So many old baseball catchers end up in the TV booth.
Cam Firth is a good example why.
Before playing last night at Labatt Park, the London Badgers backstop and midget teammate Ryan Zimmer caught a matinee movie.
Meet Firth, movie critic.
"Harry Potter (and the Half-Blood Prince)," he said. "I haven't read the books. It was OK. There wasn't as much action in this one."
No problem. Who needs an on-screen Quidditch pitch when you're so busy on the diamond anyway?
The Badgers just got back from two tournaments in Ohio and another in Michigan.
"We made the final at the one in Bowling Green and lost 15-14," Firth said. "We were knocking the ball around, but we ran into a good-hitting team."
After a weekend of ball in Ottawa, Firth heads to the two-day Ontario youth team tryout camp on Monday. Forty were invited, including Badgers mates Zimmer and Baird Kelly, with 20 getting picked for the Canada Cup in Kindersley, Sask. Aug. 5-9.
Zimmer and Kelly are a couple of lefties. Firth catches them both.
"Baird throws a little harder (Badgers boss Mike Lumley says Kelly can dial it up to 87 miles per hour on the gun) and Ryan has more of the off-speed stuff," Firth said. "But they both spot their fastballs very well. And when they're not pitching, they're outfielders who hit very well."
Better pickoff move?
"Oh, that's Zim," Firth said.
For what it's worth, no one trying out for Ontario will be as well-versed as Firth. His older brother Andrew was on the Ontario squad last year for the Cup in Medicine Hat, Alta.
"He hit the winning double in the gold-medal game," the 17-year-old Londoner said. "He told me he had a lot of fun and it was a good tournament to be a part of.
"I'm excited. As a team, our Badgers stuff is so important, but on a personal level, making this team would be big right now. I hope all three of us make it, that's what I'm rooting for, and I have confidence we have a great shot at it."
All three teammates regularly hang out together, although Kelly hails from Stratford.
"This is our fifth year playing together," Firth said, "and you spend a lot of time travelling to tournaments and going to games."
And in the offseason, Firth follows the lead of Team Canada catcher and professional player Chris Robinson of Dorchester.
"I worked with Chris the past three years and he's absolutely become a mentor for me," Firth said. "I try to model my game after his."
Defence is at a premium from behind the plate. No one understands that like the Badgers, who love to run the basepaths.
"I really pride myself on playing aggressive," Firth said. "I've always done it and I'm not afraid to make the throws to pick guys off, especially with the big lead off third. I've caught a few that way this year."
Firth attends Oakridge and will be heading into Grade 12 this fall. There is a budding NCAA interest in him and his ball mates.
"We've all been getting letters from schools -- about one a week so we're starting to more and more look at that now."
He also keeps his arm in shape as the quarterback of his high school football team. But he might not have to throw as much this year -- Oaks running back Josh Geer is enjoying a sensational summer with the varsity London Falcons.
"He's been so good," Firth said.
Ditto for Firth.
