AAA Baseball is Back in Parkland!

The Manitoba Province-Wide AAA League welcomes Parkland to the lineup of 15U teams joining us for the 2023 season.  The last time Parkland had a AAA team was 2019, at the 13U and 15U age groups. After three seasons away from AAA competition, they are back on the field!

In speaking with Head Coach, Jazz Larocque, he is most looking forward to “playing at a higher level with our players from the Parkland area. We have many great players on different teams so it is nice that we can have them on one team now to show their talents.”  Larocque was the head coach for a 15U house league teams out of Dauphin for the 2022 season.  When rules stated that without having a AAA team, the club teams couldn’t pick up players for A and AA Provincials last season, Larocque took action.  He decided to complete his coaching certification courses to ensure they would have a AAA team in 2023, as club teams really rely on pick ups for those events.  Larocque sought out others to help out, asking colleagues if there was interest in making a AAA team for 2023, and sure enough, a few other coaches showed interest, and completed their coaching certifications as well.

Parkland initially had over 25 players express interest in trying out for the new 15UAAA team.  While a few decided not to tryout due to commitments with other sports and events, the coaches were still in the position to hold tryouts.  For indoor facilities, the group got creative and were able to use the Roblin curling rink and a hockey rink in Dauphin.  Prior to making first cuts, the tryout team was able to have a couple outdoor tryouts on their field.  When the final roster was announced, the Parkland 15UAAA team consisted of seven 2008-born and eight 2009-born players, living in 6 different communities in the Parkland region.

Travel considerations motived the organizers to choose their home field as Vermillion Sportsplex in Dauphin, as it was central for the players.  They also thought it would make the most sense for the rest of the league to schedule games in that location.  Larocque says “The field is in great condition and has a batting cage next to it.”  The team schedules practices for Sundays when they aren’t playing their AAA double headers, because the players are busy with weekday house league games.  Practices occur alternatively between Roblin and Dauphin.

When asking the Parkland 15UAAA team what their biggest challenge will be this season, Larocque replied “Our biggest challenge has been to get all the players to one practice. As great as it is to have many different activities and sports available to kids, it does make it hard for them to make it to everything.”

Jazz Larocque has been coaching on and off for about 10 years, following his own children through the various age-groups of baseball. He speaks highly of his coaching staff: “My coaching staff is amazing.” 

Mark Griffitts, Assistant Coach for the Parkland 15UAAA team, is also Head Umpire for the Parkland Region.  Larocque says he brings a lot of knowledge when it comes to rules and regulations. Assistant Coach, Clark Andres is also coaching one of our local 15U teams, as well as helping out with the high school baseball team. He has previously coached players proper pitching and hitting mechanics, and is a great asset to the team.  Kevin Tabin is also an Assistant Coach on the team, and is no stranger to Larocque, as he assisted him last season with a 15U house league team, and is again this year.  Holly Plustwa, is the Team Manager and Larocque says “She is very well organized and we would be lost without her.”

Overall, the team is looking forward to a great season of baseball, and we welcome them to the Province-Wide AAA League for 2023!