Shushkewich: Orillia producing its share of sandlot talent headed to school
Great Lake Canadians alum and University of Nebraska Lincoln left-hander Caleb Clark (Orillia, Ont.) honed his skills as a youngster in Orillia, Ont. Photo: University of Nebraska Lincoln Athletics
April 25, 2025
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
Roughly an hour and a half north of Toronto, Orillia is home to many things, including the Ontario Provincial Police headquarters, former Ontario Premier Leslie Frost, and singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who passed in 2023.
The city is central to a few surrounding communities, such as Oro-Medonte, Severn, Rama, and Washago. Teens come into the city to go to school, participate in sports, or other activities that the smaller communities don’t host.
Known as the “Sunshine City,” Orillia, with its population of a little over 33,000, lives up to this name during the summer months when the local ball diamonds are full from the afternoon until the lights get shut off near midnight.
Orillia hosts its own local league – Orillia Legion Minor – and boasts two different levels: a house league rotation for players to stay within the community and play others at a more relaxed level, and a more competitive rep/select league for those looking for an increase in competition, with the team dubbed the Royals.
From U9 to U18, the Royals play in the York Simcoe Baseball Association, while those in the U22 category (referred to as the Junior division) play in the North Dufferin League, which is where the senior team, known as the Majors, also plays.
“Orillia definitely helped shape the player I am now,” said Lucas Mackey, one of the many players who spoke to the Canadian Baseball Network for this article. “I felt like I always had to work harder because I played for the Royals all of my career before heading down to the United States to play.”
Looking at the history of Canadian players from the area, there have been no reported Orillians to ever play in the majors. Huntsville, just down the road to the North, lays claim to George Selkirk, who appeared in 846 games for the New York Yankees from 1934-1942, while Penetanguishene boasts Phil Marchildon, a right-hander who made over 185 appearances, mostly with the Philadelphia A’s, from 1940-1950.
That hasn’t stopped the youth in Orillia from trying to change that.
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Players from Orillia and area south of the border to continue playing college ball
Caleb Clark (Jr.) – LHP / University of Nebraska-Lincoln (NCAA D1) – Orillia, Ont.
Mason Robertson (Jr.) – LHP / Biola University (NCAA D2) – Orillia, Ont.
Wesley Knott (Fr.) – RHP / Salem University (NCAA D2) – Oro-Medonte, Ont.
Will Timpano (Fr.) – C / Alfred University (NCAA D3) – Orillia, Ont.
Lucas Mackey (Sr.) – RHP / Bethany College (NCAA D3) – Washago, Ont.
Wyatt Thompson (Sr.) – RHP / Thomas College (NCAA D3) – Orillia, Ont.
Yojairon Juan (Sr.) – OF / Voorhees University (NAIA) – Orillia, Ont.
Lucas Earle (Jr.) – RHP / Fisher (NAIA) – Oro-Medonte, Ont.
Kaden Noble (Fr.) – RHP / McCook (NJCAA) – Orillia, Ont.
Chase Brennan (Soph.) – Herkimer (NJCAA) – Severn, Ont.
Max Rutherford (Jr.) – RHP / University of Guelph (USports) - Orillia, Ont.
Ben Barzo (Soph.) – C/OF / Toronto Metropolitan University (USports) - Orillia, Ont.
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“Orillia is where I found the love of the game,” said Will Timpano, an engineering student for the Alfred University Saxons. “The community was tight and supportive, and I got to play with my friends in the Orillia Royals until I joined Barrie Elite at U15 and shortly after, the Team Ontario Astros. Everybody in Orillia is very supportive of each other's goals and getting better each and every day.”
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Area players who committed to playing post-secondary baseball already or playing competitive ball for programs across Ontario while currently weighing their options:
Jackson Winacott – C / Hocking College (Orillia, Ont.)
Matthew Dickie – OF / WVU Tech (Severn, Ont.)
Luke Adams – RHP / Genesee Community College (Midland, Ont.)
Nicholas Emons – LHP / Uncommitted (Orillia, Ont.)
Cayson Scotland – C / Uncommitted (Orillia, Ont.)
William Hillyard – LHP/OF / Uncommitted (Orillia, Ont.)
Not all team rosters are public or decided at this time for the upcoming summer. If you are not included please email Tyson_MLB@hotmail.com to be added )
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For many of these players, Orillia is where their careers started, from the early stages of T-Ball through the U18 program.
A few players spent their entire playing career in the Sunshine City and with the Royals, while numerous others found other avenues as they grew older in search of opportunities to develop and further pursue playing opportunities down south.
“I started played in Orillia when I was four years old, beginning in the OLMB in house league and over time, moving into rep baseball with the Royals,” said Jackson Winacott, who now plays for the Toronto Mets in the Canadian Premier Baseball League and is committed to Hocking College. “Playing in Orillia shaped my career by giving me a solid foundation while making me find my own ways to get my work in daily. We would work in the middle school gyms during the winter, and I worked on a lot of wall ball when it comes to my catching work. The coaches in Orillia helped develop me into the person and player I am today.”
Kaden Noble had a similar experience, saying: “I grew up around the diamonds in Orillia, watching the Royals play when I was younger and also watching my father play Slo-Pitch at Tudhope Park as well,.” Noble, in his second season at McCook said “I joined the Royals when I was 11 and spent one year with them before moving to the Barrie Baycats (formerly the Barrie RedSox). I also worked out with the Central Ontario Reds before eventually relocating to London and playing for the Great Lake Canadians and continued to develop and play there before committing to McCook for my freshman year.”
Caleb Clark, the only NCAA Division 1 player in the group, started his ball career in the friendly confines of his hometown.
“My dad and I first started playing in the backyard, and that quickly grew into playing house league in the OLMB and then with the Royals, which is where I played until Grade 3,” explained Clark. “After that, I went to Barrie for a few years and then later the Great Lake Canadians before heading to Nebraska, but I will always have fond memories of playing on those diamonds so close to home early in my career. Getting started there helped give me a solid foundation to take my game to the next level, even from an early age.”
One of the drawbacks of being so far from Toronto and the American border has been getting enough exposure when it comes to showcasing those talents on the field. More and more players are joining organizations outside of Orillia as they grow into their teen years.
The reason for the moves is rooted in trying to continue developing as a player, but also with the explosion of social media, players need to showcase their skills in front of as many scouts, coaches and recruiters while also being active online.
That comes in a variety of forms, whether that’s posting pitching videos, stats from the batting cage, or travelling to tournaments on the other side of the border to get that increased exposure. Some of these events and opportunities mean playing outside of Orillia, with some players even moving to other cities and living with a billet family to play for certain programs and minimize commutes.
“Getting that type of exposure in Orillia is tough compared to programs like Team Ontario or similar teams,” said Timpano. “Playing for the Astros helped with the connections to get an opportunity to play at the next level, and be in front of scouts or recruiting coordinators. Unfortunately, that type of opportunity is tougher the further from the bigger cities you are.”
Said Clark: “You can’t be afraid to take that next step, even if there are quite a few unknowns, if you are afraid to leave your hometown, you might miss out on some opportunities that can set you apart from other players who are trying to accomplish the same goal as you. Orillia is where everything started and shaped my early baseball career, but to get that next level of exposure, I decided to join and billet with the Great Lake Canadians to continue working towards that goal of playing at a high level in the USA.”
There are exceptions to the case – Lucas Mackey played only for the Royals and found himself playing in the USA after his high school days were done.
The Royals program does find itself going to different tournaments across Ontario, even heading to the United States occasionally, to continue to produce players such as Mackey and keep them with the Royals for the long term before post-secondary opportunities.
“You have to start creating good habits and enjoy the moment and give everything you’ve got,” said Mackey. “Going from Orillia to Jefferson after high school wasn’t a big change, if I am being honest, the biggest difference was the level of play. Everyone here is one of the best from their respective teams before college, and the calibre of talent is super high.”
Looking ahead, there are numerous talented players in Orillia and the surrounding local communities who will continue to find themselves on ball diamonds in the city and also down in the Canadian Premier Baseball League.
Even if the end result isn’t playing on a big league diamond, numerous players from the area are bettering themselves both on and off the field through continuing to chase the dream while earning scholarships to schools and pursuing future education, both in Canada and the United States.
All of this in part to stepping on a ball diamond in the Orillia.
“I owe a lot of my early workings to my family and to the Royals and the city itself,” said Clark. “I would not be where I am today without all of the different coaches and people from the community who supported me in this journey.”