With a new manager, the GBC baseball team is shaping their roster

Playoffs or bust.

That’s the goal for this season for George Brown College’s baseball team. 

That’s the goal for this season for George Brown College’s baseball team. 

The club had it’s opening tryout on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Christie Pits.

There is a new man in charge with the task of building a roster that will look to improve on a 3-17 record in 2017. 

GBC’s new manager A.J. Wideman, an assistant coach with the team last season, has made it crystal clear what he has set his sights on.

“The goal should be to make the playoffs, no matter where you’re playing, what level, what league, what sport,” said Wideman. “That’s not going to be any different with us. The goal is to make the playoffs and to see what happens after that.”

Wideman takes over from Tom Valcke who went on to become the head coach of Hong Kong men’s national baseball team.

While Wideman says pitching and catching were recruitment priorities in the off-season, the team also lost starting third baseman Greg Hall, which is a void the Huskies are looking to fill. 

Wideman stressed that a player such as Hall may go under appreciated, but his departure will certainly be felt.

“That was a situation that we had to address going into the winter. We did. We have a few kids that are going to be battling for that infield position,” said Wideman.

Wideman has made his initial round of cuts and while he’s not sure on the exact final number for his roster, the team can carry a maximum of 25 players.

After compiling a combined 4-36 record over the past two seasons, there is new optimism as the baseball team gets set to open with a doubleheader at Wishing Well Park against the Seneca Sting on Sep. 8, starting at 1 p.m. 

The competition in the OCAA men’s baseball ranks is tough, to say the least. The St. Clair Saints have won the past five titles and in fact, are the only team to ever be crowned champions. 

Following the tryouts on Aug. 25, there are two more on Aug. 28 and Sept. 6. That’s when the 2018 roster will be finalized.