‘He made me into a pitcher’
Glace Bay baseball player credits grandfather for helping him make provincial team
When Parker Hanrahan steps onto the mound to pitch for Team Nova Scotia next week, he’ll have a special person on his mind.
Hanrahan credits his late grandfather, David Hanrahan, who died in July 2015, for helping him become the pitcher he is today.
“When I was playing mosquito baseball, I remember being in provincials and I was scared to death to go on the mound and I never wanted to pitch, and he saw that,” Hanrahan said. “My grandfather told me he was going to make me into a pitcher, so he would bring me out in the back yard with my dad (Mark Hanrahan) and teach me — he was all about mechanics and he made me into a pitcher.”
The Glace Bay resident will suit up for the 15-and-under provincial baseball team at the 2018 Ray Carter Cup National Championship in Oshawa, Ont., beginning on Thursday.
Earlier this year, Hanrahan participated in two Baseball Nova Scotia team tryouts — one in Cape Breton and the other in East Hants — and was later named to the club’s spring core team, which featured 30 to 40 players from across the province, each fighting for one of only 16 available spots.
The 15-year-old was later named to the team’s final roster in mid-April.
“I originally tried out for first base and pitcher, but I only really wanted to be a pitcher,” Hanrahan said. “The coach emailed my father and asked if I would be OK with just being a
pitcher on the team; he offered me a spot and I immediately accepted it.”
“I couldn’t believe it when I got the email. It was all I ever wanted, I really wanted to pitch for this team and I’m excited for the chance.”
Team Nova Scotia will open the four-day tournament Thursday
of next week at 9:30 a.m. Atlantic time against Team Alberta. They will also play Team Newfoundland later in the day at 3:30 p.m.
The Nova Scotians will continue the tournament on Friday against New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, before wrapping up the round robin on Aug. 25
against Manitoba.
“I think we have a very good group of players on our team,” said Hanrahan, whose favourite baseball club is the New York Yankees. “I think we have a good shot at winning. I haven’t really seen the other teams, but I think we’ll do well.”
Hanrahan has experience when it comes to playing in national championships, suiting up for the Glace Bay Colonels in 2015 and the Glace Bay Miners in 2016 Canadian tournaments.
Last month, Hanrahan also played for the Cape Breton Ramblers, a club that took home the silver medal at the Canadian Senior Little League Championship in Edmonton, Alta.
“It would be awesome to win a national tournament,” Hanrahan said. “Not winning in Edmonton really sucked, so it would be pretty amazing if I won with the provincial team.”
The 15-and-under national tournament semifinals, bronze medal and championship games will be held on Aug. 26. The final is set for 7:30 p.m. Atlantic time.
Hanrahan knows his grandfather will be watching over him at the national event.
“My grandmother always said that my grandfather was on my shoulder,” Hanrahan said. “I can’t thank my grandfather enough — he’s the reason I’m pitching.”