BATTER UP ... FOR THE BIG TIME

WAURN Ponds prodigy Liam Spence will follow in the footsteps of his brothers Josh and Nic when he jets off to the US tomorrow to start his college baseball career at Central Arizona College.

BASEBALLER Liam Spence will fulfil his lifelong college dream after being given the nod by the US Central Arizona College.

The third and final Spence brother, 19, will be following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, who also played baseball at Central Arizona.

After wistfully watching them go through the college motions a decade ago as a nine-year-old, it is finally his time. He will leave for the US tomorrow after selecting the college as his home for the next four years.

After a recruiting visit in January, Spence was spoiled for choice when deciding on a college. Ultimately, the familiarity of Central Arizona alongside its standout coaches and amenities won him over.

His brothers Josh, 29, and Nic, 27, have lived in America since finishing college after taking on coaching and business opportunities.

Spence, a specialist infielder, said a college career was always the only option for him.

Thanks to his brothers’ heavy involvement, the sport was drilled into him well before he was old enough to pick up a bat. “I was born into it,” he said. He said his brothers had been influential throughout his development as a baseball player and his transition into college.

“They have been an incredible help. I definitely wouldn’t have had the opportunity without them,” he said.

“They taught me what coaches are looking for in a player and how to play the game the right way.

“They taught me to play hard, and to respect the game and the players.”

Spence, who plays for Geelong Guild in winter and Geelong Baycats in summer, is looking forward to enjoying the American baseball scene.

He hopes a successful college career will propel him towards his long-term goals.

“Ideally, it would be amazing to play professional baseball after college,” he said.