Alberta Amateur Baseball Council is recognizing those individuals who have contributed significantly to Alberta baseball, at the grassroots level.
This week’s nominee, regarding “Passion for Baseball”, is Murray Reay of the Innisfail Minor Baseball program. Murray has coached, and been part of the Innisfail Minor Baseball executive, for over a decade.
As a youth, Murray primarily played Fastball in the Red Deer Commercial League. His sons, and their interest in baseball, motivated him to move to baseball. Today, he is inspired by being part of a strong Innisfail Minor Baseball program. He takes great delight in the opportunities that baseball has provided for the Innisfail youth. He cites three individuals, Mike O’Dwyer, Desmond Bouttelier, and Jay Kirkham, who moved on from the Innisfail Minor Baseball program and played at college/elite levels, as an influence on himself and others in the Innisfail Minor Baseball program.
His greatest sense of accomplishment, regarding Innisfail Minor Baseball, is the increase in the number of kids playing baseball. He is also proud of the large number of Innisfail Minor Baseball players that have moved on to play at higher levels. He also takes pride in the quality baseball teams that Innisfail has been able to field over the past number of years.
In the future, Murray would like to see more emphasis on the grassroots level baseball in Alberta. He sees the present structure, by some, as disregarding the rural Alberta communities and their programs. He feels change would strengthen the Alberta “AA” and “A” programs.
Alberta Amateur Baseball Council, and the Alberta Baseball community, would like to thank Murray for his work/volunteerism towards the Baseball in Alberta!
