During Baseball Canada’s national senior team’s qualification tournament for the 2005 Senior World Cup in Holland Sept. 3-17, Baseball Canada.ca will periodically introduce you to various team members. In this issue of Take 5, you can learn more about pitcher Brent Crowther by reading below.
BC: You’ve pitched since 1990. What’s been the secret to your longevity?
Crowther: I don’t know if I have one. I don’t stress out. I just try to stay relaxed, under control. I just try to throw strikes and not walk anybody. The biggest thing is I take care of my arm.
BC: You seem to enjoy reading. What is your favorite book?
Crowther: The Power of One by Bryce Courtney. It deals with so many issues – South Africa during the apartheid and how one person can change the nature of events in a small town and country, for instance. It deals with a young boxer who battles demons to be the best he could be. Reading helps me battle my demons, relax and keep calm. It takes my mind off things so I can do the things I’m actually going to try to do. During the down time baseball provides, I’ll usually be reading a book.
BC: What is your fondest baseball moment, either as a player or fan?
Crowther: There are so many, I don’t know if I can single any one out. When I was with the (National Baseball Institute, located in Vancouver) in ’93, I hit John Olerud in the middle of his .400 streak. It was an exhibition series between the NBI and the Blue Jays during a Labatt festival in Regina and I was so nervous going into the game. When I hit him, (Blue Jays bench coach) Gene Tenace wanted to brawl me. … Also, in 1995, I won 12 straight games pitching in the Colorado Rockies’ system. I don’t think there was one blowout – they were all close games and were all fun to be a part of.
BC: Your girlfriend Angela is a member of the Canadian national softball team. Who would you say is the better player?
Crowther: I’d say Angela is the better athlete but I’m going to say I’m the better player – mostly due to the fact that I’m a bit older than her.
BC: If you were a superhero, who would you be and why?
Crowther: I’m going to say Mr. Incredible, partly because I just watched the movie and partly because I don’t like to let anyone down. I like to be there for the students I teach, my girlfriend, my family and my teammates. Like Mr. Incredible, you try to do it all.
Brent Crowther is playing for Baseball Canada for a fourth year, having already played for the national team program in 1998, 2000 and 2003. He currently works at The Dugout, an indoor baseball training facility that is part of the Big League Experience, operated throughout B.C., in conjunction with 2004 Olympic team coach Marty Lehn.
