Calgary Cubs 'gunning for a national championship'

The Calgary Cubs Pee Wee AAA team is off to Ontario to represent Alberta in the 13U national championships next week and the head coach says they have high expectations.

"Our boys are a solid bunch and we are definitely gunning for a national championship," Jason Clemett told CBC News Friday.

He says the team, made up of 12- and 13 year-old players, has really earned its spot in the four-day tournament in London.

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"We have had a really strong season. I think we have won almost every tournament we were in. Our overall record was 50 and two," the former Calgary Stampeder said.

"We know how to win games."

The excitement among the talented players has been building for a while.

"To be able to win and keep winning and have to have that pressure on you at that age to get to a national level, it is pretty significant. A lot of people only get one shot at doing it, if at all, so the boys are pretty excited to be able to represent Team Alberta."

The players are mostly from the Calgary area, but tournament rules allow coaches to pull from other communities in the province.

"You are allowed to take up to 18 players to the national tournament, so we are allowed to pick up certain extra players to come with us for this tournament because it is such a long tournament," he said.

"Mostly we pick up what we feel are kids that contribute as pitchers or other positions where we maybe don't have enough players to compete at that high level."

'Becoming a pretty big sport'

Clemett said baseball is gaining steam in Alberta.

"I grew up just outside of Toronto and played baseball out there. It is a lot bigger out east but it is growing in western Canada especially in Calgary and Edmonton baseball is becoming a pretty big sport for youth athletics."

While the national tournament gets under way next week, Calgarians will have a chance to see the team play on Saturday at an exhibition game at Inland Athletic Park.

The game starts at noon.

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