Former Mainer Pitches in WBC
Published on April 5, 2013 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Former Sanford Mainer and University of Maine graduate, Jonathan Balentina, thought his baseball career was over due to injuries he had sustained. Doctors recommended that he walk away from the sport; however, the Netherlands native wasn t finished just yet.
When Balentina was offered a chance to try out for a spot in the World Baseball Classic, he knew he had to jump on the opportunity. The tryouts were in Arizona at extended spring training where the players were put through a selection process based on their performance during practice games.
I didn t know if I was going to fly back to Maine or fly out with the team, Balentina stated. I found out I was going three hours before we left.
His hard work paid off, earning him a spot on the Netherlands team. While his fellow teammates were very friendly off the field, as soon as they stepped between those two lines, they focused on winning.
It was a job to them, he said, Some of the guys I had played with or against before, some of the guys I looked up to and strived to be like when I was growing up, and some of them had even coached me before.
Although many of these players were people that Balentina looked up to, he said his time on the Mainers prepared him for the experience.
You have different players, from different places, and a couple of weeks to gel and come together as a team and play as one, he stated.
In a month and a half, Balentina and his team traveled to three different time zones, playing in Taiwan, Japan, and California. To Balentina, the experience was much like a full time job.
Balentina learned a lot during his travels. He said something as simple as ordering room service in Japan was a task in itself. As far as baseball goes, he also learned a lot from playing against other countries.
As a pitcher, I learned a lot from the Japanese. They don t follow the book and they never give into a hitter, he stated. They stopped some great hitters. If I ever coach, that is something that I will use. I will never forget that.
The atmosphere at the games was an experience that the 6-1 left hander said was like no other.
At the games you couldn t hear yourself think. He said, It makes you perform at a different level. It s an adrenaline rush.
Balentina showed no sign of intimidation over the course of the World Baseball Classic. For him, his time as a pitcher with the Mainers and at the University of Maine prepared him for this level of baseball.
Playing in college and with the Mainers helps with this because they put you in different situations, and the more you play, the more comfortable you get, he said. The game doesn t change it s always 60 feet 6 inches. The only thing that changes is the hitter in the box, everything else stays the same.
Balentina said that he tried to represent the name on his jersey the best that he could, whether it was for the Mainers or for the Netherlands team. This diligence he showed was something that Mainers head coach Aaron Izaryk was quick to point out.
He has a quiet tireless work ethic, Izaryk stated. He s the type of guy that does all the right things when no one is watching, never seeks recognition, and can always be counted on to give his best effort in every situation.
The Netherlands team and Balentina made it all the way to the semi-finals where they lost to the Dominican Republic, who went on to win the tournament.
When asked if the World Baseball Classic experience was worth it, with all of the missed school, the long hours, and the tiring travel schedule, the graduate student did not hesitate to answer.
I would do it again. I was on a team with 28 guys in a world tournament with only 16 teams, let s do the math, he said, as he took out his phone to calculate. I was in 1 out of 488 players in the world. It was a once in the lifetime experience.
The former Mainer, without a doubt, was able to experience something that he will remember for the rest of his life.
With the World Classic over, Balentina is back at the University of Maine pursuing a degree in structural engineering. He ll graduate in May, and is beginning to feel the stress of applying for jobs.
Whether it involves baseball or his future career as an engineer, Balentina says that his work ethic and dedication will make him successful.
Hard work always pays off, he stated. If you take pride in doing little things right, it goes a long way.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from April 5, 2013
- Former Mainer Pitches in WBC - Sanford Mainers
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