the core of the Dieppe Cardinals will remain intact this summer

With three provincial championships in four seasons, we can definitely speak of a dynasty.

We can also assume that the pressure will be strong on the shoulders of the Dieppe Cardinals to add another jewel to their crown.

But don’t tell that to the Cards players.

If they play in an intermediate circuit, it is first and foremost to have fun.

The talent is there, of course, but it is above all the cohesion and camaraderie that drives this team that makes it successful.

Moreover, the majority of the core will remain intact again this summer.

“We expect to see a few new faces, but the majority of our guys are back,” said shortstop Stephen Thorne.

The heart of the team are veterans like Marc-André Pitre, Simon Boucher, Ryan Ballack, Jason Doucet, Kyle Arsenault and Pat Aubé.

All these beautiful people play mainly for the love of baseball.

“Pressure is not what we play baseball for. At my age, we play to have fun. That said, we are very competitive and we want to win every year,” said the 32-year-old.

Defeated by the Newcastle Cardinals in the provincial championship last summer, Dieppe has every intention of taking revenge.

But a new team may stand in his way: the Greater Moncton Mudcats.

The Dalhousie baseball player sees this new rivalry in the making with a very positive eye.

“It gives another option to young people who decide not to go play senior or who don’t have a place with the Fisher Cats. I find it great. It gives them a place to play and it will add to the league we have,” he explains.

“The league continues to grow and that’s good for everyone. The more competition there is, the better the league will be. It also risks creating new rivalries, ”adds the one who played in senior baseball from 2013 to 2018.

The 22-game schedule is expected to begin in late May.

In addition to the Cardinals and Mudcats, the Southern Intermediate Baseball League will include the St. John Angels, Kennebecasis Valley Red Sox, St. John Mariners and St. John Stingrays.