By Dan Marshall

Bantam open tryouts for Mid-Island Pirates this weekend

Jan 31, 2018 | 10:41 AM

NANAIMO — The Mid-Island Pirates bantam program is holding open tryouts on Saturday.
 
Kids aged 13 to 14 can show off their baseball skills at the Centennial Building from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
 
The only equipment needed is a glove, helmet, hat, and indoor footwear.
 
There is no fee for the session.
 
Right after the tryouts parents will be able to meet with Pirates coaches from all levels including Keith Radix who will be the bantam coach.
 
Radix says the Pirates catchment area is from Mill Bay to Nanoose Bay.
 
“It’s high performance programming, it’s a league that is definitely geared to moving kids to post secondary opportunities. There’s also professionals working in the league as scouts, and Team Canada Junior National Team guys that are around. You’re playing against some upper tier competition so having a baseball background is good,” said Radix.
 
The plan for the tryouts is for the players to go through some skill set drills, do some conditioning, and have the coaches assess their baseball knowledge.
 
Radix hopes anyone interested in being a part of the Mid-Island Pirates program will pre-register for the event through the Pirates website.
 
But registration can also be done at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday morning.
 
This is the second year that the Pirates have had their own bantam program.
 
Radix says having kids under the Mid-Island Pirates umbrella gives them a chance to learn what the program is like, find out what a high performance system is all about, and discover what the expectations are on and off the field.  
 
“Having the opportunity to work with these players at a younger age really gives us a chance to get a head start when they do hit the junior or senior level,” explained Radix.
 
All the details for this weekend’s tryout are available at the Mid-Island Pirates website.
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77