Pembina Hills Minor Baseball hosts spring camp 2025
A spring camp that was phenomenally successful and productive was hosted by the Pembina Hills Minor Baseball League in partnership with Holland Recreation. Blaine Fortin from Lundar, Manitoba was able to perform magic with his charismatic personality and delivery!
Saturday, May 3rd, was marked by Mother Nature delivering hot and dry spring weather for the camp.
Participants in the 13U and 15U age categories that ran from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In any case, the ball players learned and refined skills in pitching, pick-offs, in fielding, and hitting.
Fortin has the skills and talents to be a talented and gifted trainer. He played minor baseball in the Interlake area during his youth. In 1994, he was recognized as the player of the year by Baseball Manitoba and Baseball Canada, as well as winning the MJBL batting title. During that year, he also competed for Team Canada. Blaine was recruited by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1995 and spent three years in their minor league system. His career fielding percentage as a catcher was .993.
Blaine has participated in numerous Canadian and Western Canadian Championships, including representing Canada at the 1996 World Junior Baseball Championship. He played with the Goldeyes in 1999. The Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum honored him with membership status in 2022.
Referred to as “Mr. Baseball,” Blaine has, for several years, been a sport developer, instilling and developing within youth a passion and love for the game. He served as the president of the Interlake Minor Baseball Association for eight years and was also part of the Manitoba Sport Development Committee and Coaching Committee. In the past, Blaine has successfully coached the provincial 16U girls’ team. He continues to be a coaching facilitator for Manitoba Baseball Association.
Holland Recreation was pleased to have Pembina Hills Minor Baseball League; Blaine and the many registered participants take part in the camp at their new diamond. The day was enjoyable, and the fact that so many players were learning new tips and tricks to improve their baseball skills was exciting. The multitude of volunteers who volunteered in many different roles was significant.
“I have always enjoyed collaborating with the athletes from Pembina Hills Spring Camp on Saturday when I come back to Holland. This was the first year, in the four past years, that we were able to hold the camp outside.” The Clinician, Blaine Fortin, concluded “that all the participants were prepared to learn and were proficient in performing the drills.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Blaine Fortin, clinician, providing skill development instructions to one of the participants.
