Andrew Mazzocato is no stranger to the green and gold, having worn those colours with distinction for Doncaster, Greensborough and Victoria Provincial.
And as the 20008-09 season is about to start, Andrew will again be wearing those familiar colours.
Trouble is, this time he'll be playing not for the Dragons but for the Parkland Cobras, a junior college in Champaign, Illinois.
Andrew, who has played at Doncaster all through his junior career dating back to under 12s, has earned a chance at a US college scholarship by virtue of his skills on the baseball field and his academic record.
While he will miss playing for the Dragons, Andrew can't wait to represent his new team. "I'm excited. Very excited," he said on the eve of his depatrure.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet but I know it's going to be a great adventure."
The adventure started pretty quickly. Only a day after arriving at Chicago Airport, Andrew found himself picked up by the college athletic director and taken to a Chicago Cubs-St Louis Cardinals game at famed Wrigley Field.
From there they headed south to the college, where Andrew is now living in an apartment just off campus.
While baseball is his first love, Andrew must also keep up his studies to be eligible for the team. He is studying film, multimedia and TV production, a course that attracted him to Parkland in the first place.
"I looked at lots of colleges, but I'd heard good things about Parkland and they had a course I was interested in studying," Andrew said.
While the college baseball season doesn't kick off in earnest until next year, Andrew's team also plays a fall season in September-October, aimed at giving the coaches a good look at their players in game situations before the winter chill sets in and makes outdoor practice impossible.
Unfortunately, Andrew's preparation has been hampered by a wrist injury, which he sustained while playing winter baseball for Greensborough and hasn't healed as expected. But even if he misses some games during the fall season, Andrew is confident of being in good shape when the Cobras start playing meaningful games in February.
Like all new college recruits, he hasn't had time to think about getting homesick. With classes every day, practice sessions, weight training and weekend games, Andrew has been busy to say the least.
Then there is the not inconsiderable challenge for a 19-year-old of looking after his daily life. Cooking, laundry and getting organised for school are things he has done in the past only with help from parents Liz and Laurie. Now, he's on his own - although the "Four Ingredients Cook Book" that Liz supplied may make life in the kitchen a little easier.
