Verge: Ontario champs Etobicoke Rangers with heartbeat off to nationals on The Rock
August 14, 2024
Etobicoke heading to Nationals
By Melissa Verge
Canadian Baseball Network
The 17-year-old heartbeat of the Etobicoke Rangers is taking flight to his favourite destination Wednesday:
A ball field.
Although Nolan Walsh has never played on one in St. John’s Nfld. before, or at the 18U National Championships, he’s been around the game long enough to know.
Over every other place, he’d choose a ball field every time.
“There’s just nowhere else I’d rather be [and] no better group to be with,” Walsh said, who alternates between playing centre field and as a left-handed starter on the mound for Etobicoke.
Walsh and the Rangers solidified their spot representing Ontario at 18U Nationals in St. John’s earlier this month, when they won the Ontario Baseball Association eliminations tournament. The Rangers dominated, going 6-0.
“It was a really good weekend and we caught fire a little bit,” said head coach Geoff McCallum.
It’s a switch from the past two years, when the Mississauga Tigers have represented Ontario at the tournament, winning it all in both appearances. Etobicoke opened with a first-round bye, then beat Bradford 5-4, Pickering 15-5, Peterborough 4-3, North Toronto 15-9, Mississauga North 3-1 and North Toronto 6-4 in the final.
An important piece of the Rangers success has been Walsh, who will also be a key part of their roster at nationals, said McCallum.
The two-way player is versatile, and can alternate effortlessly between centre and taking his turn on the mound.
“He’s the lifeblood of our team,” he said. “He’s like our third-hole hitter, runs balls down in centre field, throws guys out, and then gets on the mound.”
It’s pure passion that fuels the young athlete, in his seventh season with the Rangers, to put in the work so he can have that success no matter where he is on the diamond. From crushing balls at the plate, throwing strikes, or swooping in for a catch in centre before it drops for a base hit, he’s enthusiastic about every part of it.
“I love being out there, playing in the sun, running around the outfield and having fun with the guys,” Walsh said.
They’re looking to bring that passion to nationals, and the same energy that they had at their most recent tournaments into St John’s, McCallum said. At the Toronto Baseball Association tournament over the weekend, they went 3-1, before having to drop out of the final game to focus on nationals.
If they play solid ball like they have been, he thinks they’ll have a good chance at winning some games, at the tournament that will be held beginning Thursday and running through until Sunday. McCallum played one year in the Seattle Mariners system, one with the Florida Marlins and seven seasons of indy ball.
“You know, one game at a time, but first things first is playing good baseball,” he said.
Opening ceremonies take place Wednesday evening, and they’ll play their first game Thursday against British Columbia. The first pitch is at 1 p.m. NDT - 11:30 a.m. EDT.
They’ll be ready, Walsh said.
Their last two appearances at nationals in 2018 and 2019, the Rangers brought home silver, but this year, they’re going for something a little different.
Something a little more gold in colour.
“Obviously [we’re] trying to win it all,” Walsh said.
The heartbeat continues to pump.