The Kentville resident and his fellow players got their uniforms on Jan. 23 to add to the excitement of the planned trip south.
This winter, over 350 players from across Canada and the United States, along with 75 coaches, will be traveling to Cuba as part of the third annual goodwill tour.
The Canadians will deliver much-needed school supplies and baseball equipment to the communities of Matanzas and Holguin in Cuba. There, over 1,500 children in Cuba look forward to playing their country’s favourite sport each day with very little access to equipment.
The tour started in 2014, with two Nova Scotia teams supporting the communities. Within a year, the tour expanded to 10 teams from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba.
This year, 24 teams are scheduled to be on the tour. Coach Trevor Croteau carefully selected the players to represent Canada as ambassadors.
“They stood out as deserving. On this trip they are more than good players,” he said, watching them practice at Kentville indoor sports facility.
The provincial team consists of 16 players from various baseball leagues from Middleton to Stellarton. Croteau says there are three players from Dartmouth, two from Hantsport and four from Kentville.
Parent Debbie Mailman says her son has been busy in the months leading up to the trip.
“We have been involved with various fundraising since September. The total group going adds up to 65, including grandparents and siblings,” she said.
Emmit has raised just over $1,300 with his efforts and supporter donations. His father, Don, is one of the coaches.
“He has also been collecting new and used sports equipment and school supplies to take with us. We are scheduled to leave Feb. 13-20. It should be a good experience,” Debbie Mailman says.
Anyone who wants to donate sports gear or school supplies can contact the Mailman family at [email protected]
www.caribbeanbaseballgoodwilltours.com
The Kentville resident and his fellow players got their uniforms on Jan. 23 to add to the excitement of the planned trip south.
This winter, over 350 players from across Canada and the United States, along with 75 coaches, will be traveling to Cuba as part of the third annual goodwill tour.
The Canadians will deliver much-needed school supplies and baseball equipment to the communities of Matanzas and Holguin in Cuba. There, over 1,500 children in Cuba look forward to playing their country’s favourite sport each day with very little access to equipment.
The tour started in 2014, with two Nova Scotia teams supporting the communities. Within a year, the tour expanded to 10 teams from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba.
This year, 24 teams are scheduled to be on the tour. Coach Trevor Croteau carefully selected the players to represent Canada as ambassadors.
“They stood out as deserving. On this trip they are more than good players,” he said, watching them practice at Kentville indoor sports facility.
The provincial team consists of 16 players from various baseball leagues from Middleton to Stellarton. Croteau says there are three players from Dartmouth, two from Hantsport and four from Kentville.
Parent Debbie Mailman says her son has been busy in the months leading up to the trip.
“We have been involved with various fundraising since September. The total group going adds up to 65, including grandparents and siblings,” she said.
Emmit has raised just over $1,300 with his efforts and supporter donations. His father, Don, is one of the coaches.
“He has also been collecting new and used sports equipment and school supplies to take with us. We are scheduled to leave Feb. 13-20. It should be a good experience,” Debbie Mailman says.
Anyone who wants to donate sports gear or school supplies can contact the Mailman family at [email protected]
