Essex Chronicle commented Holiday leads to love of baseball

IT just took a family holiday to Orlando and he was hooked, Stuart Harper-Horn immediately ditched the swing of the cricket ball in favour of a swing of the baseball bat and hasn't looked back since.

That decision was taken nearly five years ago and it looks like the Essex Redbacks made the right choice as he's just made his Great Britain Under 23 debut.

The slugger, who plays for the Chelmsford-based side, has returned from a week-long tour of Boston playing against teams from New England Collegiate Baseball League, a division which boasts several players who have been recently drafted to the major leagues.

Although they were taught a resounding lesson by their American counterparts ? they lost all six of their games ? he says the self-funded tour was a great experience.

"We led a very professional lifestyle," he said.

"We'd get to the ball park five hours before hand and be greeted by fans (we'd be) signing autographs, having photos taken, it was sort of the whole professional experience that we had over there, which was amazing."

As an opening bowler for the Essex Under-18s cricket team, Stuart played alongside the likes of Adam Wheater and Michael Comber, now Essex first-team members.

But that holiday to the States and then drive through Warley convinced him to switch focus.

"I went in to some batting cages, had a swing for about a half hour and watched a few guys play in the park and that was about it really," he said.

"I came back here (to the UK) and on the way to school there was a team at Brentwood at the time, the Brentwood Stags. I couldn't believe the chances." After six months of playing there he and around 20 others formed a break away club, the Essex Redbacks.

Playing in the AAA League, the second tier of domestic competition, the 22-year-old was performing so well that he went for a GB trial in the off-season in Milton Keynes.

By January he was placed on the roster and then received a tour call-up.

According to recent figures from Sport England the game, like so many American sports, is growing rapidly in this county. Since April 2009 there's been a 44 per cent increase in participating teams.

Stuart, who plays as a lead-off hitter, relief pitcher and fields at second base, thinks the game offers something a little different to the standard English fare.

"Surprisingly it's getting pretty big," said the personal trainer from Langdon Hills.

"There are 65 to 70 clubs all over the country. This year is the biggest year we've had media recognition wise and it's constantly growing.

"We have got enough guys that we can put out three teams every weekend, there are people at the side waiting to play.

"I think people just want to try something different to football and cricket. It's different, it catches your eye, it's exciting, the adrenaline rush is something different."

Winter training will start later in the year in Milton Keynes while tours of the Philippines and America are also being planned for the Under 23s squad.

Stuart says he's desperate to represent the full national side 'in probably two or three years' time' and pursue the option of playing in America or Europe in future.

"I'd love to play for the full team," said the Tamper Bay Rays fan.

Source: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Holiday-leads-love-baseball/story-16561546-detail/story.html

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