The Beavers 2023 North Sask River Baseball League championship team. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Season on-deck

North Battleford Beavers eager to begin title defense

May 2, 2024 | 5:00 PM

Fresh off their first North Sask River Baseball League (NSRBL) championship since the team’s dynastic run of four straight from 1994-97, the North Battleford Beavers are now gearing up to begin their title defense, with the start of the 2024 senior ball season just over a week away.

Player/coach with the Beavers, Kyle Gregoire said the team’s been practicing for a couple of weeks now already, getting set for a much-anticipated return to the diamond May 13 for their first game since last year’s championship run.

“We’ve had a few practices now as the weather’s co-operated the last three weeks or so, and the guys were pretty eager to get back out there to the diamond and start taking some reps,” Gregoire said. “We’ve got a couple more weeks now to get everything fine-tuned before the season gets rolling and the guys are pretty excited for another season here.”

While much of the returning core from last year’s championship group remains intact, there will be a couple of key roles to fill, with the departures of veteran pitcher, Kelly Baillargeon and outfielder Rick Cey, each of whom will return to teams a bit closer to home for the coming season.

Baillargeon will suit up with his hometown Mervin Flyers for the first time since 2013, while Cey will return to the Wilkie Brewers upon their re-entry to the NSRBL after taking a year off.

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“It was obviously a bit tough to lose a couple of the guys who have been around for a few years now, but the core is still around here and we also picked up a couple young guys, so we’re pretty confident and excited about the squad going into the season,” Gregoire said. “I think we’re going to have a pretty competitive team again this year.”

Among the reinforcements joining the team will be catcher/pitcher Paul Cubbon, who makes his return to the Beavers following a four-year hiatus from senior baseball, and outfielder/relief pitcher Ryan Taylor, who played 18U minor ball in town last year.

The Beavers will also see a fully healthy return of last year’s NSRBL MVP, Gavin Nolin, after the two-time Most Valuable Player was forced to miss the entirety of the team’s playoff run due to injury.

The Beavers will open their season schedule May 13 on the road in Glaslyn, against the Glaslyn Orioles, in a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff matchup. The Beavers’ first home game of the season at Beaver Lions Stadium will be May 15 against the Lloyd Twins.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1