The Pasadena Pirates are poised to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the five-team Baseball Atlantic Under-11 boys baseball tournament in Nova Scotia this weekend.
The Pirates, undefeated in showdowns against AA Mosquito baseball teams on the island this past season, earned the right to represent the province at the Atlantic tournament by posting a 5-0 record at the provincial AA mosquito baseball tournament held earlier this year at the Bennett Sports Complex in Pasadena.
With a number of Pirates picking up individual awards for their performance, the Pirates gave the hometown fans something to cheer about when they beat the Gander Pilots 5-3 in the gold-medal showdown.
Don Keefe, one of the coaches for the Pirates, said his boys are eager to represent the province and want to give the other teams a competitive game of baseball.
He knows the calibre of baseball is going to be pretty good at the Atlantic level so he expects his team to have some tough games, but he believes his team has some really good players who are skilled in all facets of the game.
One of the biggest challenges for teams at this level is the depth of the pitching staff. At the provincial level, pitchers were limited to the number of innings they were allowed to pitch before a rest was required, but at this event there is a 24-pitch count limit for the young arms and a rest day to follow so it will be a test of survival in many respects.
“Maintaining the pitching — that’s the biggest challenge for us,” coach Keefe said.
Keefe isn’t too overly concerned about it though because it’s been the first time in a long time that a Pirates team has had six or seven guys who can be counted on to throw strikes and give the team a chance to win.
It’s a close-knit group who work together well on and off the field so coach Keefe expects a good showing from the boys and he expects they will make the most of the experience because it’s an exciting time for a group that never played at such a high level before.
“They are eager, hard-working boys so they are confident and they can’t wait to go,” coach Keefe said. “They want to go on a trip with their teammates, but they’re looking for their first game and I think we’re going to have a good time and the boys are going to work really hard.”
Name: Joshua Garnier
Hometown: Pasadena
Parents: Kevin and Vanessa Garnier
Age: 10
Position: Pitcher / 2nd base
Favourite baseball player: José Altuve of Houston Astros
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Kyle Fitzgerald
Hometown: Deer Lake
Parents: Darren and Vicki Fitzgerald
Age:10
Position: Third base
Favourite baseball player: Russell Martin of Toronto Blue Jays
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: James Urquhart
Hometown: Deer Lake
Parents: Craig and Krista Urquhart
Age: 11
Position: Left field/ First base
Favourite baseball player: Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Liam Keefe
Hometown: Pasadena
Parents: Don and Rhonda Keefe
Age: 11
Position: Catcher/Pitcher
Favourite baseball player: Salvador Pérez
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Anthony Molloy
Hoemtown: Deer Lake
Parents; Colin and Lorraine Molloy
Age:11
Position: Right Field
Favourite baseball player: Kevin Pillar
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Ryan Roberts
Hometown: St. Paul's
Parents: Denise Bennett and Malcolm Roberts
Age: 10
Position: 3rd base, catcher, pitcher, 2nd base
Favourite player: Josh Donaldson
Favourite team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Brayden Way
Hometown: Anchor Point
Parents: Marty and Nicole Way
Age: 11
Position: 2nd Base
Favourite baseball player: Manny Machado
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Ben Cornick
Hometown: Pasadena
Age:10
Parents: Andre and Shelley Cornick
Position: Outfield
Favourite Player: Kevin Pillar
Favourite Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Garrett Adams
Hometown: Deer Lake
Parents: Glenn and Miranda Adams
Age: 9
Position: outfield, 3rd base
Favourite baseball player: Josh Donaldson
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Jack Ryland
Hometown: Pasadena
Parents: Patti and Kirby
Age: 11
Position: Pitcher, 1st Base, Outfield
Favourite team: Toronto Blue Jays
Favourite player: Josh Donaldson
Name: Marcus Kearsey
Hometown: Deer Lake
Parents: Ed Kearsey and Kim Sheehan
Age: 11
Position: Shortstop
Favourite player: Aroldis Chapman
Favourite team: Toronto Blue Jays
Name: Andy Brake Seaward
Hometown: Pasadena
Parents: Carla Brake and Brian Seaward
Age: 10
Position: 1st base and pitcher
Favourite baseball player: Josh Donaldson
Favourite baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
