Often, new teams struggle, but that wasn’t the case for the North Island Cubs in their first season.
Joining AAA midget baseball in 2018, the team is made up of kids generally aged 15 to 17 from around the region, including several from Campbell River.
On the field, the Cubs, with coach Hugh Gurney at the helm, exceeded what anyone would’ve expected, placing second to the North Fraser Nationals.
“We went right to the finals of the provincials,” Hugh says. “It was a good start for us.”
Hugh credits a strong parent group and the community for helping pull the baseball team together.
“We got some good support and some good backing,” he says. “I haven’t done it all by myself.”
Several players earned all-star honours, and a few played with the provincial team and signed letters of intent to play college baseball.
“It’s nice to see,” he says. “There’s a lot of good talent.”
Hugh, who also coaches ice hockey, credits the coaching he got in both sports growing up, and he is more than happy to take his turn as a leader and example for young athletes now.
“It’s fun. It’s really rewarding,” he says.
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