On Canada Day, the Seattle Mariners won their game against the Kansas City Royals 1-0, thanks in no small part to pitcher James Paxton, from Ladner, B.C. But he was not the only Canadian celebrating a win that day.

Sidney baseball player Nolan Weinmeyer, 10, ran onto the field after the game for the Pitch, Hit, Run competition, as the only Canadian amongst other kids from the Pacific Northwest. Of the three in his age division, he came out on top.

NolanB次元官网网址檚 father Brad said they announced the winners from third to first, and when he heard who placed second, he knew his son had won, but tried not to give it away early.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 do any hooting or hollering but I definitely did some fist pumps for sure, as quietly as possible,B次元官网网址� said Brad. B次元官网网址淚 was really excited for him and I could tell he was excited, too.B次元官网网址�

Only the top three ten-year olds in the U.S. would go on to Washington, DC, and Nolan did not crack the top three, but Brad said he was happy anyway, and that it was a special day for Nolan.

At his home in Sidney, Nolan said he was still deciding where to put his plaque. It would compete with old baseball gloves displayed on the wall (part of his dadB次元官网网址檚 collection).

Nolan felt excited to run the bases at Safeco, because B次元官网网址渞unningB次元官网网址檚 one of my stronger parts.B次元官网网址� Instead of running 120 feet like heB次元官网网址檚 used to, kids had to run 180 feet. He enjoyed watching the Mariners play the Royals, but he had something else on his mind.

B次元官网网址淚 was kind of nervous, just thinking about what I had to do,B次元官网网址� said Nolan. B次元官网网址淏ut I was also asking myself why I was nervous, B次元官网网址榗ause IB次元官网网址檝e done it before.B次元官网网址�

When Nolan heard he had won, he said he tried to play it cool, but was excited to get it.

While Brad does not have NolanB次元官网网址檚 precise scores, Nolan hit the ball 80 feet farther than the next competitor and ran from second base to home over a second faster.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had people from Trail, B.C. messaging me saying, B次元官网网址榃eB次元官网网址檙e following you!B次元官网网址� Just the amount of support from everybody was great,B次元官网网址� said Brad.

Brad wanted to thank the baseball community for making NolanB次元官网网址檚 trip special.

Carson Vitale, who works for the Seattle Mariners as head of minor league player/coach development, sent Brad a good luck message for Nolan, and said there was something in the media box waiting for them. It turned out to be a package with on-field passes, fifth-row tickets for the game, and other goodies.

Before the competition, Mike Chewpoy, coach of the Victoria Mariners, had spoken to Seattle pitcher James Paxton, and the pitcher gave Nolan a signed ball.

B次元官网网址淲e took it all in and it was great,B次元官网网址� said Brad. B次元官网网址淭hey treated [the kids] like gold.B次元官网网址�