Three budding baseball players in the Corner Brook minor baseball team have been named to the provincial 15U male baseball team.
Adam Ward and Jay Miller, both of Corner Brook, and Massey Drive’s Thomas Hancock will suit up with Team NL at the 2018 national 15U baseball championships being played in Oshawa, Ont. from Aug. 24-26.
All three guys could see some action in a pitching role, while Miller is considered a defensive gem who is in the mix for the starting role at third base.
Playing for your province is something that most competitive athletes work towards when they embrace a sport, so all three were in pretty good spirits after receiving word they had cracked the roster.
The Western Star caught up with the three players at Jubilee Field Wednesday to get their thoughts on making the team and going away to Oshawa later this summer to play against the best 15-year-old baseball players from coast to coast.
Question: What does it mean to you to earn a spot on the provincial team and how do you see yourself making a contribution to the team in Oshawa this summer?
Adam Ward
Hometown: Corner Brook
Age: 15
Parents: Glen and Leslie Ward
Position: Southpaw pitcher/First baseman
Favourite Team: Chicago Cubs
Favourite Player: Jose Fernandez (deceased)
Answer: It means a lot. It’s my second year trying out for it and honestly I didn’t think I was going to make it because it was very good competition out there. Everyone was equal and there was nobody bad or anyone outstanding. It feels good to be named to the team and represent my province. I feel like my pitching is where I can help the team. I feel like I can sit people down and throw strikes. Throwing a strike and striking people out makes the team’s job easier behind me and takes the pressure off them.
Thomas Hancock
Hometown: Massey Drive
Age: 14
Parents: Darren and Jennifer Hancock
Position: First baseman/southpaw pitcher
Favourite Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Favourite Player: Marcus Stroman
Answer: It’s a big honour to represent your province and it’s going to be fun going to a national baseball event. With so many great baseball players up there I think it’s going to be fun. I’ll do anything, if it means coming off the bench I will do that. I have some speed on the basepaths, I can come in and pitch if they want and I can provide fielding at first. I will do anything they ask me to do.
Jay Miller
Hometown: Corner Brook
Age: 15
Parents: Doug Miller and Sandy Dunphy
Position: Third baseman/right-handed pitcher
Favourite Team: Chicago Cubs
Favourite Player: Manny Machado
Answer: It means a lot and I’m really happy. I went down to the field all spring working at it trying to get better to make the team and when I found out I made the team I was very happy because my hard work paid off. I see myself helping the team with good pitching and hopefully doing well at third base making plays and getting outs. Hopefully I can make contact at the plate and put the ball in play.
