Richardson revved up

Sports

Posted By DAVE DAWSON, SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER

Updated 2 months ago

When the Barrie Baycats were swept in the Intercounty Baseball League finals last summer, Matt Richardson felt as if he had taken a fastball to the head.

"It left a really bitter taste in my mouth, for sure," said the Orillia native who is in his fourth season with the Baycats.

The bitter defeat only served to fuel the intense competitive fire that burns inside this slight, but determined, young athlete. He worked hard in the offseason and has started off the season hitting at a .333 clip -- among the team leaders on a strong squad heading into this past weekend's set of games.

"My goal coming in to the season was to hit over .300 and to use my speed more," said the reliable second baseman. "I've really worked at being more patient at the plate and that has paid off."

Richardson had walked five times and had stolen three bases despite playing in just seven of his team's first 12 games.

"I realize I need to use my speed more. I'd like to steal more bases now that I know the league a little better."

While Richardson has worked his way into the lineup, he admits it was intimidating the first time he walked into the dugout at Barrie Metals Stadium.

"I was intimidated because there's guys here who have played in the big leagues ... but I've come to realize that I'm here for a reason, I've earned the spot and I try not to think about any of that other stuff," said the 24-year-old.

He said playing alongside former big leaguers, such as Paul Spoljaric, and listening to the stories from former Baycat Todd Betts, as well as Matt Logan, give him plenty of incentive to continue striving toward his lifelong dream of playing pro.

"It's pretty cool to be in the dugout and hear those stories about the pros," said Richardson. "That's my dream, for sure. To get paid to play baseball would be amazing."

It's a long way from his childhood when he cut his teeth playing T-ball before playing rep ball within Orillia's Legion Minor Baseball program. It proved a good place to learn the game.

"Dean Heliotis and my dad (Brock Richardson) were probably the two coaches I remember the most," said Richardson. "Dean was really hard on us, but he taught us the fundamentals and that was what I needed at the time."

His dad, a former star pitcher with the Orillia Majors, has also been a big influence.

"He's always been someone I can talk to, because he knows what it's like," said Richardson, who played every position while learning the game.

But he could never pitch like his dad.

"I just don't have a strong enough arm, I guess," said Richardson. "His dream of me being a pitcher died a long time ago."

But that doesn't mean the young ball player's dream has faded. After playing in Orillia until the midget level, a Barrie coach took notice of the hitting star during a tournament and recruited him to play in Barrie the next year.

"I jumped at it because it was a higher calibre of ball and I wanted to improve and learn," said Richardson, a Red Sox fan who grew up idolizing Wade Boggs and Ken Griffey Jr., and, more recently, Orlando Hudson.

Since joining the Baycats four summers ago, he he has played in the outfield and infield, but seems to have found his niche at second base.

"I told (manager) Angus (Roy) that I will play wherever he wants me," said Richardson.

He just wants to play.

"It's a very competitive league. It's the best there is around here, so I'm really glad to be able to play at this level," he said.

And while scouts are a lot more interested in young pitchers at this level, it's possible to catch the eye of a talent-seeker, he said.

"I've heard some guys have gone to Australia to play pro. That's something I might look at down the road," said Richardson. "But right now, I just want to play here and do well. I want to play as long as I can."

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