US Team Happy With Canadian Tour

By Robert Thomas

“I’m not into the politics it’s all about baseball,” coach Sam Joseph of the Jamestown Post 14 Eagles told MJ Independent.

The Eagles were in town Thursday evening to take on the Canucks U18 AAA as part of an exhibition swing in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Eagles won 5 - 4 on a 7th inning run.

“This is our first time as a program being up here (in Canada) It’s been a lot of fun. A lot of different baseball and a great level of play up here,” he said, adding “it’s been awesome it’s been a great experience.”

Jamestown pitcher lines up a strike - MJ Independent photo

Joseph admits he was a bit apprehensive about the trip and the reception they would receive due to the political and trade battle between Canada and the United States.

“We were kind of worried about that coming up here. We didn’t know. And again I’m not into any politics stuff…just going off of what other people would tell me we’re just going to come up here with open minds and open hearts,” Joseph said.

Despite the worries the trip was anything but the fears.

“We haven’t had any negative pushback or things like that,” he said.

“It’s been good. Everyone has been nice, very open and very caring about what’s going on,” Joseph said about the reception the team has received above the 49th parallel.

And in a tune tourism associations would love the team would definitely do the tour again.

But the tour was more than a political undertone it was about baseball something Joseph said the Eagles benefitted from.

“A lot of the things the Canadians teams do are things I try to push my team to do,” Joseph said.

“Be respectful within the game but hustle in and hustle out. Do situational hitting knowing all situations. The Canadian team we played this weekend were very disciplined and that’s where we need to be as a group to go.”

He said it was important for the players to pull up to Canada and see that.

The Eagles came to Canada with 17 players, a large contingent, ranging in ages from 16 - 19 years old. Jamestown is a community of approximately 16,000.

The mini tour took the team to a weekend tournament in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and finally Moose Jaw before heading back home to North Dakota.

The Eagles celebrate their victory - MJ Independent photo

Moose Jaw U18 AAA Canucks head coach Taylor Elder said it was good for the North Dakota team to tour. It was something the Canucks had initially been planning.

“We had originally planned to go down to North Dakota at the start of the year but with the state of the Canadian dollar and everything else we just decided to stay in Canada this year,” Elder said.

“It’s nice to see an American team and see how we stack up against them.”

The game also gave the opportunity to get some of the younger Canucks into the lineup.

Elder said the respect and discipline showed by the Canucks. It goes far beyond the ball diamond and it’s also part of the teams desire to teach the younger teenage players some life lessons.

“If we can learn and grow as people that’s the added bonus of baseball.

Elder said there wasn’t a lot of difference in playing styles.

“It’s baseball when you get right down to it.”