SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Canada’s top teenage baseball players are competing for a national title in P.E.I., while scouts in the crowd look for next-level talent. Teams from all 10 provinces are taking the field in Summerside, P.E.I. for the Baseball Canada Cup. The Under-17 tournament is part of the organization’s selection process for its Under-18 Junior National Team and can also put players in front of other recruiters. Winning was top of mind for Samuel Green after he hit a home run for Team Nova Scotia. “We want a medal. We have a really good team. We have great coaches. So we have a mission for this tournament,” he said. But Green’s ambitions go beyond winning. Like many players, the 17-year-old shortstop and pitcher wants to gain the attention of recruiters. The opportunity to get national exposure can be especially important for players outside major baseball centres, said Team Newfoundland and Labrador head coach Greg Williams. “Being so far on the East Coast, it’s not like we’re in a high-visibility area,” he said, adding it can also open doors with schools or academies looking for new players. Watching closely from the sidelines is Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada’s head coach and director of men’s national teams since 1998. For him, it’s a chance to see players from coast to coast and get a feel for the next generation. “The speed of the game goes up dramatically as they move into international competition and play against the best in the world,” Hamilton said. “So you’re looking for players who have that type of physicality, that type of athleticism.” ‘It’s a pretty big stage’ A Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer himself, Hamilton has seen plenty of talent come and go. What he looks for depends on the position. For pitchers, that means enough arm strength and projectability, while position players need the potential to catch up to the increased velocity they’ll face. He’s also watching how players handle adversity, especially when they or their teams are struggling and games are not going their way. But the odds are strong, he said. “Definitely we’ll see players that play and excel here, handle this environment well, they’ll move up and have a bright future.” Even with so much at stake, the week is about more than results for some. “It’s always fun to be around the game and just experience it with all your friends you’ve known your whole life,” said Lincoln Carriere, an 18-year-old infielder and pitcher for Team Manitoba. And for Team P.E.I., playing on home soil is a special moment. “Home fans showed up. You know, I played on this field my whole life… it’s a pretty big stage,” said Austin Keough, a 17-year-old pitcher. The small city of Summerside, with a population of just over 16,000 in the 2021 census, is building a reputation for hosting big sporting events. This year marks the first time the city is hosting two Baseball Canada national championships in the same year. The Under-15 Ray Carter Cup follows later this month, with three more championships awarded through 2029. “Your airlines get busy, your bussing companies get busy,” said Tanner Doiron, Summerside’s acting director of communications and events. “We’re spending money at local stores. Your pubs are filling up. Your hotels are full. So every sector is touched.” The games continue through Sunday, when a national champion will be crowned.
