ALMA – Lane Lochead will have a busy couple of weeks in late August.
The 13-year-old Alma resident, who plays Peewee AA baseball with the New Glasgow DQ Blizzards, will be part of the team that will host the provincial championships in New Glasgow (Aug. 31-Sept. 2). Not only that, he is one of only 14 ballplayers in his age group from around the province who will play for Team Nova Scotia at the national championships Aug. 23-26 in Woodstock, Ont.
While he wasn’t entirely sure he’d make the provincial team, he felt he had a good shot if he brought his best stuff to the tryouts.
“I thought I had a pretty good chance to make the team if I played my best,” he said.
“I was pretty happy,” after being told he had made the team.
It began in May, when he attended a tryout in Stellarton and survived the first round of cuts. From there, the provincial team hopefuls would be whittled down to a group 36 for a two-day camp in Halifax, which included scrimmages, giving coaches one final chance to evaluate the players.
Lochead got through that, too, will play second and third base and will probably do some pitching for Team Nova Scotia.
“I’m looking forward playing some good teams,” at nationals, he added.
“It’s pretty incredible, just to be one of the top 14 players in the province.”
Lochead has travelled to Halifax once a week for three-hour practices this summer.
A lefty hitter who hits for average and power and plays good defence in the field, Lochead plays shortstop for the DQ Blizzard, but he also pitches and can put on the catcher’s gear and get behind the plate.
