Innisfail native Corbyn Shields is a baseball success on both sides of the border.
While in Innisfail as a member of the Innisfail Indians, Shields plays either second or third base and during the school year in in Minot, North Dakota, he was a second baseman with the Minot Beavers of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, a NCAA tier II team.
“Corbyn plays a consistent, aggressive style game-in, game-out,” said Indians' co-coach Des Bouteiller of the third year player. “Where most of the team does not have college coaching, he does and it shows in his performance on the field.”
During his high school years, Shields was always athletic, according to his Innisfail mother Leslie DeRuyter.
“He played hockey in the Innisfail Minor Hockey system, moving up to the Kinsmen Flyers in addition to baseball,” said DeRuyter. “He was also very academic in school, graduating in 2011 with a $1,000 scholarship and interest from Minot State University (MSU).”
The Innisfail athlete went on to attend MSU and study elementary education, which he will finish in 2015. He did not play baseball in the 2014 season nor will he not do so in 2015 to focus on studies.
Shields was named to the Dean's List of MSU with a grade point average of at least 3.5 over 12 hours of instruction.
As the ‘college' kid on the team, Shields brings his experience to the field.
The 2 - 1 loss on July 4 to the Irricana Canadians was no exception, with Shields hitting the bases first up after batting two pitches over the backstop before hitting a two-base midfield shot.
With two men out, and a wild throw from the Canadians' back catcher, the 21-year-old player bolted for home from third and slid for the plate, narrowly missing the first run for the Indians.
“I thought I made home plate,” said Shields of his long slide. “I guess I didn't.”
The second baseman noted the game featured a strong defensive effort by both teams.
The 2014 Indian season has the team sitting with seven wins and four losses, sitting close to the top of the Parkland Baseball League.
“Our games have all been fairly close,” said Bouteiller from the sidelines. “Corbyn has been a good player for the team batting somewhere around the mid 400s.”
Shields is the only player on both the Innisfail Merchants, for players ages 18 to 21, and the Indians team, which caters to those 21 and over.
“We start practising with the Merchants this next weekend,” said Shields. “Our only action is one tournament and the playoff format has been changed with the Indians this year so I will be able to play more with them than last year.”
He added he enjoys playing on both teams, which allows him more field time and the opportunity to play with all experience levels.
“I heard a great quote that summarizes every baseball career,” added Shields. “You can miss seven out of 10 at bats and still be considered an all-star hitter. Playing ball at college, I realized that. Baseball is a mental sport that teaches you balance in what you consider success and failure.”
To support the Indians, local baseball fans are being asked to participate in a raffle for a $2,000 travel voucher and four other prizes. Tickets are available from GT Electronics and Indians players.
For more information on the Innisfail Indians go to www.parklandbaseball.ca
