Playing in Games fulfils grandparents’ dream

North American Indigenous Games ‘way bigger than I thought,’ teenager says

Logan Syrette has a lot to thank his grandparents for. The 16-year-old was encouraged by his grandfather Bob to one day try out for the Team Ontario baseball squad for the North American Indigenous Games. Although Bob passed away, Syrette’s grandmother Melinda was in the stands cheering him on in his NAIG debut.

“She’s the one that basically made me and my brother who we are today,” he said of his grandmother, who took Syrette and his brother in when their mother abandoned them. “(My mom) asked my grandmother if she can watch us, and she never came back.

“I have seen her before, but, (we) don’t really have that bond anymore.”

Syrette’s grandmother saved thousands of dollars for him to come to NAIG, not just to play, but to enjoy his time in the city.

“You know how expensive it is in Toronto,” he said.

Syrette, who is Cree and Ojibway, is from the Batchewana nation, and grew up on the Rankin reserve near Sault Ste. Marie. Being at the opening ceremonies on Sunday night made him realize how expansive the Games are.

“I was really shocked . . . when I made the team I didn’t think it was going to be that big, but when I actually went there, it was way bigger than I thought.”

His grandfather Bob played softball in a reserve league, and taught him how to play the game as a young child.

When Bob asked him to try out, he wasn’t quite ready, but he worked at his craft for a couple years and made the team.

“If he was here, he would be very proud,” said Syrette.

Syrette plays multiple positions, including pitcher. He predicts that his team “has a pretty good chance of making it close to gold.”

So far, his prediction looks spot on. His U17 team won their first game against Eastern Door and the North 13-0 at Dan Lang Field at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. Team Ontario started strong with two singles in the first inning, and continued to dominate.