Christie unretires, returns to Sooners
SYDNEY — Cory Christie couldn't stay away from the ballfield.
The Sydney product played for 18 years in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League before retiring from the game following the 2018 season at age 37 — but his retirement didn't last long.
After sitting out the 2019 season, Christie returned to the field last summer and played in the Sooners' Competitive Draft League, a local league created to replace the cancelled senior baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christie soon realized his passion for the game had never left and he could still compete at a high level, which prompted his decision to return to senior baseball.
Christie rejoined the Sooners at the start of training camp and was in the club's lineup for their opening series with the Kentville Wildcats last weekend. He will serve as a player and coach under bench boss Jim (Rico) Mceachern.
“Talking over the winter with Rico, he thought this role would be a good fit for me and I agreed,” Christie said.
“I'm 40 years old, so I won't be playing every game anymore — my body can't handle it — but he can use me either on the field or on the bench and I'm happy with that at this stage of my career.”
Christie, who credits his wife Jennifer's support for returning to baseball, acknowledged he felt good on the field and is ready to help the Sooners be successful in whatever role he's asked to play.
“I feel better than I did five years ago,” laughed Christie. “I lost some weight, so that's helped a lot. I try to keep up the best I can, so we'll see how it goes from there.”
Christie has won three senior league championships with the Sooners (2013, 2014 and 2017) and competed at two Canadian tournaments with Sydney, along with other national tournaments when picked up as an affiliate by other teams.
He won the batting title in 2017 after hitting .420 and in 2011, he was named the league's most valuable player.
Mceachern, who will remain on the Sooners bench this season, expects Christie to play some first base and he will be used as a designated hitter, while also taking some coaching pressure off the longtime manager.
“Cory still has a very effective bat that I think we'll utilize it very effectively throughout the season,” Mceachern said.
After earning a four-game weekend split with the Wildcats, the Sooners (2-2) will return to their home field this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders with the Halifax Pelham Molson Canadians (2-3).