The downside – and it’s only negative if you see it that way, says coach Mike Reid – is that it’s going to cost the club around $40,000, which will mean some heavy fundraising, both private and corporate, to raise the required amount.
Acadia is the first-ever university baseball program invited to travel to Cuba as part of the tour, which has been ongoing for the past four years, and is part baseball, part humanitarianism and all goodwill.
Not only will the Acadia players get to play baseball against Cuban players, as part of the humanitarian portion of the tour, they will get to bring school supplies and baseball equipment to a part of Cuba badly in need of both.
Reid said the invitation to be part of the tour “came right out of the blue” from
Dennis Woodworth, a professional travel consultant who is heading up what he calls the Caribbean Baseball Goodwill Tours.
Acadia was chosen “because I’ve worked with players who are in their program, and with their coaches,” Woodworth said.
“I was looking to build a relationship with a university program. Mike and I connected, and he expressed an interest in taking part.”
He described Acadia as “a unique school” with a growing baseball program.
“A lot of our young players have expressed an interest in going there,” he said.
As for the tour, the focus is on humanitarian efforts.
“The biggest thing we want to do is create a cultural experience for people in this country,” Woodworth said.
“Cuba is unique in terms of the Caribbean, in that it’s the only Communist country still existing,” says Woodworth, who adds that visiting the island can be “a real culture shock,” that “takes you back in time to the way things would have been 50-60 years ago.”
Trip set for February 2016
According to Reid and pitcher David Pilat, who spearheaded the rebirth of the Acadia baseball program last fall, the club is still waiting on the final itinerary, but they know they will be leaving for Cuba on Feb. 6, 2016. They’ll have a day to get used to the climate, then the opening ceremonies and a game will be held. The Acadia team will play U-21 academy teams and a university team from Matanzas province.
“Dennis (Woodworth) wants to see baseball grow, in Canada and at Acadia. I feel we’re going about it the right way. Assuming the first one is successful, this will become an annual thing,” Reid said.
He believes that once word gets out, it will help attract baseball players to Acadia.
“A lot of players would be interested in enrolling at Acadia to be part of the trip,” he said. “Very few Canadian baseball players get to go to the U.S. and play NCAA Division 1. We’re targeting the rest, those who won’t get to do that.”
The Acadia contingent making the trip to Cuba will consist of 20 players, three coaches, a school representative and a chef de mission.
“There are requirements to be met, and fundraising to be done, but every player on the team that’s able to go will get to go. We’ll play some games, visit schools, sample the Cuban culture and deliver school supplies and baseball equipment,” Reid said.
Pilat says it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I never thought I’d ever get to Cuba,” he said, but then, “I never thought I’d get to play baseball at Acadia until it happened.”
Acadia program growing
Acadia will hold a training camp starting Aug. 26. The trip aside, Reid said, “we want our program to be something that will make young players want to attend Acadia – a destination program for university-aged players.”
The Acadia team recently attended the Atlantic College Showcase, a recruiting opportunity, Reid said, “showing off the talents of the top Atlantic Canada baseball players aged between 14-17.”
The showcase was organized by former members of the Toronto Blue Jays, including Devon White, Kelly Gruber and former manager Cito Gaston, as well as former major leaguer Jason Dickson, who is now involved with the national junior program.
The downside – and it’s only negative if you see it that way, says coach Mike Reid – is that it’s going to cost the club around $40,000, which will mean some heavy fundraising, both private and corporate, to raise the required amount.
Acadia is the first-ever university baseball program invited to travel to Cuba as part of the tour, which has been ongoing for the past four years, and is part baseball, part humanitarianism and all goodwill.
Not only will the Acadia players get to play baseball against Cuban players, as part of the humanitarian portion of the tour, they will get to bring school supplies and baseball equipment to a part of Cuba badly in need of both.
Reid said the invitation to be part of the tour “came right out of the blue” from
Dennis Woodworth, a professional travel consultant who is heading up what he calls the Caribbean Baseball Goodwill Tours.
Acadia was chosen “because I’ve worked with players who are in their program, and with their coaches,” Woodworth said.
“I was looking to build a relationship with a university program. Mike and I connected, and he expressed an interest in taking part.”
He described Acadia as “a unique school” with a growing baseball program.
“A lot of our young players have expressed an interest in going there,” he said.
As for the tour, the focus is on humanitarian efforts.
“The biggest thing we want to do is create a cultural experience for people in this country,” Woodworth said.
“Cuba is unique in terms of the Caribbean, in that it’s the only Communist country still existing,” says Woodworth, who adds that visiting the island can be “a real culture shock,” that “takes you back in time to the way things would have been 50-60 years ago.”
Trip set for February 2016
According to Reid and pitcher David Pilat, who spearheaded the rebirth of the Acadia baseball program last fall, the club is still waiting on the final itinerary, but they know they will be leaving for Cuba on Feb. 6, 2016. They’ll have a day to get used to the climate, then the opening ceremonies and a game will be held. The Acadia team will play U-21 academy teams and a university team from Matanzas province.
“Dennis (Woodworth) wants to see baseball grow, in Canada and at Acadia. I feel we’re going about it the right way. Assuming the first one is successful, this will become an annual thing,” Reid said.
He believes that once word gets out, it will help attract baseball players to Acadia.
“A lot of players would be interested in enrolling at Acadia to be part of the trip,” he said. “Very few Canadian baseball players get to go to the U.S. and play NCAA Division 1. We’re targeting the rest, those who won’t get to do that.”
The Acadia contingent making the trip to Cuba will consist of 20 players, three coaches, a school representative and a chef de mission.
“There are requirements to be met, and fundraising to be done, but every player on the team that’s able to go will get to go. We’ll play some games, visit schools, sample the Cuban culture and deliver school supplies and baseball equipment,” Reid said.
Pilat says it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I never thought I’d ever get to Cuba,” he said, but then, “I never thought I’d get to play baseball at Acadia until it happened.”
Acadia program growing
Acadia will hold a training camp starting Aug. 26. The trip aside, Reid said, “we want our program to be something that will make young players want to attend Acadia – a destination program for university-aged players.”
The Acadia team recently attended the Atlantic College Showcase, a recruiting opportunity, Reid said, “showing off the talents of the top Atlantic Canada baseball players aged between 14-17.”
The showcase was organized by former members of the Toronto Blue Jays, including Devon White, Kelly Gruber and former manager Cito Gaston, as well as former major leaguer Jason Dickson, who is now involved with the national junior program.
