For players at the tadpole age, the game is new and exciting, and the kids love it.
The future of baseball in the city is bright, as the Nanaimo Pirates tadpole all-stars, aged 7-9, are having a strong season.
Coach Rene Gutierrez said he’s seen a lot of different levels of baseball, but thinks the tadpole Pirates are something special.
“At this age you don’t really see a lot of kids laying out for balls or wearing a ball in the back to get on first base,” he said. “These kids will do whatever it takes for their team.”
The squad has posted winning results all season, motivating them to seek out tougher competition.
They hosted a tournament in Nanaimo this past weekend and this week (July 23-26), they represent the Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association at provincial championships in Cloverdale.
“They don’t really know the nature of [being] part of an all-star team and representing the community,” said Gutierrez. “At their age it’s just so new and it’s just so pure.
“When you get older you worry about scholarships, you worry about contracts and you worry about a lot of political nonsense, where at this age, they do it because they love the sport.”
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
