The 2023 Mid Island Pirates baseball season is close at hand. Tryouts for athletes in Grades 8-12 will take at Arbutus Meadows Feb. 10-11.  (Mid Island Pirates)

By Dan Marshall

Diamonds in the Rough

‘We’re looking for athletes and people you can develop:’ Mid Island Pirates holding 2023 tryouts

Feb 10, 2023 | 3:28 PM

NANAIMO — Any baseball player looking to join the Mid Island Pirates bantam, junior or senior team can try out at Arbutus Meadows this weekend.

Co-owner and general manager and senior Pirates head coach Larson Bauck said it’s an opportunity for the organization to uncover hidden talent.

“We run them through a bunch of different drills. We’re looking at speed and and we’re looking at arms. We’ll go through every baseball action kids can perform indoors. For the most part we’re looking for athletes and people you can develop.”

The Pirates staff has coached younger age groups across the mid Island so they know most of the baseball athletes from either coaching for or against them.

“The odd time we’ll have some people who move in from out of town and try out. There are also players who have been in other sports or dual sport athletes and had a growth spurt so there are surprises.”

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The senior Pirates are the highest profile team with mostly Grade 11 and 12 players.

In the 2022 PBL season Mid Island finished with a 17-28 record but the Pirates went on to finish third at the U18 nationals in August.

This season Bauck expects several players to earn college commitments to further their careers.

“We’re going to look at about eight commitments. Right now we’re in talks with a number of schools. That process started in November and carries on through the spring time. A lot of that is dependent on their numbers and how they play.”

With the Pirates teams, minor baseball and the West Coast League’s Nanaimo NightOwls Bauck admitted there are challenges trying to find enough field space.

Communication and collaboration are the keys to making it work and while the arrival of the NightOwls might create a premium for field space it has also given Pirates alumni a place to play high level baseball.

“The NightOwls is great baseball and there’s a lot of former Pirates who play on the team. Last year I think it was about five or six. It’s nice to see those kids come back and play at a different level.”

The 2023 Pirates schedule is still a few months away but the tryouts are one of the first steps in the process.

Athletes from Grades 8-12 can sign up to go to Arbutus Meadows Friday Feb. 10 from 8-10 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 11 from 2-4 p.m.

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