By Jeff D'Andrea

Meet the three ball players that put P.A. on the world stage

Jul 4, 2018 | 5:00 PM

It’s far from the biggest city in the world, but Prince Albert and the surrounding area has now sent 13 players to the 12 WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championships over the years. That includes Shellbrook’s Ryan Smith who will dawn the red maple leaf when the tournament kicks off July 7-15 in Prince Albert.

Prince Albert started getting on the world map in softball in large part because of the accomplishments of Darcy Byrne, alternate Clay Debray and Scott Reed, all of whom teamed up for a bronze medal at the 1997 world championships in St. John’s, N.L.

All three got Team Canada’s attention in the first place as members of the Prince Albert Northern Buslines Midget Selects, winning back-to-back national titles in 1995 and 1996. Those teams were named to the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame back in 2000.

Byrne, now pushing 40 years of age, looks back and said he realizes how much of an accomplishment it was just to make it to the tournament.

“At the moment, you kind of take for granted now that you’re this age, how fortunate you were to be there,” Byrne said. “It was great. I went to camps and that before, just to make the team was tough enough.”

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Seeing as the tournament was in 1997, Byrne doesn’t remember much about the games themselves. But what comes back to him vividly is everything else.

He remembers the daunting task of taking on powerhouses like Japan, or the stunning experience of standing across the diamond while New Zealand players performed their haka. Byrne remembers chatting with players from other countries in between games and during meals.

“It’s more than the ball,” Byrne said. “It’s playing for your country and playing against other countries at the highest level, that’s what I took out of it.

“You have an experience to know the other teams and the other countries, and players from other countries. I know you can stay with your guys and hang out with your guys most of the time, but if you do get to opening ceremonies and talking to teams in between games, that’s where I really enjoyed it…When you’re on the ball field, with your team and you’re playing ball. But embrace the situation you’re in because it only comes around once in a while.”

Byrne also spent a ton of time in Australia, living there three years. He played there the winter before making Team Canada, and got an upfront look at the players from New Zealand and Australia that would play in the worlds.

He also got to umpire the 2001 worlds in Sydney, Australia—the same tournament that five players that played in Prince Albert won a bronze with Team Canada: Curtis Bradbury, Brad Casavant, Josh Dueck, Todd Marcotte and Ryan Olde.

“I was able to watch them play four years later. It was a pretty cool experience,” Byrne said.

Now, Byrne lives in Fargo, N.D. as works as a director of operations for a lawn care company. He’s also a volunteer coach with North Dakota State University Bisons women’s softball team.  

While he may live far away now, Byrne said he looks forward to a return.

“I look forward to coming down and watching the games. I’ll be there that weekend and it’s just good to be back. I haven’t seen that complex in a while because I’ve been away,” Byrne said. “That will bring back good memories and I just appreciate Prince Albert. It’s basically got me to where I am softball-wise and in life. Softball’s a great game and playing for your country is a definite experience and I hope these kids enjoy it.”

Also representing Prince Albert and area in the world championships were Josh Elliot and Justin Boyer in 2014 in Whitehorse, and Aidan Patrick in 2012 in Argentina.

This story is the third 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