Strathmore Reds Baseball Club Alaska bound

Times Reporter     

 

The Strathmore Midget AAA Reds men’s baseball team is getting prepared for the international stage as they are playing in two tournaments. Both the tournaments are taking place in Kenai and Anchorage, Ala. respectively between July 6-16. The squad that formed in October has had many fundraisers to cover the cost for the team to travel to these tournaments.

“We are a tournament team so we do not play in any leagues in Alberta, so most of our tournaments are actually in Montana,” said coach Dale Anderson.  The Reds travel to Libby, Mont. a couple of times a year and do two or three tournaments in Alberta.

”We usually do the one feature trip every summer and this summer we are going to two tournaments in Alaska and try to get fundraising going as early as possible,” said Anderson.

The fundraising efforts included a New Year’s gathering in Carbon to fundraise the money and they also had outside sponsorship that graciously donated to cover the cost for the trip.

Coach Anderson has not been with the team as much but his brother has been with the team for a few years and said it has been the same core group of guys. 

“Zane (Anderson) has been coaching for five years and has been doing it every summer and he coaches a fall ball team and it is the same group of guys,” said Anderson.

Most of these players came from a small town and grew up playing baseball in some capacity. Anderson has played ball from a young age. 

“I started back in tee ball here Strathmore and ever since I could walk I started throwing a baseball. I was always pretty decent at it and stuck with it and it took me a long way,” said Anderson. He played every position on the diamond all the way through. On how excited he is to be going to Alaska, “It should be great, never actually been to Alaska personally and we are going to be playing teams from across the United States from Tennessee, California, Vermont.”

When going to play university baseball south of the border you always get top-notch talent and competition. Rylan Chin got to experience that first-hand when he had the opportunity playing for a two different schools in the States. Being able to play down there has been a highlight of his career so far. 

“Played four years of college baseball at Douglas College for two years and Campbellsville, Ky. for the other two years,” said Chin.

Coming back out of college and jumping right into the Reds lineup was quite the achievement in itself.

”Coming back here both first year out of college playing for the provincial team, the Canada games with Dale is pretty good to see everything come full circle,” said Chin.

The middle infielder commented on their trip, “Alaska is going be awesome and get to see another part of the world and compare ourselves to other programs around North America.” 

Coach Ryan Kennedy is optimistic about the team they have and is really looking forward to see his teammates compete with the ultra competitive opponents. 

“I think it is great, you see different styles of coaching, playing, players and talent levels,” said Kennedy. 

“It allows us to gauge our ability as a team and where these guys may fit at the next level of the game.”