Baseball fans in the Battlefords are already counting down the hours to Tuesday night’s Beavers-Trappers season opener at Beaver Lions Stadium in North Battleford. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Take me out to the ball game

Baseball’s back: NSRBL return to feature all-Battlefords showdown Tuesday

Jul 6, 2020 | 6:00 PM

Baseball is just a night away from announcing its return with a bang in the Battlefords.

The Battlefords Trappers and North Battleford Beavers will face off in an all local showdown Tuesday night, to open the North Sask. River Baseball League (NSRBL) season in the community.

Both teams are chomping at the bit to return to the game they love, as would be expected on the eve of any night’s season opener. However, with so much uncertainty surrounding the fate of the season earlier in the year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not a stretch to think this season’s return to the diamond may hold extra weight.

After all, it wasn’t that long ago, a return to the sport felt unlikely in any capacity this summer.

“In May we pretty much had to accept that we likely weren’t going to play this year, as we were trying to be realistic,” said Trappers player and coach Gavin Nolin. “We’re playing a shortened season now, but we’re just happy we get to play; we’re through the roof.”

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Kyle Gregoire who plays and coaches for the Beavers, added that with such a scarcity of community events taking place over the last few months due to the pandemic, the return of baseball holds additional anticipation.

“After not having sports or anything like that for the last three or four months, I think a lot of guys are just excited to get going,” Gregoire said. “There’s quite a bit of excitement now that we can get going and play some ball with the guys.”

Both the Trappers and Beavers should factor in as contenders to make some noise in the NSRBL this season, especially if last year is any indication.

The Trappers celebrated one of the most successful seasons in franchise history in 2019, spearheaded by a dynamic offense that produced more home runs than any other team.

The Beavers, meanwhile, were closer to .500 on the season, but overcame some injury concerns to pull together down the stretch. The team’s playoff run resulted in a provincial finals appearance last summer.

Nolin said any time the Trappers and Beavers come together, the bragging rights on the line add some friendly competitive fuel to the fire.

“They’re the other team from town so that’s always the game you want to win,” he said with a laugh. “Especially with this being the first game of the year, both teams are excited just to get back out on the diamond, so it’ll be a pretty intense first game I’m thinking.”

Tuesday’s season-opener will be at Beaver Lions Stadium in North Battleford. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1