Former Orillia Royals left-handed pitcher Nick Emons is rapidly climbing through the baseball ranks.
The 12-year-old Notre Dame Catholic School student started playing Orillia Legion Minor Baseball just four years ago.
“My friends at school got me into it,” Emons explains. “Before that, sports weren’t really my thing.”
In an effort to make new friends, Emons decided to give baseball a shot. In his second year, Emons got the opportunity to take the mound where he found his hidden talent.
“I can throw the ball with speed,” he says. “I have the ability hit the strike zone, too.”
Emons has been able to consistently throw the ball over the plate at 70 mph (112 km/h), which, at his young age, is better than most. However, it hasn’t all come naturally for Emons, who concedes his weak spot has been batting.
“I’ve been working on that with my coach, Ed Novosky,” he says. “The Royals have really helped me get better with hitting.”
Emons feels confident that he is capable of hitting for both power and contact, he just needs some more time to sharpen his skills. His big arm alone has been enough to catch the eye of baseball coaches around the region. In the fall, Emons made the Barrie 'AAA' team after only one tryout.
“I played 'A' level (in Orillia) for a long time,” Emons says. “I decided it might be time to take the next step, so I did.”
Emons was also invited to play for Team Ontario and the Ontario Astros, which is where he signed on to play for the 2023 season. The Astros, an elite baseball program, is headquartered in Vaughan.
“I’m going to miss my friends and coaches with the Royals,” he says. “But this is a good opportunity for me.”
Emons says he has gained a whole new confidence through the first recruiting process of his young career. His goals going into the 2022 season are to keep getting better at hitting, make new friends, and keep having fun while continuing to win.
“I also want to beat my single-game strikeout record, which is 15,” he says.
Achieving his goals is going to be more difficult than ever as he will be put to the test this summer against some of the best players in Ontario.
“I’m excited for the challenge,” he says. “I’m nervous at the same time. There are some really good kids out there, but I’m ready to go against them in some tough battles.”
Emons is hoping he can score a post-secondary scholarship out of playing baseball. Beyond that, he dreams of suiting up in a Major League Baseball uniform.
“That’s my baseball dream, for sure,” he says. “I want to thank my parents, Ed, and my friends for getting me this far.”
Novosky has coached Emons for all four years of his baseball career. The coach says Emons is a special talent.
"He's been one of those kids on the team who is a hard worker on and off the field," he says. "At age 10, he was practising his pitching at home and took to the game really quickly."
Novosky says Emons will get to face some tough competition this summer with the Ontario Astros.
"Nick has a real hard pitch," he says. "He's a left-hander which is a bit of a different look for the kids at the plate. He's just really peaking as he goes along."
Novosky expects Emons to continue his dominance at the next level.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear in a few years that he is moving on to a college or university in the U.S. on some sort of a scholarship," he says.
