When the Dauphin Clippers finish up their high school baseball season, Dauphin's Brandon Racette will never play another high school game, but, he will go out as an All-Star.
He was named a Tournament All-Star at the Provincial Championships this past weekend in Plumas and Neepawa.
"It means a lot to me," said Racette. "I just went out there and played ball. It's as simple as that, and I just got my name called."
"Baseball is a mental game, and you just can't let the game get to you," he added. "For now, I'm beating the game."
Don Sheldon, the Clippers coach had nothing but good things to say about Brandon and thinks the award is well deserving.
"He's been steady for us all season long," said Sheldon. "Especially on the mound. He's done a great job of putting us in good positions. He's not a super loud guy on the bench, but he leads by example. He'll tell you he's not really a hitter, but he was hitting the ball hard at the provincials, including when he hit one off the fence."
Brandon's a multi-sport athlete, with the other notable sport being hockey. But, he knows when he decided he wanted to pursue baseball more so.
"At a young age, I always found just throwing the ball moved my spirit," said Racette. "That's really when I decided I wanted to pursue baseball more than hockey."
When Don was asked if Brandon will get the chance to play baseball at the next level, he thinks its a guaranteed thing.
"There's definitely opportunities for a player like Brandon," said Sheldon. "He's very coachable. He'll go anywhere in the field, and he can step up in any situation. Managers look for a player like him."
Don couldn't have been any more right. Brandon is now suiting up for the Portage senior baseball team.
Being a grade 12 player, Brandon shares how the past year went, and his favourite memory from the past season.
"Things went pretty good," said Racette. "In the second game of provincials, we needed to win by 10, and we won by 11. That was pretty incredible."
Don also knows his favourite moment from Brandon, but it's a little different.
"He was our Opening Day starter against Major Pratt, and he pitched really good and left the game with the lead," said Racette. "And, they ended up going to the final four at provincials. I don't know if there were any big huge moments, he's just a steady, good baseball player."
Brandon wraps up his high school baseball career tonight, as the Clippers head to Brandon for their final game.
