CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Rob McCormack won’t forget 2019.
His Summerside 15-and-under baseball team won the provincials and he coached Prince Edward Island’s squad at the same age level to a bronze medal at a Baseball Canada championship in Oshawa, Ont. It is only the third baseball medal the province has ever won at nationals.
McCormack, a Richmond resident who grew up in Charlottetown, won Baseball P.E.I.’s coach of the year honours, the Lionel Ruhr elite coach of the year award at Baseball Canada’s fall meeting and recently was named Sport P.E.I.’s top coach for 2019.
“It was a dream come true. I was so proud of the kids,” McCormack said.
P.E.I. defeated Manitoba 6-4 on Sunday, Aug. 25, in the bronze-medal game at the Ray Carter Cup.
The Island squad scored three times in the top of the third to break a 1-1 tie. Each team scored twice in the fifth inning while Manitoba added one in the sixth and was threatening for more in the seventh. Trailing by two, Manitoba had runners on second and third with two outs when Christopher MacDougall induced a fly ball to left-fielder Nolan Stewart to end the game.
“There were tears in our eyes when we won the bronze medal,” McCormack said. “As we get older, we realize how much work it takes.”
McCormack is described as well-prepared and organized, demanding but understanding.
“In my mind, as far as P.E.I. goes, he’s the model baseball coach,” said Randy Byrne, Baseball P.E.I. executive director.
McCormack appreciated the award but said one person isn’t responsible for a team’s success.
“I am just a little piece of the puzzle,” he said, noting he had great assistant coaches and managers who played crucial roles, plus a group of talented and dedicated athletes. “I wouldn't be up here without them.”
McCormack coaches hockey and baseball and said there are thousands of great coaches working with athletes across the province. He was humbled and honoured to be recognized at the Sport P.E.I. awards ceremony with the top athletes, administrators, officials and those who had given so much to the sport through the years.
“I’m very honoured and tickled pink really,” he said. “I know there are a lot of fantastic coaches and athletes across P.E.I. I guess it just shows how important sport is in the development of our kids.”
The bronze-medal game was a highlight, but it took a lot to get to that point.
“They played eight games over four days and went 6-2,” Byrne recalled. “Once they got to Saturday, you said these guys have a shot at something (special).”
The Island squad dropped a 3-2 decision to British Columbia in the semifinal and had little time before first pitch in the third-place game.
“It’s a really testament to Rob and the coaches,” Byrne said. “They lost a heartbreaker in the semifinal and they were able to regroup and get the boys focused and (they) came out and won the bronze-medal game.”
McCormack’s advice to other coaches: keep pushing.
“Your athletes can do much more than they believe they can do,” he said. “You have to get the best out of every single one of them. You don't get there because of your top two or three kids, it’s going to take a whole team.”
Top coaches
A look at the previous 10 recipients of the P.E.I. Mutual Insurance Company coach of the year award.
2018 Peter Gallant, curling
2017 Peter Gallant, curling
2016 Josh Whitty, basketball
2015 Judy Hale, biathlon
2014 John Power, squash
2013 Scott Morrison, basketball
2012 Bruce Donaldson, hockey
2011 Howard Watts and John Chiasson, boxing
2010 John Diamond, soccer
2009 Lewis Page, soccer
