The Cape Breton Ramblers will participate in the Canadian Senior Little League Championship in Calgary next week. Members of the team. Front row, from left, Owen Gracie, Kayden McInnis, Anthony Diflavio, Nole Murray, Diego Bautista, Hayden Hawkins and Colby Morrison. Back row, from left, Brad Leyte (coach), Andrew MacIntyre, Nick Eveleigh, Cameron MacIntyre, Sheldon Burke (manager), Landen Leyte, Landon Pickup, Josh Kendall and Brian MacIntyre (coach). Missing from the photo was Tanya Cordy (assistant manager). CONTRIBURED/TANYA CORDY Tanya CordyArticle contentIt wasn’t the way the Cape Breton Ramblers envisioned the Canadian Senior Little League championship tournament going last summer in Ottawa.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentA young team with only one returning player from the 2023 club, the Ramblers finished the national tournament with a 1-4 record and were ultimately eliminated from championship contention.Article contentArticle contentThis year, with the Canadian Senior Little League Championship scheduled for next week in Calgary, the Cape Breton club hopes to have a better showing on the field with seven returning players from the 2024 team.Article contentArticle content“We’re going out to win, there’s no doubt about it,” said Ramblers manager Sheldon Burke. “We’re going to take it one game at a time, but I expect them to have a really good showing. These kids want to win and that’s the main goal.”Article contentRETURNING PLAYERSArticle contentThe returning players on this year’s club include Kayden McInnis, Diego Bautista, Hayden Hawkins, Anthony Diflavio, Nole Murray, Nick Eveleigh and Owen Gracie.Article content“The veteran players will bring leadership,” said Burke. “We have a couple of good leaders that will show the younger guys leadership and that’s going to be important.”Article contentLike last year, Burke still considers the Ramblers’ team to be young, but noted every player on the club’s roster has played in a national tournament, which he believes will help the Cape Breton team.Article contentIn preparation for the national event, the Ramblers, an under-16 team, have been playing in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League’s under-18 ‘AA’ division.Article contentArticle contentIn eight games in the provincial league, the Ramblers sit in sixth place in the nine-team league with a 3-4-1 record. Burke believes playing against the older players will only help Cape Breton against players their own age in Alberta.Article content“We’ve seen a lot of good pitchers this season,” said Burke. “Most of the teams we’ve played against, I asked them to put their best pitchers against us. We’re getting better slowly but surely.”Article contentDEFENCE A STRENGTHArticle contentOverall, Burke said the club will lean on defence to bring a national championship back to Atlantic Canada later this month.Article content“We have a really good defensive team,” he said. “These guys cover a lot of ground, they do a lot of good things, they hit the cutoffs, so they’re going to show a lot of poise out there when it comes to that part.”Article contentAfter two consecutive years of the tournament being held in Ontario, the national event will shift to Calgary and Webber Academy Athletic Park, an all-turf field.
Cape Breton Ramblers focused on winning at Canadian Senior Little League Championship in Alberta
