Eston Ramblers start baseball season in new league
By Jordan Parker
The Eston Ramblers have switched leagues, and will face new opponents during the 2023 summer season this year.
Player Cam Oliphant is excited to get things started, and can’t wait to see what the team puts together.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. With the new league, we have a fuller roster. We have good numbers, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Oliphant said it was a matter of balance that led to the league switch, from the Fertile Valley Baseball League to the Coteau Hills Baseball League.
“We wanted to even out the leagues. There were too many in one and not enough in another, and we thought it’d be a good fit. There will be some closer games, and maybe less travel. It can be great, and we were happy the league took us in,” he said.
“There are a few less games in the new league, and with guy’s availability, we thought it suited what we wanted to do. We could be more competitive, and we moved over.”
The Ramblers didn’t have the best season last year, but Oliphant remains optimistic and wants to turn things around.
“I think we were a few games below 500, but it was a good year. We hadn’t had a team in a while, and it was nice to get back on the diamond,” he said.
“I don’t know how many years it’d been since we had a ball team. Last year was our first back on the diamond in five years or so. The guys who pitch found teams to play on, but a lot of people missed it. We just organized and tried to find interested people. We just needed to get it going.”
The team boasts many returners but also lots of new players as well.
“We have a lot of the same guys, but also some young new guys coming up, and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.
The season starts May 30th, 2023, and Oliphant is keeping an open mind and seeing where things go for the Ramblers.
“I don’t have any huge expectations. We will hopefully get some practices in and see how things shape up. Hopefully we have fun,” he said.
“I’ll be happy if we can play some competitive ball and do really well together with each other. I think it’ll be good.”