Oyen Eagles batting 1,000 to start season

By Jordan Parker

The Oyen Eagles began the season by winning their first two games, putting them in an enviable position in the Fertile Valley Baseball League.

Their first game saw them trounce the Kindersley Cubs 11-1, and their June 6th game saw a resounding 17-2 defeat of the Kindersley U18 team. But they’re in the midst of a busy stretch.

“We’ve done pretty well. We handily won our first two games. But with four games in eight days on the calendar, that’s a grind for guys with kids and full-time jobs,” said Manager and player Scott Olsen.

Much of their early success can be credited to a team that’s mostly been together for a long stretch of time.

“The same guys have really been around for 10-or-15 years. We have a few new guys this year, and the younger guys can play most of June, but in July during playoffs we may not have them,” he said.

They’ve had a successful last few years, but the Oyen Eagles just haven’t been able to grab that coveted crown.

“Last year we lost out in the final. We’re looking to finally make this happen,” he said. “In fact, we’ve lost in the final the last few years. We seem to be always falling short, but hopefully this year is our year.”

One of their battling rivals returns to the Fertile Valley fold this year after a few in another league, and Olsen says the bouts against the Kindersley Stallions will be interesting.

“It’s two Kindersley teams that are big. Those games against the Stallions are always good. We also lost to the Raiders last year in the finals, and they’re an older group with us. When we play them, it could go either way,” he said.

For Oyen and its residents, senior ball is like breathing. Olsen says playing on squads in the summer is a big part of life.

“Ball is just so important in our little town. Oyen has it rooted in this area, and we have the Badlands Baseball Academy here as well,” he said.

“They develop young kids for a future and college ball. People here always play hockey in the winter and ball in the summer, and most guys just do it as long as they can.”

He said this year has been a strange one for the FVBL, and it’s thrown some of the team off.

“It was such a late spring and everyone was so busy seeding. It’s been a struggle to get everyone going, but things are coming into order and the free time is coming,” he said.

“We’re going to be a competitive team, and I expect we’ll be in the top two or three teams. We want to push for that first-place prize. If there are any young guys who want to play and help us get there, come on out.”

To learn more about the league and the schedule, visit https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=FVBL&s=baseball&p=home.