14-year-old Airdrie baseball player Marshall Scott is readying himself to step out onto the mound at the 2023 Alberta Summer Games in Okotoks in late July. Scott will represent Zone 2  (Big Country) in the games in the U15 division. 

The Grade Nine Bert Church student has been playing baseball since he was seven and he summed up his passion for the sport succinctly.

"I just found it fun to hit the ball most of the time," he said. "I got the call from my coach, [who] asked me if I wanted to play for the team and obviously I was grateful for the opportunity and I just wanted to go for it straight away."

Having played one year in Airdrie's Little League Minor baseball, he then went on to the Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth leagues in Calgary and is currently playing for the U14 AAA Longhorns in the Babe Ruth Calgary Baseball League. And although he is counting down the days to the Alberta Summer Games, there is plenty of excitement to be had before then as he will travel stateside with his current baseball team.

Scott will be heading to Kalispell, Montana as well as Seattle, Washington as part of the league's travel team.

"It is very exciting. We get to go show off our skills and watch baseball games," Scott said. 

Scott's father, Collin Scott, said that to see his son excel in the sport is of course a proud moment, but one that is all the more special as the family considers themselves a true baseball family.

"His [Marshall's] older brothers played up through the ranks through AAA through [to] college ball. We've always been a part of it; watching both of them, proud of them," he said. "It's obviously thrilling - but to get a call as Marshall did."

Scott's father added that there will also be a Northwestern division championship tournament being held in Ferndale, Washington. That tournament will decide which team will progress to the World Series championships in Virginia.

"We're going to that, but we're cutting our trip short to come back here for the Summer Games."

Scott who has played the positions of shortstop and pitcher is hopeful that he can continue playing the sport he has loved since grade school well into his high school career. While both father and son have their favourite baseball teams, the younger Scott said that the Cleveland Guardians are his kind of team, while his dad said that he always has been and always will be a Toronto Blue Jays fan. 

Scott said that while he does experience some nervousness before a game, that quickly disappears.

"When I'm on the mound - I'm just calm and I just throw up some pitches," he said. "You have to have a really good attitude and a good mindset when you're playing."

Earlier this year, 350 athletes from across the province registered and attended Talent ID Camps in the province, vying for a spot on the Alberta Games zones rosters in various athletic disciplines. 

The Alberta Summer Games are being hosted in Okotoks and start on Thursday, July 20 and run till July 23. 14 different sports categories will be represented. 

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