It's the typical American dream.
Boy grows up watching his older brothers play baseball and picks up the game himself. He does well, but try as he might, he just can't seem to make it to the next level. Then, as if by luck, he's discovered and becomes a standout.
Except this happened 9,000 miles away in Newcastle, Australia.
Aidan Francis, who will start for Georgia State in its Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament opener Wednesday, is the Panthers' top pitcher, as well as being one of a handful of Aussies who play Division I baseball. He's 5-1 with three saves, a 3.97 ERA and 47 strikeouts this season.
"It's always been a dream to come to America and try [to] get drafted," he said.
The dream took hold on the southeast coast of Australia, with a detour in Germany and a potential stop in Nebraska, before eventually arriving in Atlanta.
Francis grew up watching older brothers Nigel and Jason play baseball.
He enrolled in the Australian Academy, from which some players sign with U.S. colleges. But that didn't work out. Neither did some contacts with college coaches.
So he began pitching for a provincial team, which went on a European tour. Francis threw five shutout innings against the German national team. The coach of the German team? Georgia State's Greg Frady.
But a friend of Francis was playing for Western Nebraska Community College, so he set up an Internet meeting for Francis and WNCC's coach.
That's when Frady made his pitch from half a world away —- and got his man.
"I don't think any recruitment process is easy, but I don't think any recruitment process is hard if you have the right fit," Frady said. "Aidan was the right fit for us."
Francis hasn't been home in 18 months. His mom, Wendy, recently came to see him for the first time. They took in a couple of Braves games, and his mom went to the World of Coke while the Panthers were playing games in Virginia.
He keeps in touch once a week by phone, which can be expensive, he says. More often he uses facebook.com.
He has had a lot to tell them this year.
A lefty, he throws between 88-90 mph, with a curveball and change-up. He began the year in the bullpen before Frady moved him into the Friday starter's role. Francis has pitched into the ninth inning in both starts, earning Wednesday's assignment.
"Aidan has made a really good adjustment himself," Frady. "He deserves the credit. He's made the transition very easy.
"Anytime you're away from home it takes a little bit extra and he's done a good job that way."
CAA baseball tournament
When: Wednesday-Saturday
Where: Wilmington, N.C.
GSU opener: vs. Northeastern,
3:30 p.m. Wednesday
