1 Thru 9: Brodie Stairs

Brodie Stairs has had some unfinished business to attend to.

In his fourth and final season with the Weyburn Beavers, the Calgary-born right-hander has one thing left on his Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) bucket list and that’s winning a championship.

After winning the division title in his rookie season in 2015, the Beavers were just a win away from making it to the league final. They lost in the East Division final to Regina, who ended up getting swept by Lethbridge in the league championship series.

Stairs is a little older and a little more experienced now, having spent the past two post-secondary seasons with the University of Jamestown, studying business administration while filling a role in the bullpen with the Jimmies. He’s one of eight Canadians on the Beavers’ roster, including University of Calgary product Cam Williams.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound hurler was recently through his home province with the Beavers and took a moment to answer our “1 Thru 9” questions.

1. What is your walk-up/warm-up tune?

“Gettin’ Warmed Up” by Jason Aldean.

2. What is the best pre-game meal?

The best pre-game meal is, for sure, my host family’s meatballs and rice – shout-out to Lee and Cheryl!

3. Your family sends you a care package. What’s in it?

When I’m at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota, my parents would for sure put some classic Canadian goods in the care package. They usually put some Tim Hortons coffee, ketchup chips and Smarties. They also put in some toiletry stuff in there as well.

Tonight's #WeyburnThisWeek Player Profile is Brodie Stairs. Pick up a program at the gate to play COOP playbacks! pic.twitter.com/ZnWLn5z0sm

— Weyburn Beavers (@BeaversWMBL) June 17, 2017

4. What is your favourite stadium to watch or play baseball in?

Seaman Stadium. It’s great to come back home and be able to have all my family and friends come out and watch. It’s not easy for them to be able to come see me play so going there is awesome. The atmosphere in that stadium is unreal as well. It’s just a great stadium and the fans create a great atmosphere.

5. Who has had the biggest influence on you as a baseball player and why?

It’s hard to pick just one person. One guy I have to give a lot of credit to for my success and where I am today is Joe Sergent. He started coaching me when I was 14 and turned me into a ball player I didn’t know existed. He’s the one who got me signed at a school my freshman year and then also got me signed here in Weyburn. I also have to give credit to my parents and the loving support they give me through the highs and lows. I truly can’t thank them enough!

6. Who was the best teammate you’ve ever had and why?

I have to go with Kent Schroter. I met Kent at the University of Vancouver Island during my freshman year and he was on the team, doing a rehab season before going back down south to play. But that guy took me under his wing and showed me a lot about what it takes to be a college pitcher.

7. What is the best thing about playing baseball in the WMBL?

The best part is that every team is different every year. It’s cool to see guys from all over, from different schools and places, coming together for a couple of months to try and win this league. Also, how the league has been getting better and better every year. Guys down south are starting to realize that we have a legit college league with some big-time players and coaches up here.

8. What is your favourite baseball memory?

It has to be going to watch my uncle (Matt Stairs) play with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 World Series against the Yankees. My favourite memory while playing would be winning the East Division in my freshman year with Weyburn. It was unreal being able to accomplish that in my first year in the league.

9. What is the best piece of baseball advice you’ve ever received?

It might sound cliche, but it’s true: don’t take a game for granted. I remember a senior saying that to me during my freshman year and I kind of brushed it off. Now I’m sitting here as a senior telling the young guys out there to seriously not take a game for granted. It goes by quick and you don’t even realize it. Have fun, play the game hard and enjoy it while it lasts. There’s no more satisfying feeling than knowing you gave it everything you possibly could.