WYNDHAM Vale twins Preston and Harley Yochim share a lot of things – a birthday, a school, a loving family but most notably, their passion for baseball.

After being permanent fixtures in Victorian baseball sides since the age of 12, the now 17-year-old Yochim brothers were a part of the Victorian second side that took part in the national championships in Geelong last month.

The Vic side did not produce its best performances but it was a big step for the MacKillop College students who were coming off a year’s break from the game.

Despite a few cobwebs they made it on to the Vic squad and scored spots on the second side.

“The first couple of weeks it was bad, very bad,” Preston said.

“We still stood up against most players who did academy and went to VIS and stuff.

“I could have done better but it just happens. The team was all right, we did pretty well for the team. We came eighth.

“I played third base for most of it. And I pitched a couple of times. I pitched all right and in the field I was pretty good.”

Harley’s assessment of the championships was similar to his brother’s.

“I reckon I played well,” he said. “I think as a team we could have played a lot better but that happens sometimes.

“We played the other (Vic) team a couple of times and we basically beat them but some errors let us down and we thought we would go better at nationals but we let ourselves down. Just got outplayed a bit.

“I caught most of the games and played in the outfield and then DH (designated hitter) when I wasn’t in the field.”

The twins hope to continue their comeback trail at the national level when they test out for the Schoolboys team, with a view to play overseas in 2011.

“(The plan now) is to try out for schoolboys and then go to college,” Preston said.

“We want to go to college in America when we finish high school.

“To do that we need to train and then sit SATs (scholastic aptitude tests) and apply to college. You have to make video footage and send it to different colleges in America.”

The boys are no strangers to the international baseball scene, having represented Australia in 2004 and 2005.

The 2005 tournament was the Cal Ripken World Series in the US

“We went to America when we were 14. They have a tournament over there with five other countries - Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Korea and us.

“We all played and then the American teams played off against each other and they pick a world all-star team and then they pick the defensive.”

Preston and Harley were named in the All Defensive Spike team – the first Australians ever to do so. Harley was also named in the all star team – again an Australian first.

But for now they are content taking the field twice a day on Saturdays as part of the Werribee Giants senior and junior line-ups.

“We have played for Werribee our whole career - the whole time we’ve played baseball,” Preston said.

“Juniors we are on top as well. Lost one game I think.

“In juniors I play third base or short stop or I pitch and seniors I play third base but not for our ones but for our seconds. We have only lost two in the seconds.”

Harley takes up a regular spot in the Giants firsts senior side – a side dominating second division.

“We are 15 and one or something like that, only lost one game so far,” he says.

“Juniors I catch and seniors I play left field and if our catcher is not playing I will catch in the ones.”

The Giants are travelling well and the Yochim boys are, too. It would serve the baseball community well to keep an eye on all of them.

On Saturday the Giants kept their brilliant season going strong with an 8-4 win against Fitzroy. The points keep the Werribee side on top of the table in second division with 16 wins for the season.