The Innisfail Indians Bantam AA Tier 2 team didn't let a slow start to the season stop them en route to this year's provincial championships.
Instead, the resilient team worked hard to finish the 2016 baseball season with a silver medal at the Bantam AA Tier 2 provincial championships from Aug. 5 to 7 in Edmonton.
The team began in early May and wrapped up a 20-game regular season schedule at the end of July, notching first place in Tier 2 with 13 wins and 26 points.
That high note didn't come without a few bumps along the way.
“We were zero and five in our first month. We weren't winning games but the boys were working hard,” said Tom DeRuyter, head coach. “Our focus was on developing, not on winning at the time. We had a small 11-man roster and eight of those players were first-year bantams.”
The Indians began in the lower tier level of play this season, but quickly moved up after a few games, coming together as a team, noted DeRuyter.
“After our zero and five start we went on a 13-game winning streak and because of that winning streak we were moved up into a tougher tier -- Tier 2,” he said, noting their continued winning efforts in the month of July. “We ended up going five and two in that round of play and tied with Calgary for first place in Tier 2 at the end of the regular season.”
The local squad was one of eight teams to compete in Edmonton at the provincial championships from Aug. 5 to 7. Other teams included Calgary, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Lacombe, Sherwood Park, Provost and Edmonton.
During the championship tournament, Innisfail played a total of five games -- three round robin games and two more in the semifinal and the final.
“We finished the round robin (series) first in our pool,” said DeRuyter. “Then we played Lacombe and defeated them 11-1 in the semifinal and we lost to Provost in the gold medal game.”
Despite the loss in the championship game, DeRuyter said the team did a stellar job turning its season around. He said it came down to hard work and a little faith in their abilities.
“They believed in what us coaches were preaching. That was to continue to work hard, learn from our mistakes and play as a team,” explained DeRuyter. “Nobody was above anybody else on the team. They played as a team, they worked hard together as a team and in the end that was their success.”
Experience in previous age levels was also a contributing factor, he noted.
“They've learned in the past what it takes and how much work it takes to succeed,” said DeRuyter.
DeRuyter said a highlight of the provincial championships for him came from other teams and tournament organizers.
“I received an email from Edmonton, the hosts of the championships, and they noted that we should be proud of our boys for how respectful they were, and how they played the game whether they were winning or losing,” he said. “They were respectful to all the officials and their opponents on the diamond.”
“The silver medal is nice, but that was probably the proudest thing for us coaches -- that the boys were recognized that way as the most respectful team on the diamond.”
“I think that speaks a lot about the character of our team,” DeRuyter concluded.
Tom DeRuyter, head coach
"Nobody was above anybody else on the team. They played as a team, they worked hard together as a team and in the end that was their success."
