Hilden's Riley Martell, Truro's Connor Irwin, and Great Village's Lucas Watson, all age 14, are excited to have been named to the provincial 15-under AAA core team. More than 30 youth are on the core team and it's expected about 16 or 17 youth will remain on the team, after cuts through tournament games until the end of the month.
"This is new for all of us so we're excited," said Watson. "We started in March and our last tryout was April 3. There were about 150 people who tried out."
All three boys started playing T-ball when they were five years old. They kept playing ball and it is now the only sport they play seriously.
"I love how challenging it is," said Irwin. "You have to think and act quickly to do well.
"It means everything to compete on a higher scale like this. We will be training at a higher level and it even affects our diets."
They are now practicing every day.
"It involves a lot of mental and physical preparation but I just love everything about it," said Watson.
"I've played other sports but they're nothing like this."
Baseball appears to be a deep-seated passion for all three and they are ready to give it all the time and energy they can during the spring and summer.
"We will be playing all over the Maritimes," said Martell. "After the tournament in May we will know if we make the final cut. If we do that we go on to Toronto" at an unconfirmed summer date.
The boys were also enthusiastic about their coaches, saying they think the men are doing a great job and they appreciate their help.
