From a never ending string of interviews, text messages and autograph sessions, it\u2019s safe to say the past week has been the wildest of Carter Beck\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
With the Carnduff, Sask. product just four days removed from being taken 26th overall in the MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, the highest ever selection for a Saskatchewan-born player.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a ride,\u201d Beck said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been crazy, it\u2019s been fun, but just trying to enjoy it the best I can. It only happens once, so just trying to enjoy it and people don\u2019t stop reaching out. It\u2019s pretty cool how many people are excited about it and want to support.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Beck was the guest of honour on Wednesday night at his old home of Cairns Field, as the 21-year-old outfielder made his return to the Western Canadian Baseball League park where he starred for two seasons with the Saskatoon Berries.<\/p>\n
Instead of trotting out to his familiar position of centre field, Beck walked to the mound where he delivered the opening pitch to a loud ovation from the Berries crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s super cool just to see the impact I\u2019ve left everywhere I went,\u201d Beck said. \u201cMy goal is to go out, inspire and be a role model for people. I think it\u2019s kind of showing through this right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Berries head coach Joe Carnahan said it was a welcomed sight to see the two-time WCBL all-star back on the diamond which helped launch his professional career and has made him a top prospect in the Braves system.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor him to even come back speaks volumes of what kind of person he is and also what he thinks of this organization,\u201d Carnahan said.<\/p>\n
Along with signing autographs for a lengthy lineup of fans pre-game, Beck spent time with several former teammates with the Berries including fellow outfielder Ethan Murdoch.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was awesome to see him,\u201d Murdoch. \u201cThe kid deserves everything, so glad to see him and congratulate him in person, not just through text. It was awesome to see him and the way the fans reacted when they saw him out there was something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
A large group from Beck\u2019s hometown made the drive up for the Berries game against the Lethbridge Bulls, including both of Carter\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n
His mother Tara said the evening felt to the family like coming home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge day,\u201d Tara said. \u201cThis is so exciting and he really enjoyed his time here in Saskatoon. He learned a lot while he was here and got used to playing every day. It\u2019s really an honour to have him back here and the whole Berries family has just been amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family was together in Carnduff on Saturday afternoon when Carter received a life-changing call from his agent less than 30 seconds before he was officially selected by Atlanta.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walked out on the patio and just pointed at the TV I had going in the backyard,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI go like, \u2018Watch, I guess?\u2019 Sure enough, they announced that pick right there. I put my hands on my head and didn\u2019t even know how to react. It was a super cool moment and probably the only time of my life I\u2019ve had absolutely zero words.\u201d<\/p>\n
That stunning moment came as a surprise to the entire Beck clan according to his father Blair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t get time to get nervous,\u201d Blair said. \u201cWe actually had a couple family members get there late because we said, \u2018No, get there by 2 p.m. it\u2019ll be fine.\u2019 He got drafted at 1:45, so we were completely caught off guard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter\u2019s whirlwind week will continue on Friday as he\u2019s headed to North Port, Fla. to sign his first professional contract and join the Florida Complex League Braves rookie-level team.<\/p>\n
That will begin a lengthy road through the minor leagues which Carter added he\u2019s ready to chase.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully just get out there, get rolling, take it one step at a time and keep grinding my way up as fast as I can,\u201d Carter said. \u201cThere\u2019s lots of levels to climb, but I\u2019m ready to get after it and start doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the cusp of starting his professional career, Carter said it was important to spend a little time back in his home province before going stateside.<\/p>\n
Now, set to pursue his goals with a province of support at his back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s what everyone dreams about doing,\u201d Carter said. \u201cNow that I got the opportunity to start taking the steps to get to where the dream is, is really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Errors cost Berries in extra innings loss<\/p>\n
The Berries couldn\u2019t complete the series sweep against the Bulls on Wednesday night, as they dropped a 10-8 decision in extra innings.<\/p>\n
It was a game which featured three lead changes and three game-tying runs, before Lethbridge\u2019s Kalem Haney broke the contest open in the 10th inning with a bases-loaded RBI single to cash two runs.<\/p>\n
Second baseman Gael Salinas said the team struggled with mental mistakes all night, resulting in four errors against the Bulls.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just kept going back and forth,\u201d Salinas said. \u201cHats off to them, they played better than us and they deserved to win. We made too many errors, didn\u2019t capitalize where we should have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carnahan\u2019s night came quickly to an end in the top of the third inning, as he was ejected from the game after arguing a walk to Haney by starting pitcher Adam Korte.<\/p>\n
Speaking post-game, Carnahan gave his thoughts on the call and what he believed was a sub-par night for the umpires.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a couple batters get rung up on strike three (calls) with strikes that are outside the chalk line and not even close,\u201d Carnahan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKorte threw a lot of pitches where the catcher doesn\u2019t move his glove and is not called a strike. You kind of question what\u2019s going on when that stuff happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bulls were the final West Division opponent Saskatoon will host this year, aside from the WCBL championship series if they qualify.<\/p>\n
Korte said it was a bit of a mixed bag, as the Berries earned the split in their two games versus Lethbridge after a 7-4 victory on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a tough team,\u201d Korte said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we battled them really well both games. The first game, we were able to keep them off the bases a bit more. This game, we let a few too (many) free ones go for them and I think that ended up biting us in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Berries (26-12) hit the road for a two-game series against the Medicine Hat Mavericks, before the organization hosts WCBL All-Star Weekend at Cairns Field on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
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