Troy Preymack and Ryan Bicknell from the 2019 nationals with the Delisle Pride. (Submitted photo/Kevin Preymack)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Representing P.A.

Longtime P.A. ball buddies make Canada Games roster for Team Sask

Jan 23, 2022 | 3:23 PM

At 19 years old, Prince Albert’s Ryan Bicknell has done a ton in the game of softball already.

Bicknell won the U17 Pan American Softball Championships with Team Canada in Guatemala, and the B Pool at the ensuing 2020 WBSC U18 Men’s Softball World Cup in New Zealand. He even hit an incredibly rare inside-the-park grand slam against Denmark in Canada’s final game of the tournament.

“I don’t think I’ll do that again,” Bicknell said of the bases-clearing inside-the-parker. “It was interesting, you never really expect something like that to happen. But when it does, when you cross home plate, just the feeling—I still remember that. I still have a picture of it, and every time I look at it, I re-experience it.”

But despite travelling around the world and hitting inside-the-park grand slams, Bicknell had never represented his provincial team. That changed at the beginning of this week as Bicknell, alongside fellow Prince Albert product Troy Preymack, were both named to the Team Saskatchewan’s group that will head to the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara, Ont.

“That’s weird to say, but yeah,” Bicknell laughed at dawning the red maple leaf in two international tournaments before wearing Sask green. “It‘s exciting to throw on a Team Sask jersey for the first time. That would be a good experience. It’s just pure excitement to go to Niagara and wear a Team Sask jersey.”

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The two have been playing ball together since they were both youngsters in Prince Albert. They’ve played in the Astros programs, senior men’s together, as well as recently the Delisle U23 Pride.

“It’s exciting to represent my province. Me and Ryan have been playing together since probably pee wee/squirt,” Preymack said. “We’ve been playing together for a long time, so it’s good to go with a buddy from Prince Albert. I think it’s great to represent our community, as well.”

In fact, a lot of the team either plays for the Pride, or has been picked up by them ahead of nationals. In 2019, the Pride finished second in nationals.

“We’re definitely a top-three team, for sure, going into it. We have a pretty strong roster and I think we’ll do well with the team we have,” Preymack said.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW