Alberta reps getting first taste of Nationals

Whether it’s down the road or on the other side of the country, nationals are nationals.

Sure, Medicine Hat Little League didn’t have to travel too far to represent their province at this year’s Junior Little League Canadian Championship, bypassing plane rides for a two-hour drive down Highway 3 to Lethbridge.

But whether it’s in their Alberta back yard or down on the east coast, it’s still a nationals debut for most of the Little League roster and on Day 1 of play Thursday afternoon at Spitz Stadium, the Alberta representatives got off to a winning start with an 18-2 win over the Sydney Sooners of the Maritimes.

“I think there was a lot of nervousness and excitement to start this,” said Little League head coach Dean Harrison. “We’ve been sitting back in Medicine Hat for a week-and-a-half or two weeks waiting and practising and then it gets here. There are four kids who were here last year, but (for) the majority of our boys, this is still new to them. Playing in a national championship, even if it’s only an hourand-a-half from home, is still big. They come here and see the field and the all tents set up and it’s exciting.”

Among those returning players from last year is catcher Felix Miller.

“Last year was one of the most fun times of my life,” said the 15-year-old catcher who batted 3-for4 with three runs scored and two RBI.

“We were great as a team and we didn’t have a weak link.”

Heyden Harrison had the other mulit-hit game for Little League, batting 2-for-4 with two runs scored as Alberta scattered 14 hits.

Hitting leadoff for the Sooners, Daniel MacGillivary was 1-for-2 with one run scored. Casey Jacobs added an RBI for the Maritimes.