St. Clair attracting athletes

 

By Jordan Cachera

The St. Clair Saints baseball team has kept their winning streak alive with a sweep of a doubleheader against Seneca College thanks to their Panamanian pitcher.

The Saints first win was largely due to the pitching skills of Panamanian international pitcher, Teiden Frias. Frias, who pitched six innings, allowed only four hits and struck out seven during the start. Frias is one of three Panamanian players on the Saints roster this year out of the nearly 400 international students St. Clair enrolls each semester.

The three Panamanian athletes- Roberto Duncan, Max Ayarza and Frias are all in their rookie year but according to head coach Dave Cooper the players are key parts of the team.

“Roberto ,Teiden and Azarya have been great additions to our team,” said Cooper. “They’ve filled some holes and that was the difference between us having a rebuilding year or another dominant season.”

Cooper said their skills and work ethic have allowed them to be leaders on the field but according to Director of Recruiting Bernie Labute, the college is fortunate the three Panamanian internationals play for the team.

“There are opportunities in the U.S.A that are not readily available to players in Canada,” said Labute.

He said the U.S has a fall program at most colleges as well as a full spring season that gives players a chance to improve their skills in the hopes of attracting a scout’s attention.

“There is an illusion out there that baseball awards full ride scholarships. Parents and players are all chasing that dream,” said Labute. “However, The chase is not without tremendous cost.”

According to CollegeData.com, the U.S. college board reports the average tuition costs any student nearly $25,000 per year without scholarships.

“I feel that Baseball Canada is missing the beat,” said Labute. ”There is such a push from the provincial level teams to national junior teams to get kids off to the U.S.”

Labute said they are outsourcing education dollars to the U.S.A and, in his opinion students are spending millions to go to U.S colleges and receiving little to no useful degrees.

“All this only for a lottery chance at being chosen to play professional (baseball),” said Labute.

Labute suggests the focus from Baseball Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays should begin at home by developing the college baseball programs across Canada, playing championships at the Rogers Centre to allow Canadians to keep the money in Canada and keep playing a sport they love.

Labute said the reality is very few student athletes go on to the big league organizations.

“The coaching is adequate but usually fails to hit the mark for improving the skill level of the players and the dream usually dies with a mountain of debt for the parents and students,” said Labute.

According to insidehighered.com, 9.4 per cent of players make the major leagues from a Division one College in the U.S.A.