Lethbridge Junior Bulls ready to host Canadian championship

By Lethbridge Herald on July 28, 2023.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Jr. Bulls’ Keegan Scott throws the ball back into the infield as Rhett Orthalek looks on during a recent practice at Dave Elton Park, ahead of the upcoming Junior Canadian Little League Championship.

Justin Seward – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – sports@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Junior Bulls baseball team are set to host the country’s best for this level in the Junior Canadian Little League Championship beginning Monday at Spitz Stadium.

This year’s Junior Bulls squad, which are players 15 and under, is a completely new roster from the one a year ago that lost in the final at Spitz Stadium to the Vancouver Battalion in the same championship.

The Bulls had to play 16 Little League games in order to compete in the tournament.

“Just working on the little things because it’s a young group (and) inexperienced group,” said Ethan Smith, Bulls assistant coach.

“None of them really ever played really competitive baseball before. So (Zach) Rhodes and I have spent a long time, just all year, teaching them the other half of the game. The little things, like where to cut the ball, and like what situations (such as) bunt defences. So our big thing is if we do the little things right this tournament, then we should be sitting pretty well.”

The key for the players is to not the let wins or losses affect them in the divisional round.

“We play every team once and if we have a bad loss or a big win, don’t just dwell on it for two days because the good thing about baseball is you play the next day no matter what,” said Smith.

“There’s always the next game. So just try and stay level headed and not get too high or too low.”

The Bulls will look to their pitching and defence as their strength.

“Our pitchers have done a very good job of throwing strikes and getting ground balls this year,” said Smith.

“Rhodes and I have made a big key for our pitchers to just throw strikes and get ground balls and our defence too has been really good. They make the easy plays, they make the routine plays, but they also make some really nice hard plays, especially in the outfield and on the infield.”

Smith said don’t get nervous, is the message to the players once the national tournament gets underway.

“Because I know we spend all year playing on like minor diamonds ,and all that and then for this tournament, they’re lucky enough, we get to play on Spitz Stadium,” said Smith.

“All of our games will be the late games under the lights. So this is going to be … their first time playing under the lights, and on a national stage you’re playing teams from the east coast and Quebec. So just don’t get nervous, which I know it’s a big thing, especially at this young age, not to get nervous and get tight. And if we stay loose and play the way we do, we should have a good shot of winning this thing.”

It means a lot for the club to be hosting the national tournament.

“I’ve played in this tournament in 2017 and it’s lots of fun,” said Smith.

“You get to spend eight days living with your teammates and it’s tons of fun… So yeah it’s a really fun time for the kids and it means a lot. (And) lots of family and friends get to come out as we’re hosting. So they get to play in front of friends, invite their friends out, play in front of family (and) extended families. So it’s lots of fun.”

Carson Ring said pretty high, when asked about the excitement level.

“We’re all excited to play and play at Spitz,” said Ring.

Ring anticipates it will be good baseball.

Ring thinks practices have been going well.

“I think we’re mostly focused and want to win, obviously,” said Ring.

“But we’re all focused up and ready to play.”

The Junior Canadian Little League Championship is from July 31-Aug. 7 at Spitz Stadium.

Teams are from B.C., Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and a Maritimes representative.

The Bulls are the host team.

The winner will advance to Taylor, Mich. for the Junior Little League World Series from Aug. 13-20.