Anyone who has watched youth baseball in Unity could see that 16-year-old Rhett Feser loved to play and had a talent and head for the game. The left handed pitcher could be seen nightly at the Unity diamonds practicing both pitching and hitting.
Along with minor baseball, Rhett also suited up with the Unity Cardinals senior team in the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League. This season, he played three games. He earned one hit and scored two runs at the plate. As a pitcher, he pitched eight innings and picked up seven strike outs, not bad for a guy facing some players at least twice his age and who have been in the league longer that he has been alive.
Rhett decided he loved baseball enough to pursue it full time. He applied and was accepted at the Oyen Badlands Baseball Academy. In addition to changing high schools for Grade 11, Rhett will compete, practise and train year round in a sport he is passionate about.
The Mission Statement for the Badlands Baseball Academy states, "It is the goal of the Badlands Baseball Academy to provide its athletes with the best education possible while teaching them the necessary skills and knowledge required to become an elite baseball player. Through the sport of baseball we will teach our athletes teamwork, leadership and respect while taking part in the experience of a lifetime."
"My ambition for college ball is what made my decision easier to apply for this academy," said Rhett. "My goal is to earn a scholarship to play college baseball. I will likely be playing with the Saskatoon Diamondbacks this summer."
The team plays tournaments from now until the end of October. Then they return to practise and training until February. In February, they return to competitive play until May when exams are finished.
"The goal for the academy is to continue with high school academics in addition to presenting opportunities to the players to continue ball beyond high school years," explains Badlands Badger coach Jeff Amos. "They are not in a league but rather showcase tournaments that give the players opportunities to be seen by college coaches. Students must be accepted by the academy, as well as try out for the team. And, players must keep up with their academics while balancing the sports schedule they are in."
This past weekend the Badgers took two of three games from Team Saskatchewan and the pitching was a strength of those wins.
"For the most part it's your typical small town school where everybody knows everyone, it's great. And I just want to put it out there that just because you're Canadian you don't need to chase hockey, do what you do and do it the best you can, work ethic is key. No one ever won a game walking towards a fly ball."
Through the help of Greg Morrison, Rhett found this baseball opportunity. Morrison brings a baseball camp to Unity each summer and once he told Rhett about the options he has to pursue baseball he jumped opportunity.
This could be the beginning of another sports success story coming from the town of Unity. More information on the Badlands Baseball Academy can be found at badlandsbaseballacademy.com.
