Sears receives national junior invite
Brookfield shortstop to attend selection camp in August in P.E.I.
A busy summer of softball is about to get even busier for Brookfield’s Rowan Sears.
Sears has been invited to the Canadian junior men’s fastpitch team selection camp Aug. 21 to 25 in O’Leary, P.E.I.
A shortstop, Sears is one of 26 players attending selection camp and one of two Nova Scotians. The other is Brendan Walker of Ellershouse, Hants County.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Sears, 17. “It’s an honour, really, and I can’t wait to go to P.E.I. and try to make the team.”
The camp will be held the week after the under-18 men’s Canadian championship in O’Leary, which Sears will compete in as a member of the Colchester Royals.
Prior to the U-18 championship, Sears will represent Nova Scotia at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg in late July.
“It’s a pretty big workload but it should be really fun,” he said.
Sears was one of 250 players from across Canada to attend regional selection camps for the national junior team. He went to a one-day camp in Summerside last February where he was tested in a variety of skills, including defence, hitting, bunting, speed and fitness.
“He’s an overall athlete,” said national junior coach Jeff Ellsworth. “His numbers were really good right across the board …
he possessed a lot of good skills that put him on our radar really quick.”
Ellsworth, from Alberton, P.E.I., had a chance to watch Sears play earlier this month at a tournament in P.E.I., and said he was impressed.
“To be honest, he didn’t disappoint,” he said. “He played well defensively and offensively.
“And he’s a great kid, too,” he added. “The way he presents himself – he’s always got a smile on his face and he’s a great teammate. You see him on the bench talking to other athletes
… he’s interacting, he’s talking ball on the bench, and that means a lot to us, the coaching staff, because it’s not just your play on the field, it’s how you conduct yourself off the field as well.”
Following selection camp, the Canadian roster will be determined for the 2018 world junior championship in Prince Albert, Sask.
Sears understands nothing will come easy during the national team tryout, however, he’s prepared to battle hard for a spot.
“I want to go there and I want to start for that team.”