The five are part of the West Melbourne Giants team that recently competed against two Japanese sides in a friendly round-robin competition.

In what is now a yearly event, Darby Sexton, Jack Van Wyngaarden, James Lewer, Josh Dunstone and Tyler Comben were given a chance they will never forget.

"Baseball Victoria offers little league sides every year a chance to play against touring sides," team manager John Lewer said.

"They sent three teams over this year and with other Melbourne teams we played in a round competition."

The matches provide not only an opportunity to play against players from baseball-loving countries but also to greatly improve their skills.

"In these matches we have 16 players in the team and they all have to play and they swap positions," Lewer said.

"It's a really friendly, focused competition and it's done for the benefit of the sport.

"We won all but one of our matches, losing to Tokyo."

The competition was a good warm-up for the boys, who competed in the state championships a week later.

"We were slightly disappointed in our results, finishing fifth [in the state championships] but it was a good learning experience," Lewer said.

"Unlike the friendly event, we played to win the competition which meant some players lost game time.

"But that's part of the learning curve."

The winner of the event, Waverley, now will compete for the Australian championships, which it had won last year.

If successful, the team will move onto the Asian championships.

All five Newport boys performed well in both events.

"They all had to play several positions that they are not use to, but they adapted," the manager said.

"Jack was the big surprise; in only his first year he got to pitch.

"Tyler also got to pitch, while Josh and Darby both took some sensational catches and James played his normal hitting game."

While not making the Australian finals, the boys still have further opportunities this year to travel.

"At the moment we have trials to be part of touring teams to America, Italy and Japan," Lewer said. "James went last year to America and it was a good experience.

"We are hoping that all the boys try out."

Now all will turn their attention to the winter season with Newport. That begins in the next couple of weeks.