U13 HL Red Rockies wrap up season of incredible growth
By Spencer Seymour
At the beginning of the season, the Downie Optimist Club U13 HL Red St. Marys Rockies had six of the team’s 13 players who were totally new to the sport.
By the end of the year, they went undefeated in the B pool playoffs to earn a gold medal. Head coach Ashley Agar said the team delivered their best baseball of the season in their four pool playoff games.
“I think, defensively, it was the best they played all season, and offensively as well, they were hitting more than they ever had hit,” Agar told the Independent. “Defensively, they were just collecting everything that came at them and doing things that we were practicing in drills, like getting in front of the ball, making the correct plays and just knowing where they were going before the play happened.”
Agar added how impressive the team’s progress was to watch.
“When we first started, in our first practices, nearly half the team was brand new to baseball, so they were dropping balls that were coming to them,” said Agar. “They were throwing wide of the target. We started from ground zero with a lot of these guys, and they took it upon themselves to practice at home as well, and you could see the growth from some of these kids so amazingly. I am so proud of all of them.”
That uptick in new players was representative of an increase in registration for young ball players, with both St. Marys’ U13 house league numbers and the league as a whole seeing a jump, which, according to Agar, was at least partially thanks to Major League Baseball’s 2025 American League Champions.
“I think the (Toronto) Blue Jays inspired a lot of them to sign up in the spring. The whole league got bigger. I think the league went from about 11 teams to 18 teams. And last year in St. Marys, we only had one U13 EBBA team, and this year, we had two. So, it just shows you there was a revival of the sport itself, and seeing kids coming out and trying it, and not only trying it but succeeding at it, was awesome. I was choking back tears when I was handing out the medals to them. These kids are so sweet.”
The Rockies claimed the gold medals after four straight wins, beginning with a 13-8 victory Aug. 3 over Thamesford. In the game, Walter Fleming hit a home run, while Jude White made an amazing centerfield diving catch and Jackson Smith made a single-handed double play. Jaxon Bridges and Lane Munro turned in strong pitching efforts.
Solid pitching by Fleming, White and Adam Agar guided the Rockies to a win Aug. 6, beating Southwest London One 20-16.
St. Marys defeated the EBBA Blue Jays two days in a row, the first of which took place Aug. 8, with the Rockies winning 17-11. Bridges tallied a homerun and, along with Munro, helped lead the team to the victory from the mound.
To seal the tournament victory, the Rockies secured an 11-9 victory over the EBBA Blue Jays Aug. 9. Adam Agar, who also pitched during the game along with Fleming, started the game with a stand-up triple on the second pitch of the contest. Cole Devries hit a two-run double to end the second inning.
When reflecting on the season, Ashley Agar described a positive environment created amongst the players allowed the inexperienced squad to grow together.
“They were super supportive of each other. All season, I didn’t hear one discouraging remark amongst them. When the kids were really struggling to do certain things, the ones who were stronger in that skill were pulling them aside and helping them at practice with their stance or their throwing or whatever it may be. They were so patient with each other and supportive the entire time.
“I think because they were all supportive, it was such a safe space for them to try harder and to take those risks,” Ashley Agar continued. “If they were striking out, when they got back into the dugout there, they were met by their teammates patting them on the back and saying, ‘Good job, nice try, that was a tough pitcher.’ ”
Comments