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ORIGINAL STORYÂ by Josh Brown
KITCHENER — You would be hard pressed to find a local more dedicated to softball than Johnny Baker.
He smacked his first hit at six years old and umpired his first game three years later. Heck, the former Grand River Collegiate Institute student even skipped his prom to hit the diamond last year.
"It was an elimination game," the Kitchener native said. "I missed my prom, threw a no-hitter and hit a home run."
So, perhaps it's no surprise that the pitcher/utility player was a prime target when Canada was rounding out its roster for the International Softball Federation's world junior men's championships that runs July 11-20 in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Other locals on the squad are outfielder Tyler Pauli, of Mitchell, Tavistock infielder Tyson Zehr and shortstop Nick Penner and pitcher/first baseman Tyler Randerson, both of New Hamburg.
The 10-team tournament also features the Czech Republic, Mexico, Australia, United States, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the defending champs from Argentina. Canada's sole title was in 1993.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," said Baker, 18. "When I got the call it was pretty exciting for me."
You could say it was 16 years in the making. As a two-year-old, Baker would toss a plush rabbit into the air and then hit it with a stuffed toy dog.
When T-ball didn't give him the challenge he needed, he threatened to quit unless his parents — Liz and Gary — put him in baseball.
"At that age (six), baseball still used a pitching machine and softball didn't," said Baker. "So my parents thought that was a better idea and signed me up."
He's been at it ever since.
"I kind of fell in love with it," he said. "I really can't imagine myself not playing ball."
Baker is softball's version of a rink rat. Whether he's playing, umpiring or just watching the game, he always seems to be dallying around the diamond.
As a kid, he hounded adult players for autographs at various International Softball Congress championships held at the Peter Hallman Ball Yard in Kitchener.
"I always wanted to be like them when I was older," said Baker.
Wearing Team Canada colours has also been a lifelong goal.
"Now that it's here, I can't believe it's actually happening."
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jbrown@therecord.com ; Twitter: @BrownRecord