Badlands camp teaches kids baseball fundamentals

By Jordan Parker

Spring is rolling around, and the Town of Oyen is readying for another yearly elite baseball training camp.

Known as a haven for talent and athleticism, Oyen is home to a number of players from all around looking to develop their skills and move to the next level. With camps like this, they’re getting kids interested in the sport early.

The academy is offered at South Central High School and is meant to bring players to the next level.

PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST

“We are prepping players. Most students go to college in the United States to play ball, and the end goal is to have them go off to new education and continue to play after the academy,” said Head Coach Nolan Rattai.

“We train year-round, and then in the summer, students go home and play ball with summer teams. We get kids ready to compete and make them competitive with ball.”

Rattai says that the sport is huge in Oyen and something that many young folks around try to aspire to excel at.

“The sport is so popular down in the southern States. Lots of kids are pushing for a few spots, and there’s a need to be the best,” he said.

The academy is an annual affair and is meant to both introduce kids to the sport and ignite further passion.

“We promote baseball in the area, and we want to see kids falling in love with it. We have coaches and current high school players run the camp,” said Rattai.

“The camp goes for three hours for two days, and we teach everything we can. We make it as fun as possible so kids learn but also enjoy it. We want them to go forward and keep playing.”

Oyen is a town where kids move there to play baseball. They get billets, and there’s a push to play professionally. Rattai says 80 percent of graduates go to play baseball in college.

“We have the opportunities available. We have amazing facilities, and players can practice year-round. Baseball is a big, sometimes hard sport. Players really commit to it,” he said.

One of the big things about the camp – for kids between four and 14 – is they get to see high schoolers running camps, and that can motivate them.

“These high schoolers can be seen as role models. Kids recognize them and see it’s possible to go far in baseball,” said the coach. “Often, our campers like being around the older kids.”

“You can’t force kids to want to spend a bunch of time on a sport. We love teaching kids in the early stages and showing them the game. We make it enjoyable, so if they do fall in love with the game, they know what’s involved.”

The academy has been around for 12 years in a town that’s big into baseball and hockey.

“Having these developmental academies and camps is so important. Kids can develop skills and always get better. Baseball players are really good here,” he said.

“When our founder started this, we got the facility, we got the school on board, and we did everything we needed to in order to get the top talent. We did all we could to make bringing kids here possible.”

The Badlands Baseball Academy is April 13 and 14, 2023, from 11 a.m. To 2 p.m. Each day. There will be a hot dog intermission both days, and cost is $100.

The registration deadline is April 10, 2023. For more information, visit https://prrdweb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_51Pw7iVbXBf4L0q.