A Holy Trinity Academy student is studying hard so he can take his lumps playing baseball against some major league prospects.
However, Jordan Procyshen, a member of the Okotoks Dawgs Academy, said taking your lumps is worth it if it means a chance to represent his country.
Procyshen is one three remaining catchers vying for two positions on Canada’s Junior National team. Procyshen would be the first academy player to make the team since the Dawgs moved to Okotoks in 2007. Major league pitching prospect Jim Henderson and former Canadian Olympian Emerson Frostad and others made the Junior national team, but it was when the Dawgs were based in Calgary.
The 17-year-old Procyshen was in Florida in the fall taking his swings against American college ball players and a few professional players.
“I didn’t have the best showing in Florida, but there is a big difference in competition from high school ball, college ball and professional ball,” said the Grade 12 student. “We were playing a bunch of minor league teams down there.”
Okotoks Dawgs fans will remember Procyshen. He was the one who, as a Midget ballplayer, filled in for the Okotoks Dawgs in the playoffs when the team’s catching crew was decimated.
Procyshen not only did a good job handling the Dawgs’ pitching staff, but also got a key hit in a come-from-behind victory over the Swift Current Indians in Game 3 of the Western Major Baseball League playoffs.
He said in Florida he proved he can handle himself defensively behind the plate.
“Defensively, I showed well,” he said. “They (the coaches) must have seen something in me that they liked because they are keeping me around.”
He got the word on Nov. 30 he had made the next round. He said he is one of three catchers on the squad who will go to the next camp later this month and another in February. He said he expects the Junior national team to carry two catchers.
He was selected to tryout for the team after a strong showing at the Canada Cup with Team Alberta last summer.
“It was heart-stopping to hear my name over the announcements that I got selected to tryout for the Junior national team,” he said. “When I got the word the other night (Nov. 30), that I made it to the next cut, it made it more exciting that I will keep playing with ‘Canada’ written across my chest.”
However, you can’t take your cuts for Team Canada or the Dawgs Academy unless you are cutting it in the classroom.
Procyshen studies hard to keep his grades up and that can mean some long hours. In the words of the Fab Four, at times Proceshyn has had “a hard day’s Knight, and he’s been working like a Dawg.”
He credits Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) with helping him in the classroom and welcoming him into the HTA Knights’ family.
“It’s tough, but the school is great,” Procyshen said. “I let the teachers know beforehand that I am going to be gone so many days. They give me homework before and they help me catch up when I get back. They are kind of used to it because the school does it with the Okotoks Oilers as well.”
He gives credit to HTA guidance counselor Marlene Donnelly for keeping him on track academically.
Procyshen is heading back to Florida again later this month and again in February for further Junior national camps.
“It was nerve-wracking waiting to find out if I made the next cut,” Procyshen said. “People were asking me all week if I made the cut, so I was relieved when I got the call.
“At least now I can just prepare for the next trip.”
Dawgs banquet
Having a player knocking on the door of the Junior team is proof the Okotoks Dawgs Academy program is paying dividends.
There are presently more than 20 young players enrolled at Holy Trinity Academy who are pursuing their dreams thanks to the Dawgs Academy and its state-of-the-art Duvernay Fieldhouse.
There is a chance to support the program by attending its annual banquet in the new year.
The Dawgs’ annual banquet and awards ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 22 at the Foothills Centennial Centre.
Tickets are available by calling 403-262-DAWG (3294).
