Another season of Altona Bisons' baseball is under way in the Border Baseball League and coach Ralph Hamm says there's a lot of positives early and more good things to come.
Seven games into their season, something already is standing out to Hamm. "Lots of parity," the veteran coach says with a smile. "Every night you go out and you know you're going to have to play a tough team and it's exciting. It was good getting out west and seeing some of those great diamonds out there, we were in Baldur for a trip, they ended up beating us 10-9, they got the better of us on a Sunday afternoon, but beautiful diamond to play in, that's for sure."
Coming out of the gate, the Bisons are off to a 3-3-1 start and Hamm says there are positives to take away from that start. "We have a big squad, it's nice to have a big squad. We've been a little short when it comes to some game nights, but that depth is going to help us as we make a run. Hopefully a deep run into the playoffs, after what we did last year, we're hoping to be there again. But, we know there's a lot of teams that can knock us off, that's for sure."
Looking up and down the roster, Hamm says there's a great mix of returning players and some new blood. "We have some guys that have been there from the get-go. We started back in 2019, so this year seven. We still have some players from that original squad, but we've turned a number over. Some have taken a year off and come back, one guy especially, Troy Voth, he moved out to Alberta but then came back home, it was great to add him back to the squad, he's throwing quality innings for us here. Colin Waldner was the first guy to jump on board and he's been the backbone of the pitching staff and it's always good to have him around. Ryan Gerbrandt took a little time to go fight fires up north, but he's back and providing great leadership and also some great at bats."
Seeing those three and others take a leadership role has made Hamm very proud as they continue to instill the Bisons way when it comes to playing ball. "I think that's something that is in the Altona baseball community. When you look at some guys, first of all have been honoured for building Access Field, Menno (Friesen) is unfortunately gone, but Ken (Wiebe) and Ben (Dueck) and Gord (Sawatzky), all the dedication they have to baseball in Altona, it's fostered that environment where players know they have to give back. This year especially, when minor ball asked if there were senior ball players that could help with spring ball sessions in the arena, they had a full compliment of guys out there, running drills and helping coach. I fully expect that many of them are dads now, you'll see them on the diamond coaching their own kids one day."
Representing Altona is always a big point of pride for Hamm and the team. "First of all, we play in the grandest facility in the province, outside of the home of the Goldeyes. It's a top notch facility, when we host people here, they are wowed by it. It's great to see good crowds and it's an entertaining evening. It's good quality baseball. We've been sharp, we might have lagged a little but the last few games have been back to Bisons baseball. Playing against other teams, you get a history or a friendship, but when you're on the diamond, it's all game. Of course, it's all amped up when we get to playoffs. Fans appreciate good baseball and Altona baseball has been about good pitching and good defense, then the last few years we've added some young guys with pop."
Baseball being big in communities around Altona has produced some fun rivalries and Hamm says it's great for the sport. "It's always good to get the best of somebody and I tell our guys, there's nothing better than winning a ball game. It's great that the league is prospering. There is turnover in the league but we all do age out, I know I'd love to play the game but I'm an old man, but it's great to see guys taking advantage of their youth playing the game we all love. The league is set for many more years of good baseball, especially because we can graduate kids out of minor ball and junior programs into the senior league of baseball."
The Bisons have a pair of road games this week before coming home for Sunday. "It's great to see more kids in the crowd these days and they do recognize some guys from when they helped out in the spring," Hamm says proudly. "It's special. Wednesday we have Winkler and they've had our number a bit. Friday we're taking on Morden, they're always a tough beat. Then Cartwright, we played them in the final, so it'll be good to play them again and maybe put another win in the bank."
First pitch from Artic Field on Sunday is just after 7:30 p.m.