By Jeff D'Andrea

Basaraba wishes he was one year younger to play in P.A. worlds

Jul 2, 2018 | 5:00 PM

When it was announced the XII WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship would be held in Prince Albert this year, Nick Basaraba had mixed thoughts.

As an avid fan of softball, Basaraba was happy to hear he could easily watch the tournament in his hometown, and that it may leave a lasting impact in the community.

But the competitive player in him felt differently. After having won a bronze medal with Team Canada in the 2016 world championships in Midland, Mich., Basaraba would have loved another crack in his home town.

“I was like, ‘ah, I’m just one year too old for this. Ah shoot,’” Basaraba said. “That’s what I thought because it would have cool if I got to play in front of my hometown. But playing for Team Canada even once is a huge honour and a big privilege, I think. There’s a lot of guys in Canada that would love to wear that red maple leaf, and I’m one of them.”

Prince Albert’s Basaraba is the most recent of the 12 players from surrounding area that have previously worn the Team Canada jersey at the world championships. Ryan Smith of Shellbrook will be the 13^th player from the zone to play when the tournament starts on Friday, in the tournament’s 12^th addition.

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

6h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

6h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

11h ago

Prince Albert is far from a booming metropolis, nor or are the surrounding communities, but that hasn’t stopped them from producing talent.

“I’m very honoured to come from P.A., and what P.A. has to offer for softball,” Basaraba said. “If it wasn’t for P.A. minor softball, then I probably wouldn’t be where I am.  They have a great program. I think P.A. really takes pride in that. A lot of good ball players come from here, I think that’s pretty well known.”

Basaraba’s journey with Canada was all about resilience. The Canadians squeaked into the playoffs and needed to rattle off four straight wins to avoid elimination and get to the medal rounds.

“It’s an intense atmosphere, I can say that. We had to battle our way back from the other side,” said Basaraba, a catcher on that club. “We barely made playoffs, so we won four games in a row to climb back to the medals. It was intense.

“It’s a good atmosphere. It’s very good, high calibre ball. Guys from all over the world would come to the tournament, it’s nothing but the best battling it out.”

Having that best-of-the-best competition in Prince Albert is one that Basaraba is excited about. He believes the impact of the tournament will last in the community much longer than when the tournament ends on July 15.

“I think this tournament is going to make softball in Prince Albert grow. I really think that they’re going to be hosting more [international] championships in P.A. now after this tournament. P.A. will be on the map in softball around the world. It’s a good time, there’s nothing but good ball and good times with friends and family.”

He may wish he was playing in it, but Basaraba will be in the stands anyway supporting the Canadians.  

“Oh yeah, I’ll be at the ball park every day,” assured Basaraba. “I’ll be supporting the team.”

This story is the first of a three part series, talking to past Prince Albert players that have participated at the junior men’s worlds. The tournament begins on July 7 and wraps up on July 15.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW