers have shown good progress. They have more
\npower and speed,\" Gugun said.<\/p>\n
First base player Adi Susanto said he and his teammates would
\nhave more confidence thanks to their better pitching.<\/p>\n
\"That will leave us with a more focused job of batting,\" said
\nthe 25-year-old infielder.<\/p>\n
\"Philippine strength is found in its powerful pitchers. Their
\npitching power nears that of the MLB (Major League Baseball).\"<\/p>\n
Adi said he was impatient to embark on their overseas outing
\nto alleviate the monotony of training sessions at home, which
\nbegan in April in Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The condition is beginning to get boring because we do the
\nsame thing every day. We need a new atmosphere for games,\" said
\nAdi, who also picked Thailand as another potential threat.<\/p>\n
Baseball team:
\nCindy Patria, Lukman Kurnia, Syaiful Noer, Vicky Viksana, Kurnia,
\nAnhar Rahman, Moh. Akbar, Ahmad Efendi, Rizky P. Nasution, Eru G.
\nMahmud, Adi Susanto, Ruli Parnanto, Jesse Parengkuan, Angga
\nPrananda, Bambang Dwitama, M. Rizky Megawanto, Andospa Aldo, Elia
\nM. Sihombing and Purbo Wicaksono.<\/p>",
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