Midget AA baseball returned to Yorkton this season with a bang as the Yorkton Midget AA Cardinals finished with a winning record and a semifinal berth in Provincials during their breakout 2014 season after not having enough numbers to field a team in recent years, something that allowed several players to guest play in major tournaments following the season as Caleb Bymak and Jordan Bieber were called up to play in the Senior Little League World Series to represent Saskatchewan with a Regina ballclub.
Not only did Bymak and Bieber get to experience playing in Canada's Little League program, they also got to enjoy some historic moments with the Regina based ballclub as both Yorkton players were a huge part
Winning the National Senior Little League Championship with a walkoff hit, both Bieber and Bymak were given the honour of representing Canada at the Senior Little League World Series in Bangor, Maine following Nationals and also helped guide Canada to their first win in the tournament that is similar to the Little League World Series that is shown on TSN but features players an age group above the LLWS level. With that would come a new challenge for both Yorkton ballplayers as they would go from facing the best of Saskatchewan to players around the country and around the world, all with different tendencies and styles of play.
At Nationals, Bieber would help the Regina All-Stars walkoff to earn a spot in the Senior LLWS in Bangor, Maine. At the Senior LLWS, Bymak would bring home the winning run for Canada's second win at the 54 year old tournament since 2002 with a walkoff single in the 13th inning. A game that Bieber was the winning pitcher in, going 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball to allow the team to make a comeback.
Playing with an entirely new group of players following a summer with the Midget AA Cardinals, the two young Yorkton ballplayers blended in quite easily in the end.
With the outfielder Bymak and the pitcher/infielder Bieber both providing timely hits in addition to Bieber's arm on the mound, Bymak mentioned that the transition was easier than anticipated with the Regina based ballclub accepting the two Yorkton players with open arms. Noting that seeing some of the players throughout the season allowed them to form a bond quickly.
"It was different at first, but the team made an effort to go out of their way and make us feel welcome so I really appreciated that."
"When we played them throughout the season they were really friendly and made conversation with us so that helped us get to know the coaches and players better," Bymak explained of the transition from playing for Yorkton to playing for the provincial and then national representatives.
Bymak mentioned that he felt at home right from the opening game.
"By the second inning of the first game it felt like I had been playing with them all season," said Bymak. "The team really welcomed us out of town guys."
Winning two big games by walkoff plays, Bymak feels that the two wins were the best moments in his young baseball career to date.
With the walkoff in Nationals being replaced by helping Canada win their final game in Bangor to finish off their tournament in the win column.
"Winning by a walkoff to get to the World Series was one of the best moments of my baseball career so far, but getting to beat Asia Pacific with a 13th inning hit will definitely go down at the top of my best moments in baseball list as it was an experience that will probably last a lifetime."
Helping Canada win a historic game and getting to represent Saskatchewan on a national and international stage, Bymak looked back fondly on his LLWS experiences as well as the opportunity to get to experience a global atmosphere combined with baseball.
"The World Series was an awesome experience and I was honoured to get the chance to represent my city, province and country," mentioned Bymak who said the international vibe of the tournament along with getting to interact with athletes from all around the world was also a personal highlight of his. "It was really cool to play different teams from across the globe and meet new people. It was an amazing time and I made memories that will last a lifetime."
