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After doing some work indoors, the U13 AAA South Central Cubs are ready to head outside onto the diamond and start the 2025 season.
Coach Scott Edwards admits this time of year is special as a new season is on the horizon. "We're feeling good, it's been a bit of a grind through the last month as we worked through indoor sessions, given the climate we're in. We've gotten to the point where we have made our team and we're ready to get out on the baseball filed here in the next week or so. We're all very excited."
At the U13 level, Edwards says it's about looking at where the kids are now combined with where they could get to throughout the season. "It's a tricky process, these are young boys. Some of them have played U13 baseball last year, while some didn't. That change from 11U to 13U is very different. There are rule changes, the rules are different and all these kids develop at different rates. It was a very competitive tryout process and there are a lot of very good baseball players in our region. We're lucky to have that skill level and that competition and we were able to put together a roster of 15 kids together from around the region."
As Edwards said, there's a ton of talent around the area and the second year coach says to the kids that didn't make it this year, it doesn't mean they won't in the future. "There's always opportunity because all these kids are double rostered. What that means is they play with their home baseball association and then in addition, they'll play with the AAA South Central. There is always a chance to be called up but also new last year was the AA program. Another team that's filled with really good ball players from across the region, they get together and play an abbreviated season, as well as their provincial championships, as well."
Having the 15 players selected, it's now time to develop a team rhythm and build chemistry, says Edwards. "It's always one of the unknowns, especially with kids this age, some are not familiar with one another. We're lucky we have six returning players that can set the groundwork for our team this year. We've also added some really good ball players but they also have really good character. We had our first team get together already and I see good things for the future. They're all really good ball players, they love the game and we're hoping to get on the diamond soon so we can hone our skills and get ready for our first game in a few weeks."
Baseball is a game of failure and Edwards says it's important to keep players close to level zero, never letting them get too low when the times do get tough. "It's a big part of coaching, we put together a good staff with Donny Bergman, Pat Fehr and Jeff Andrews, so they all have experience working with kids on the baseball skill. It is a game of failure and all these kids have made a AAA team, they have high expectations of themselves and it's something we will focus on and make sure they understand that mistakes will happen, it's about how you handle yourself after those mistakes are made. The game is different, too. These teams are running bunt defenses and pick off plays, it's a lot to learn in a short amount of time."
Edwards says having a great parent group and strong community support also means a lot. "So thankful to the parents for giving these boys the opportunity. I know being in South Central, we appreciate all the communities that are involved and we've tried to schedule games throughout the region. Follow us on Instagram, we'll have the schedule there, we'll be mainly in Morden, Winkler and Altona, we'd love to have a lot of people come out and see this group of boys play baseball."