After playing baseball in France for nine years where he qualified for the national team, junior Ea Leialoha moved back to Burlingame this past January. Now, he plays on the varsity baseball team while readjusting to a new environment.
Leialoha was born in the United States and began playing baseball in Burlingame after his friends introduced him to the sport.
Though moving to France at just seven years old, Leialoha didn’t find getting acclimated to a new country too difficult due to his young age.
“I felt like it was a lot easier because I was younger. And when you’re younger, you learn things a lot quicker,” Leialoha said.
In his first four years in France, Leialoha played baseball on his club team, Paris University Club, one of the country’s highest-regarded junior teams. In 2018, Leialoha competed in the French Championships, finishing fourth out of the eight teams. However, his experience traveling around the world on the French national team in 2019 became Leialoha’s most memorable baseball experience.
“I made the national team in 2019, I got the opportunity to go to Japan and just play and learn about the culture. There was a random selection, and I went to Poland to attempt to qualify for the Little League World Series…and after that I managed to get [the] best pitcher [award] among the final four best teams in France,” Leialoha said.
According to Leialoha, qualifying for the national team is a difficult process, as only a few players from each age group are selected by coaches from around the country to compete for a spot on the team.
“Most of the time it’s the coaches that decide what players are ready to play at the next level. And so then you get a tryout, and usually it’s about 50 of the best players in the country brought together for a tryout, and then the national team coaches are there to watch and they make the final decision,” Leialoha said.
After moving back to Burlingame this past winter, Leialoha didn’t know anyone on the baseball team, but he quickly formed friendships and positive relationships with his teammates and coach.
“Now I can just go around and just recognize people and call them my friends, and just be able to fit in here. And so during tryouts, I didn’t know what [Coach] Shawn [Scott] was like, but luckily, he welcomed me with open arms,” Leialoha said.
Despite the cultural differences between America and France, Leialoha feels comfortable in his childhood hometown.
“The culture is completely different, meaning that here, I feel like it’s more sports-based, whereas in France and probably all of Europe it’s mainly education,” Leialoha said.
On the baseball team, Leialoha has asserted himself into an important role because of his positive mindset and his confidence to play multiple positions, including pitching or third base.
“I do think that I carry myself well when I pitch, especially because I really just don’t care what happens, no matter what. And I just try and go out and do what I do,” Leialoha said.
Junior Aidan Berryman, one of Leialoha’s teammates, has high praise for his ability to fit in with the team and inject the team with energy.
“I think having a transfer student has been really fun, and I would say its boosted our morale a little bit because just like the vibe he brings to the team makes it a lot more relaxing,” Berryman said.
Leialoha’s favorite moment so far this season was his first time pitching in front of a large crowd at night under the lights.
“Just being able to play on a really nice field, especially at night, is really just a cool experience,” Leialoha said.
While focused on this season and making a deep run into the postseason with his team, Leialoha hopes to continue playing baseball in college.
“I want to play college baseball. I don’t really care where I go. I’ll probably go to junior college and then hopefully go to a four year [college] after that. But for now, I’m just trying to improve myself as much as I can,” Leialoha said.
