AMBA’s two travel teams busy on the weekend

The two travel teams with the Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association (AMBA) were both in action last Saturday afternoon. The U9 Cardinals were in action at Malden Centre Park against Woodslee (left and right) while the U11 team battled Essex at Bill Wigle Park (centre).

The Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association (AMBA) is getting its travel program back going and its two travel/rep teams were busy on the weekend.

The U9 Cardinals hosted Woodslee at Malden Centre Park Saturday afternoon and came away with a win while the U11 Cardinals hosted the Essex Yellow Jackets later in the day at Bill Wigle Park.

U9 Cardinals coach Mike Mathieson said their win over Woodslee brought their record up to three wins and one loss.

“We’ve beaten Woodslee, LaSalle and Riverside and lost to Essex,” said Mathieson. “Things are going really well.”

Mathieson, also the AMBA vice president, noted Saturday is their big day at Malden Centre Park but games and practices also take place throughout the week. There are also games held at Bill Wigle Park.

There are 200 players in the Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association this year, he added.

“It’s going well,” he said.

Mathieson stated it is the first year for travel baseball in Amherstburg since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the U9 team, Mathieson said they have a good group of kids.

“We’re having a better showing than I thought,” he said. 

Many of the U9 team members have been with the AMBA since it returned in 2021, working their way up from T-ball.

“We’re slowly growing upwards,” he said. 

The AMBA has a goal of getting house league and travel teams at every age group, he added.

The U11 team had a tougher time in their loss against Essex, but coach Andrew Brush said they are improving. They have only one player that has played rep baseball and many are still learning the sport.

“Because we’re such a new team, anything we do at this point is a positive for us,” said Brush. “There’s a lot of work to be done. The kids are showing some promise.”

The U11 Cardinals are 0-6 this year but Brush said “it’s coming along” and the players are getting better. Three players were hit by pitches against Essex last Saturday and Brush said that shows they are learning and making sacrifices for the team.

“The coaches are pretty proud of them,” he said. 

AMBA’s two travel teams busy on the weekend

By Ron Giofu