Carlyle's Kirkland Chalus is once again showcasing his baseball abilities in the United States, this time as a member of Regina-based Team IP Prospects 18U squad, as he steps up to the plate at the 2015 Perfect Game MLK Championships in Peoria, Arizona from January 16-19.
In August 2014, Chalus competed in the Senior League Baseball World Series in Bangor, Maine as a member of Team Canada. The tournament took place at the Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium, a $1.2 million-dollar facility built with funds donated by bestselling author and Bangor resident, Stephen King. This time, Chalus will play at Camelback Ranch, the spring training home of both the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“If Kirkland does well at this tournament, there are hundreds of college coaches scouting kids, and also reps from every Major League team,” says Chalus's mentor and former coach, Blaine Kovach of Estevan, who will be coaching the 14U Team IP Prospects at the Arizona showcase. “It's an amazing experience, and this will be my second time here as a coach,” adds Kovach, who himself received a college scholarship via his baseball talent.
“It's wild to see,” says Kovach. “It's pretty overwhelming, because it's an important tournament and there are a total of 23 teams competing. Americans are crazy for baseball, so the crowds really come out to cheer.”
Chalus agrees. “Americans take the game to a whole new level. It's their pastime, after all. In Bangor, you were guaranteed that the stands would be half-full, but most of the time they were completely packed.”
“It's great playing in front of a crowd like that and just walking on a field like Camelback, where all-stars have walked on and played on will be a great experience.”
Chalus says high-level tournaments can be both thrilling and nervewracking, but says he prefers to focus on his love of the game and his desire to grow and improve as a player.
“I'm going into this to gain more experience,” he says. “The more I can learn, the better I can be. The more experience I can get, the more I can learn and improve as a player.”
Although Chalus has only been playing with Team IP Prospects “for about a month,” he says it isn't unusual for teams playing at this level to bond quickly.
“I am kind of new,” he says. “I usually train by myself in winter to as high a level as I can. But you focus on your own team and you quickly become one of the team. When I was chosen to play for Team Canada in Bangor, we had a really short time to pull together as a team. But you just have to really focus on what you can do, not what you think you can't do.”
“Everyone wants to win, wants to do their best, and wants to get looked at,” adds Chalus. “Everyone wants to look good and wants the team to do well, so it's not a problem, even though we've been together a really short time.”
The grade 11 student says his love of the sport began in elementary school. “By the time I was 10 or 11, I started wanting to keep playing,” says Chalus. “I started out with just a love of the game. I wasn't the best player, but I just played and practiced a lot, and kept training. Then I started to do things I didn't think I could.”
Chalus says Kovach's coaching has been an integral part of his success and his growth as a player. “He's a very good coach,” says Chalus. “He knows exactly what the game is about. He knows how to play and how to carry himself through. He's taught me everything I know.”
Kovach says that Chalus's talent is matched by his work ethic and positive attitude. “The kid's awesome. I wish I had a whole team of Kirklands. He leaves his heart on the field, and he's not selfish. He plays the game like it should be played.”
“It's not all hockey,” continues Kovach. “These tournaments offer the opportunity for a good education at the college or university level in both Canada and the U.S. They're a great opportunity for small-town kids looking to play ball.”
The young left-fielder says that either a scholarship or a Major League opportunity in Arizona would “Most definitely be a dream come true. Either or both would be awesome,” says Chalus.
“Playing on the Canadian team this summer in Bangor and now this; it's awesome,” he adds. “I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me through the years-my family, my coaches, my friends. There are so many people who have got me where I am today.”
