Joseph Sliva's stint with the Swift Current Indians at the Western Canada 'AA' Baseball Championship was short, but no so sweet.
The host Indians couldn't muster a win against the Humboldt Dodgers, who beat the Yorkton Cardinals in the Sask. finals to advance to Westerns, and provincial winners from British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.
Nonetheless, despite not coming home to Yorkton with a medal, Sliva had a blast in Swift Current. He was very proud he got the opportunity to represent his province and happy with his performance - going 11 for 14 at bat with a .786 average and hitting two homeruns.
"The coaches and players treated me so well here," said Sliva. "I was really apart of the team even as a pickup. I played every inning of every game all weekend long. I was the team's fulltime centerfield and boy was I busy."
Sliva's character and talent blew Indians coach Ken Wall away.
"Joseph has overly exceeded any expectations we had of him," said Wall. "He came here and did for us what we wanted him to do. He's a great kid."
The young Yorkton native, who usually pitches or catches, learned valuable lessons as a centerfielder about how important every player on the field is.
"Whatever position you're called to play, play it with all your heart and the best of your ability," he said. "Every position on the team is very important."
Sliva hopes he'll make another appearance at Westerns in the future, but next time he hopes it's with his Yorkton Cardinals.
"It's a rare opportunity to play at Westerns," he said. "I want to be back, but next time with the Cardinals."
