PBA pitcher Andrew Grieder throws to first base during a fielding drill at practice earlier this month.
By Steve Seto
The cool crisp weather and blowing winds of March don’t turn the focus away of a baseball player’s hunt for another championship.
The Prairie Baseball Academy (PBA) is getting set for another run to win their sixth straight Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) title.
As the season draws near, practice is handled as if they’ve been doing it for months. They have already been doing off field conditioning and spent 11 days in Las Vegas to shake off the winter rust.
Practice flows without a hitch, as players know what drill is next and where they need to be. Everyone is on the same page, which is key to the teams chemistry and work ethic.
The players are motivated on the task at hand and know they have to be ready for when the season comes. They know other teams in the league will be trying to break their streak.
“We want to show everyone that we aren’t here just to have fun we want to show them what we can do and take no mercy,” said catcher Mitch Grisbrook.
Pitcher Andrew Grieder keeps his preparation the same going into the season and doesn’t change the way he approaches each game because of past success.
“We’re just trying to win every single game, pitch by pitch, that’s the best way to do it,” said Grieder.
This team culture comes from the top, head coach Todd Hubka, is in his sixth year of coaching PBA, Hubka makes sure they keep their routines the same going into the season and not getting caught up on previous championships.
“Everything stays the same. Nothing changes. If we changed our routines, we wouldn’t have won five in a row and be as successful as we are. Our work ethic stays the same,” said Hubka.
Many of the players want to continue playing baseball at a higher level after playing with the PBA and hope to reach scholarships in the US. According to Canadian Baseball Network’s Bob Elliott on March 6, 2016 that 752 Canadians are playing on an NCAA team.
Playing in the CCBC is a way for players to get noticed by scouts and be recruited to schools in the US.
The PBA isn’t all about winning games and adding championships to the trophy cabinet though. Hubka is making sure the players not only perform on the field, but also make sure they excel off of it.
Players must be a full-time student at either the college or university and acquire nine credits to be eligible for the championship season.
“One thing we pride ourselves at prairie baseball is our work ethic and think that in turn, goes into life skills when they leave our program.,” said Hubka who stresses that working hard leads to athletes success on and off the field.
“We also build a person and for him to be ready for life. That’s what this program means to me and that’s what we try to do with this program,” added Hubka.
This has rubbed off onto the players in a positive way and they have noticed it away from the diamond.
“Respect on and off the field as well and what we bring off the field shows in the classroom and the community in how we interact in different places,” said Grisbrook.
It can be tough for players to balance baseball and studies at the same time, especially while trying to win as many games as possible.
The team has an academic advisor at the college to make sure the student comes first in student-athlete balance. Hubka is the first to know if a player is straying from class or falling behind in his studies.
Building these strong ethics off the field is helping the players excel during the season as well after they finish playing with PBA.
The team starts the season March 26 and hopes to win their sixth straight championship and ninth overall in their 22-year history.
