If ever there were two sides to a homecoming story for a coach and three ball players with the Energy City Cactus Rats, this was it.
You see, for the first time in their history, the Cactus Rats were set to play a pair of games in front of their hometown fans.
And for Jordan Blundell, the head coach of the college-level squad, and a triple play of players including catcher Nick Hagen, pitcher Ryan Kwasnycia, and infielder Easton Kitura, stepping back onto the field at Henry Singer Park in Spruce Grove was like going back in time. Way back in time for Blundell, in particular.
The bench boss of the C-Rats has not only coached on this field in the past with the Spruce Grove White Sox midget Triple-A squad, he’s managed a game here with the Edmonton Prospects. And even before that time he suited up as a player for that White Sox team, so Singer Park takes up plenty of room in his memory bank..
“It is,” he said about this being a special place in his history.
As for the players on this year’s team, the coach said it was important for them to finally play in front of friendly fans even though it was only for two games.
“It was huge for the players because they’re coming to a community full of strangers. They don’t know this place and our host families have been 10 out of 10. The guys have witnessed what people are like here but they haven’t had a chance to play in front of them, until now. It sucks but it is what it is. These memories and experiences are what this is all about. That’s what this league is about – experience.”
The following three players all grew up playing baseball in Spruce Grove for the Parkland Twins. Here’s their reactions to finally getting a chance to play in front of family and friends.
Nick Hagen
Nick Hagen is the lone Spruce Grove native and he relished the fact he was actually at home for a home game. With the team’s new stadium not yet complete, the Cactus Rats had spend all of their season on the road, at least up until these two ‘home’ games held July 6-7.
Hagen switched over from playing soccer to baseball at 13 and rose through the ranks in Spruce Grove Minor Ball before heading off to Okotoks and their baseball academy. From there, he’s moved onward and upward.
“I loved it here. Coming home is great. It’s nice just because I get to play in front of my family, some of my friends. It takes me back to when I was a kid. Now I get to play in front of a home crowd.”
Since leaving the Grove, Hagen has played in Chico, California at the junior college level for two years and then transferred to Campbellsville University in Kansas. He also suited up for the C-Rats predecessor, the Prospects, last year.
Hagen noted the difference between his college league and the WCBL is minimal and gives him more experience against different opponents. “It’s pretty similar. Some guys are better. This is just a whole diverse level of baseball.”
As for returning home to the one of the fields he grew on honing his skills as a catcher, Hagen said, “I didn’t think I’d be playing on this diamond again but it’s nice to get out here and it brought back some memories.”
Ryan Kwasnycia
For Kwasnycia, a return to the mound in Spruce Grove at Singer Park was a deja vu moment. The young man, from Stony Plain – which is only three kilometres from the Grove – played his minor ball in this community.
“It’s super special,” coming home and playing for what is now his hometown team. “I grew up going to Prospects games. It’s now the Cactus Rats but the same program.”
As for his homecoming, Kwasnycia explained, “I started playing when I was 12-years-old and started playing on these diamonds which is pretty cool!”
About being recruited by the Cactus Rats, he noted, “It’s a big honour. There are only so many spots so to be part of that is pretty special. I was talking to them last year, they wanted me to come out, but I didn’t have time getting ready for school. I was hoping (for this year) and when they reached out to me,” he was more than happy to sign on.
Now in junior college in Pratt, Kansas, he noted there is quite a difference in the level of play he’s seeing in the WCBL as compared to what he saw at school.
“Yeah, definitely. We got some guys that can really pitch and you see that all throughout the league. There’s some pretty good players,” and by facing them in competition he hopes improve his skills and then to once again play in the place where he grew up learning the game.
Easton Kitura
At only 17 years of age and having just graduated from Grade 11, Kitura is a special kind of player with the Cactus Rats. Like Kwasnycia he grew up in Stony Plain but played his minor ball in Spruce Grove with the Parkland Twins. So again, like his two teammates, coming home, finally, was a special time. And since he’s considerably younger than most of his teammates and opponents, it’s a remarkable achievement to be in this league.
“I was fortunate enough to get an offer to play here from Jordan and I was all over it,” he began. “Obviously being from here this jumped out at me. And it’s always good to play a level above your age, your expected level. It just kind of prepares you for the future, what’s next.”
In regard to coming back to Spruce Grove he replied, “I grew up playing here for the Twins my whole life until I was 15. I then went off to the Vauxhaul Academy for Grade 10. I’ve been there the last two years and I love it!”
Asked if he ever foresaw himself returning to the Singer Park diamond he was standing on again, Kitura replied, “I mean I definitely didn’t expect to play another game on this diamond. I played here last year and the year before and loved it so being able to come back and play a couple more games and leave on a good note.”
A big reason why this young first baseman was grabbed by the C-Rats is he’s a member of the U18 Team Canada squad. So while this college-level league is a step up from the whee he plays in Vauxhaul, he’s seen even better competition. So far this year as a member of Team Canada Kitura has seen action in Florida, the Dominican Republic, and the U.S. with more such trips on tap in the future.
About having fans finally cheering for the Cactus Rats instead of against them, which has been the case this entire season on the road, Kitura said, “Yeah. Being on the road is definitely tough. Not a lot people on your side. Coming here and having this many people show up is obviously an honour. It feels good to know people care and want us to do well,” which was the case in the two-game series finale as the Cactus Rats beat Medicine Hat 7-1.
Infielder Kaidan Baron from Stony Plain is another local product who grew up perfecting his baseball skills in the Grove but was unable to make the homecoming weekend because of work commitments. He is presently attending the University of Southern Carolina Lancaster.
