Northumberland Jacks 9U Select Team Heads to OBA Championship with Strong Bonds
Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
The Northumberland Jacks 9-and-under select team is heading to St. Marys this weekend with a championship opportunity ahead, but coach Andrew Smith says the accomplishments from the players extend well beyond winning.
The Jacks will compete at the Ontario Baseball Association 9U Select championship tournament in St. Marys, near London. The tournament will take the team to the home of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, where the Jacks will play their games on the surrounding diamonds.
Northumberland’s roster features Barrett Thiel, Aaron Smith, Luke Boudens, Gryphon Moloney, Bryson Carmichael, Rhett Begg, John Algera, Benjamin Kinsey, Finley Parsons, Logan Hall, Joshua Fast, Tait Ferreira and Jackson West. The coaching staff, along with Smith, consists of Matt Hall, Alex Begg, Sean Moloney and Andrew Smith, with Oliana Algera serving as manager.
Smith said one of the defining characteristics of the group has been the relationships that have developed among the players, coaches and families.
“What stands out most to me about this group is just how close they are. Our parents are super supportive and always available to help with practice, or whatever else needs to be done,” he said. “Parents are always stepping up to help get kids ready in between innings, hold down tents in the wind and rain, look after other siblings when needed.
They all cheer for every kid as if their own, loud and proud of all the Jacks.”
The team is also in a unique situation because its players spend most of their regular house league seasons apart. Most play with only one other select player on their house-league team, while some play on teams without any other select players.
Despite that, Smith said the players have formed strong friendships away from the select diamond.
“They really have bonded and come together as a team. Another thing that makes this team interesting is that it is a dual year group. We have eight majors and five minors that play. We are extremely fortunate to have the quality character that we do in our majors,” he remarked. “They provide an exceptional example for our younger group. Age has never mattered in this group. The older kids treat the younger kids as equals and they all cheer together and hang out before and after as a group.”
That sense of togetherness has extended to the coaching staff, which Smith credited for establishing an environment built around sportsmanship, effort and enjoyment.
“Our coaching staff is amazing. They all insist on the same sportsmanship win or lose, and respect for the game and positive attitudes from our group is non-negotiable,” he said. “This has never been a problem for our boys. They are often acknowledged by opposing teams for how they carry themselves on the field with sportsmanship and class, and how they clearly enjoy playing the game together and take pride in the Jacks jersey they wear. Our coaching staff works to keep things light and fun. We expect a high effort level, but the boys know that having fun on the field is number one.”
Smith said the coaches’ influence goes beyond their own dugout, with members of the staff also helping opposing players when opportunities arise.
The team’s development throughout the season has been particularly noticeable.
Smith said the Jacks started the year as a relatively quiet group gaining its first experience with competitive baseball. As the season progressed, the players became increasingly comfortable with one another, vocal leaders emerged and the team developed its own cheers and chants.
“By the time we had our big away tournament in Niagara mid-July, they were a chanting and cheering force and their play followed, playing with and beating some of the better teams we have faced so far,” Smith said. “All year we seemed to be able to maintain a win one, lose one pace. We had tried and tried, but we could never win two games in one day, doubleheader or tournament.”
That changed at the Eastern Ontario Select Baseball Association tournament, which served as the provincial qualifier.
After dropping their opening game, the Jacks were left needing to win two games on the same day to keep their season alive — something they had been unable to accomplish all year.
Smith said the players arrived at the diamond the Saturday morning with a new goal.
Smith recalled hearing the team chant “break the curse,” referring to its inability to win twice in one day.
The game against Oshawa quickly became a test like no other.
Northumberland trailed by six runs late in the game, with the opposition threatening to extend its lead to seven with a runner on third and two outs. The Jacks escaped the inning still down six, setting up a massive final-at-bat challenge.
“This is clearly a daunting task, but we are allowed to score a max of seven in an inning, so it was doable,” Smith said. “We gathered the boys on the bench and explained the situation. Batter after batter went to the plate and got on base, and we put run after run in. The boys rallied from six runs down in their final at bat in a win or go home and walked off with a win.”
Smith said what followed was about more than the score in the 16-15 win over Oshawa, especially as the Jacks’ heart-and-hustle jacket became part of the celebration.
After watching the players and supporters erupt following the comeback, Smith decided to recognize the entire group rather than a single player. The result was a team-wide celebration.
The players then took the jacket to their families and friends, running together down the sideline as they celebrated and Smith said the significance of the moment went beyond advancing in the tournament.
“Was an incredible moment to be a part of, not because we won, but because of the pure joy that was being expressed by everyone there – kids, coaches, families, friends all celebrating the Jacks.”
The Jacks team went on to win its second game of the day, finally ending its season-long inability to win twice in one day and punching its ticket to the OBA championship tournament.
Smith also thanked two other Northumberland coaches – Rick Cromlish from the 8U and Brent Booth from the 9U Jacks rep teams – who stepped up to run the EOSBA Select tournament so he could focus on coaching his own team.
Expressing appreciation for the collaboration between the rep and select teams, Smith said Cromlish and Booth “have helped me along the way with support and encouragement all through the season.”
Now, the Jacks have an opportunity to add another chapter to their season in St. Marys following success at the EOSBAs.
“As great a moment as that was, we are hoping for something even bigger (at the OBA championship),” Smith said. “By no means will this coming weekend define our season, wins and losses don’t dictate that. The fun we have had and growth I have seen from the boys already mean we have won, but it sure would add to it to bring a banner back to the Jacks organization.”
Northumberland’s tournament schedule begins Friday afternoon against the East Toronto Dodgers, followed by a Friday evening matchup against Bloordale. The Jacks will then face Forest Glade at noon Saturday.
