Ayden Belanger pictured here with the Battlefords Beavers U18 AA baseball team. (Submitted photo/Ayden Belanger)

By Martin Martinson

Batters Up!

N.B. local, Belanger named to Team Sask for North American Indigenous Games

Feb 15, 2023 | 11:00 AM

North Battleford local and member of Saulteaux First Nation, Ayden Belanger, is headed to the east coast with Saskatchewan’s U19 baseball team for the upcoming 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

When he steps onto the field July 15-23 in Nova Scotia (Halifax, Dartmouth, and Millbrook First Nation), it will mark the second time Belanger has been named to represent Saskatchewan at the games, and the first chance he will have to don the green and gold after the last Games were canceled due to the pandemic.

Belanger, who is currently in his senior year at North Battleford Comprehensive High School, said it’s an opportunity he’s looking forward to, to represent the province and his home communities.

“It’s really exciting,” he said. “After being chosen to represent Team Sask Baseball just the year before COVID and that was all shut down, I gave it another chance this year. It was pretty nerve-racking going into the top 40, but coming out and being selected for my second time was awesome and I can’t wait to go to Nova Scotia.”

Tryouts for the boys’ U19 baseball team opened with 140 players prior to the holidays, followed by two rounds of cuts to get to the top 40. The process culminated with a final intrasquad game just after the Christmas break, early last month.

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Belanger, who grew up in the local baseball program, played last season with the Battlefords Beavers U18 AA team. He often served as one of the team’s lead-off batters and a frequent stalwart within the outfield, due to his speed and ability to make plays quickly.

He said as he looks forward to the opportunity ahead with Team Sask., he’s just looking to do whatever he can to help the team win.

“I’d say I’m a pretty versatile player,” Belanger said. “The last couple of years of baseball, I’ve been pretty consistent. So my strength would probably be a solid on-base percentage and good playmaking in the outfield; wherever I can do for the team.”

This will be the 10th year of the North American Indigenous Games, an event that will bring together more than 5,000 athletes, coaches, and team staff from over 750 Indigenous Nations this year.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1