May 7, 2024

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Now that sandlots are jammed from coast to coast, it is time to pass on some advice.

No, not from some old goat like me.

We asked some of the best high school players in the country a few questions at the Canadian Futures Showcase staged at Rogers Centre last fall:

What’s the most important life lesson you’ve learned playing ball?

If you are a teenager there just might be a nugget in here as you begin your 2024 season.

Or, it you are a parent of a peewee, or a high schooler or a collegian, there might be a bit of info to pass on down the line.

Time has passed and I forget who gave my the best answer but it went something like this:

"You know my mom told me once -- 'You've never lost a game, you either win OR you learn.' Some years I learned a lot, but like a lot of things ... mom knew best."

* * *

OF Simon Baker, Cochrane, Alta., Webber Wildcats, C-Gonzaga University.

Most important life lesson: “Just go out there and DO IT. No matter how nervous you are. You go out and do it once it will be easier the second time. Do it again and it will be easier the next time ... and you know what? Life will be easier.”

LHP Jack Baxter, Quispamsis, NB, Vauxhall Jets C-Indian Hills Community College.

Most important life lesson: ““Excuses are for quitters. You can’t go out and expect to win every game. You can’t blame the ump. You can’t say that the mound sucks.”

SS Oliver Clements, Vancouver, BC, UBC Thunder.

Most important life lesson: “How to deal with the struggles of the games. To not get too high, not get too low and keep pushing ahead.”

OF Abraham Contreras-Estevez, Blainville, Que., Academie Baseball Canada.

Most important life lesson: “Not every game is going to be great and how you treat baseball is how you will be treated in life. If you want to be a good ball player, you get your sleep, you don’t east fast food. You need discipline in baseball and you need discipline to get your rest.”

INF Leo Cote, Sainte-Catherine-De-Hatley, Que., Okotoks Dawgs, C-Oregon State.

Most important life lesson: “Keep your head. Even if you are 0-for-75, you still have to have confidence. Look at Kyle Schwarber (last year). What’s he hitting .190 (.196) and he has a bunch of strikeouts (207), but he still has 45 homers. Haters are going to hate.”

Webber Wildcats Dylan Dekker (Kamloops, BC)

INF Dylan Dekker, Kamloops, BC, Webber Wildcats, C-Trinidad State Junior College.

Most important life lesson: “You can learn from your mistakes. There is a lot of failure in this game, whether it is a strikeout or an error. Used to be I’d get so angry. But you learn from mistakes and make adjustments.”

RHP Tristan Eberle, Regina, Sask., Regina Athletics, C-Arizona Western College.

Most important life lesson: “That hard work beats talent. There is always someone better somewhere, but you can always work harder.”

Langley Blaze Owen Fernandes (Maple, Ridge, BC)

RHP Owen Fernandes, Maple Ridge, BC, Langley Blaze, C-Yavapai College.

Most important life lesson: “That a bad day is not always a bad day. There is always a learning point. You have to work hard to get to the good times.”

Great Lake Canadians Connor Gaitens (Tillsonburg, Ont.)

C Connor Gaitens, Tillsonburg, Ont., Great Lake Canadians, C-Southeastern Community College

Most important life lesson: “My brother Tanner Gaitens, who played for the London Badgers, always taught me to have a good work ethic. The biggest lesson is that hard work beats talent.”

Ontario Astros Joe Godfrey (Bowmanville, Ont.)

C Joe Godfrey, Bowmanville, Ont., Ontario Astros, C-Sussex County Community College.

Most important life lesson: “How to deal with the struggles of the games. To not get too high, not get too low and keep pushing ahead.”

Great Lake Canadians Jackson Long (Guelph, Ont.)

OF Jackson Long, Guelph, Ont., Great Lake Canadians.

Most important life lesson: “That hard work beats talent. There is always someone better somewhere, but you can always work harder.”

Toronto Mets’ Gianiuca (Aurora, Ont.)

C Gianluca Montanaro, Aurora, Ont., Toronto Mets, C-Bossier Parish Community College.

Most important life lesson: “Basically to have fun. You play better if you’re having fun. You’ll hit longer if you are having fun.”

Okotoks Dawgs Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC)

SS Tim Piasentin, Coquitlam, BC, Okotoks Dawgs, C-Miami.

Most important life lesson: “You have to keep working hard -- even if you do not see immediate results.”

Ontario Blue Jays Brayden Ricketts (Brampton, Ont.)

C-1B Brayden Ricketts, Brampton, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays, C-Indiana University.

Most important life lesson: “How to work with failure. Not to get too high when things are good and not to get too low when things aren’t going well. Basically you get out of the game when you put into it.”

RHP-INF Josiah Romeo, Caledon, Ont., Mississauga Tigers, C-Florida State.

Most important life lesson: “The struggles and how to deal with them. To make your weakness your strength.”

RHP Jacob Wallace, Pincourt, Que., Academie Baseball Canada.

Most important life lesson: “The harder you work the more you get. If you want something you have to go get it.”